Wheelhouse Weekly, August 6, 2024

Volume 30… Number 32, August 6, 2024

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• “Panama Canal Tug Captains Working 10-12-Hour Days With No Relief”: Unions Ask IMO Secretary-General to Urge the Panama Canal to Comply With International Conventions on Hours of Work and Rest
• Nautilus Federation News Magazine Now Live on Bridgedeck.org
• Temporary Closure of REC Charleston Due to Hurricane Debby
• Temporary Closure of New York Regional Exam Center, Sept. 16-20
• Project Liberty Ship Seeks Volunteers for JOHN W. BROWN Cruise Aug. 24-25
• Crewmembers Aboard Hijacked Car Carrier Have “Significant Health Issues,” Prompting Renewed Calls for Their Release

News for MM&P Members

• Trying To Find a Therapist But Unsure of the Steps?

Mark Your Calendar:

• Membership Meeting in Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Aug. 22
• Offshore Familiarization Course at MM&P Charleston Hall on Aug. 27-28

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available
• Job Opportunities on the Great Lakes

And:

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

UNIONS ASK IMO SECRETARY-GENERAL TO URGE THE PANAMA CANAL TO COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON HOURS OF WORK AND REST

Panama Canal tugboat captains are working dangerously long days without relief, a situation that poses grave risks for tug crews, canal operations and the security of the global supply chain.

MM&P’s Panama affiliate, Unión de Capitanes y Oficiales de Cubierta (UCOC), represents Panama Canal tug captains and associated vessel personnel.

UCOC President Daniel Camazon has reached out to Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, asking that he urge the Panama Canal Administration to bring working conditions on the canal into compliance with international minimum hours of rest requirements.

“[T]ugboat captains on the Canal are not allowed the minimum hours of rest required by international convention, International Labor Organization rules or Panama’s national regulations,” Camazon wrote in an Aug. 2 letter that was also signed by the presidents of MM&P and Nautilus International.

“This is particularly dangerous in the new Canal where tugs work directly under the bows and on the sterns of NEOPANAMAX vessels with no margin for error, protecting the Canal lock gates from potential disaster.”

The hazards stem mostly from the poor design of the expanded canal, which has given rise to a much more labor-intensive process of vessel transit.

In the old locks, electric-powered locomotive “mules” run on tracks along the sidewalls, using mooring wires and tension winches to maintain the position of transiting ships.

In the new locks, tugboats are required to continuously position vessels in transit, which means tug captains must be at the controls the entire time.

“The recent examples of the MV Ever Given in the Suez Canal and the MV Dali in Baltimore Harbor make the potential for disaster all too clear,” the union presidents wrote.

“We do not ask you to intervene in the political or labor relations processes of Panama that have led to this dangerous situation.”

“What we seek is your assistance in pointing out to the Panama Canal Administration that although the Canal does not fall under the requirements of the MLC, STCW or SOLAS, the reputation of Panama as a maritime industry leader, as well as common sense, dictate that these standards should be readily and amicably complied with.”
Back to Stories Covered

---

NAUTILUS FEDERATION NEWS MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE ON BRIDGEDECK.ORG

The newest edition of Global Seafarer, the quarterly publication of the Nautilus Federation, has been posted on bridgedeck.org.

In this issue of Global Seafarer:

— MM&P Government Group Representative Randi Ciszewski honored for defending mariners’ rights;

— Nautilus Federation unions pledge to redouble their efforts to ensure that seafarers are recognized as key workers;

— Mariners know that long separations from family and friends require them to have “mental resilience”—but “resilience” should not include the need to endure poor working conditions, low pay, or abuse;

— at their meetings this year, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization pledge to address the grave problem of “criminalization”: when mariners involved in accidents are unjustly accused of a criminal offense.

MM&P is one of the 22 maritime labor union affiliates of the Nautilus Federation.
Back to Stories Covered

---

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF REC CHARLESTON DUE TO HURRICANE DEBBY

Regional Exam Center Charleston will be closed from Aug. 6 to Aug. 9 due to Hurricane Debby.

Mariner applications may still be emailed to the National Maritime Center at MMCApplications@uscg.mil.

Mariners seeking to schedule exams or to submit applications via mail or in person during the temporary closure should consider using another REC.

The nearest RECs are Baltimore, 40 S. Gay St., Room 420, Baltimore, MD 21202, and Miami, 51 S.W. 1st Ave, 6th Floor, Miami, FL 33130.

Additional REC locations and information on submitting applications can be found on the NMC website.

The NMC will update the website with additional information when it becomes available.

The NMC Customer Service Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

You can reach the call center at 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662) and IASKNMC@uscg.mil.
Back to Stories Covered

---

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF NEW YORK REGIONAL EXAM CENTER, SEPT. 16-20

The New York REC will be closed from Sept. 16 to Sept. 20.

Mariner applications may still be emailed to the National Maritime Center at MMCApplications@uscg.mil.

Mariners seeking to schedule exams or submit applications via mail or in person during the temporary closure should consider using another REC.

The nearest RECs are Boston, 455 Commercial St., Boston, MA 02109, and Baltimore, 40 S. Gay St., Room 420, Baltimore, MD 21202.

Additional REC locations and information on submitting applications can be found on the NMC website.

The NMC will update the website with additional information when it becomes available.

The NMC Customer Service Center remains open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Mariners may reach the call center at 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662) and IASKNMC@uscg.mil.
Back to Stories Covered

---

PROJECT LIBERTY SHIP SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR JOHN W. BROWN CRUISE AUG. 24-25

Volunteer mates and ABs are needed to crew the SS JOHN W. BROWN on its trip from Norfolk to Baltimore on Aug. 24-25.

If you are interested, please send an email to john.w.brown@usa.net.

The JOHN W. BROWN operated as a merchant ship during World War II and later, for many years, as a training ship in New York City.

It is one of two U.S. Merchant Marine Liberty Ships that are still operational and one of three that have been preserved as museum ships.

Its home berth is at Pier 13, Baltimore, Md., 4601 Newgate Ave.
Back to Stories Covered

---

CREWMEMBERS ABOARD HIJACKED CAR CARRIER HAVE “SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES,” PROMPTING RENEWED CALLS FOR THEIR RELEASE

Officials in the Philippines have confirmed that several of the crewmembers aboard the GALAXY LEADER, which was hijacked last fall by Houthi rebels, are very sick.

The car carrier and its 25-person crew have been held in Yemen since it was boarded by the Houthis on Nov. 19, 2023, while sailing to India from Turkey.

Terrorists boarded the vessel from a helicopter in the first of the series of attacks on merchant ships and crews that followed the start of the war in Gaza.

After hijacking the vessel, the terrorists berthed it outside the port of Hodeidah and opened it to tourists.

The Philippine government and shipowner Ray Car Carriers, which is based in the UK, have repeatedly called for the crewmembers’ release.

Seventeen members of the crew are from the Philippines, three are from Ukraine, two are from Bulgaria, two are from Mexico, and one is from Romania.

A report released by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs confirms that several of the Filipino crewmembers are experiencing symptoms of malaria.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for the immediate release of the crew on humanitarian grounds.
Back to Stories Covered

---

TRYING TO FIND A THERAPIST BUT UNSURE OF THE STEPS?

MM&P’s Mental Health Committee leader Miriam Anthony has created a video to help you find a counselor by using the provider directory on bridgedeck.org.

A link to the video is posted on the Mental Health and Wellness page which appears under the Resources tab on the home page.

Or just click here to view the video.

The MM&P Health & Benefit Plan offers mental health support to MM&P members.

Our health insurance covers mental health providers in the Cigna network.

If you find a therapist who is a good fit but who is not in-network, ask your therapist for a bill and submit the claim to the MM&P Health and Benefit Plan.

Below are details on the coverage provided by the Plan.

If you have questions about benefits, please contact an MM&P Health & Benefit advisor at 410-850-8611.

If you have questions about the MM&P Mental Health Resources Committee or related topics, please send an email to manthony@bridgedeck.org.

In-Network Providers

After the yearly plan deductible has been met, the Plan will reimburse 100 percent of the contract rate and the participant’s responsibility is the copay of $15.00 for the office visit.

If there are any additional services provided on that day (such as tests, etc.), the Plan will reimburse ninety percent (90 percent) of the contract rate based on the Current Procedure Terminology (CPT code) submitted by the physician on the same date of service.

Therefore, the patient’s responsibility could be more than the copay of $15.00 if there are additional services as described above.

Out-of-Network Providers

After the yearly plan deductible has been met and the annual out-of-network deductible of $150.00 has been met, the Plan will reimburse 90 percent of the Plans Allowable Charges for the office visit and 70 percent of the Plans Allowable Charges for any services (based on the CPT code) on the same day as the office visit.

In other words, after the patient has paid their deductibles, their responsibility would be the difference between the total charges for the visit and what the Plan has paid.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL, AUG. 22

There will be an Offshore Membership Meeting in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Union Hall on Thursday, Aug. 22.

The meeting will begin directly after the 11:00 job call.

MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger and Pacific Ports Coast Agent Melany Skippen will present their reports and respond to questions.

The MM&P Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall is located at:

533 N. Marine Ave., Suite A

Wilmington, CA 90744-5527

If you have items that you would like to have placed on the agenda or questions that may require research, please email them to mskippen@bridgedeck.org or call the LA/LB Hall: 310-834-7201.

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

---

OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AT MM&P CHARLESTON HALL ON AUG. 27-28

The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held in person at the MM&P Charleston Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 27 and Wednesday, Aug. 28.

There is no sea-time requirement to take the course.

All Offshore applicants, potential transferees from other membership groups and other interested Offshore members are encouraged to take the course as soon as possible.

If you are interested in participating in the course, please contact John Livingston at charleston@bridgedeck.org.

Here is the schedule:

— Day 1, Aug. 27, from 0930 to 1500.

— Day 2, Aug. 28, from 0930 to 1100.

— Day 2 Aug. 28, from 1100 to 1330 Membership Meeting.

The Charleston Hall is located at:

1481 Tobias Gadson Blvd Suite 2C

Charleston, SC 29407

The phone number is: 843-766-3565.
Back to Stories Covered

---

OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

3M Urgently needed for SLNC PAX, no classes or tanker training needed.

C/M SLNC STAR, 60-day relief, on PRO and BTWE.

Open ALL PORTS, to join ASAP, all MSC classes required.

Numerous MARAD ROS CM and 3M positions open. No training required. Pensioners may work Government Contracts.

There is plenty of work available. Please check the Online Open Offshore Job Board for job availability.

Plus:

— Tanker PIC’s needed.

— CM’s, 2M’s, 3M’s Needed for LMSR’s, please email jhope@bridgedeck.org with any questions or visit any Offshore Hall.
Back to Stories Covered

---

JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are job openings on the Great Lakes!

If you want more information about any of the listings that appear below, go to https://bridgedeck.org/job-opportunities/.

Interested candidates should reach out to Thomas Bell at the MM&P Cleveland office: tbell@bridgedeck.org.

KEY LAKES, a division of Key Stone, has openings for Mates with Great Lakes pilotage; they may take an Open Water Mate if COI allows. The company operates a fleet of two 1000’ x 105’ ships.

GRAND RIVER NAVIGATION has an opening for a 1st Assistant Engineer.

GREAT LAKES TOWING has an opening for a minimum 200-ton Great Lakes master with Towing endorsement, pilotage not required.
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): 09/16/24

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 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): Contact Admissions

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): Contact Admissions

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

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

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

BT-Refresher (3-day): 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): 10/07/24, 12/09/24

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

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

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

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

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 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): 08/19/24, 09/09/24*, 09/30/24*, 11/04/24, 12/02/24

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 08/12/24*, 08/26/24, 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) – 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: 08/14/24

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): 2025 Date Coming Soon

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

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

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

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

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

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 10/03/24

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

Online: Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): 2025 Date Coming Soon

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

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

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

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): 2025 Date Coming Soon

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross

Ton License (15-Day): 2025 Date Coming Soon

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 09/09/24*, 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): 08/19/24, 09/30/24, 12/02/24

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/18/24

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

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 08/24/24, 10/05/24, 11/17/24, 12/07/24

[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): Not currently scheduled

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

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

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 09/13/24, 11/01/24

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

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

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

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 08/11/24, 09/15/24, 11/03/24

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 08/16/24*, 09/20/24, 11/08/24

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 08/19/24*, 08/21/24*, 08/26/24, 12/09/24*, 12/11/24*

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

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 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): 10/02/24

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

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

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

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 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: 09/16/24, 10/21/24, 11/11/24

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

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program **: 10/07/24

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 12/04/24

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

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 2024
12-16 Medical Care Provider

12-23 Medical Person-In-Charge

26-27 Basic Training Revalidation

26-30 Advanced Stability

28th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

September 2024

4-7 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

9-13 Basic Training

9-13 Advanced Shiphandling (Week 1)

16-20 Advanced Shiphandling (Week 2)

16-27 GMDSS

23-26 ARPA

23-27 Advanced Meteorology
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.