Wheelhouse Weekly, December 31, 2024

Volume 30… Number 52, December 31, 2024

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• New Year’s Greetings
• Coast Guard Inspectors in Baltimore Discover Counterfeit Pilot Ladders
• Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips to Step Down in View of Presidential Transition
• Mariner Credentialing Program Transformation Final Rule
• World News: Finland Says Ship Suspected in Cable Sabotage Dragged Anchor for 50 Nautical Miles
• One in Three Seafarers Still Being Forced to Pay Illegal Recruitment Fees

Mark Your Calendar:

• Holiday Closing Schedule
• Last Day for Processing Vacation and PRO Payments

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs
• Great Lakes Jobs

And:

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

NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS

MM&P leadership and staff wish all MM&P members and applicants at sea and ashore and their families a Happy New Year.

May 2025 bring peace, happiness and prosperity to all.
Back to Stories Covered

---

COAST GUARD INSPECTORS IN BALTIMORE DISCOVER COUNTERFEIT PILOT LADDERS

The Coast Guard issued a Maritime Safety Alert after inspectors discovered counterfeit pilot ladders during a Port State Control Examination at the Port of Baltimore.

The identification plate on the ladder contained several errors, including referencing ISO 779-1 instead of the correct standard, ISO 799-1.

The identification plate also lacked the ISO 799-1 designation type.

Additionally, the number of steps and the length of the ladder did not align with the specifications listed on its certificate.

The plate and certificate indicated that the ladder had been produced by Qingdao Good Brother Marine Life Saving Appliance Co. Ltd.

In March 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority reported that it had identified counterfeit pilot ladders that had been labeled with that company’s name and SOLAS certification.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that ship owners and operators thoroughly inspect pilot ladders to ensure vessels are outfitted with genuine SOLAS- approved equipment.

If you have questions, email HQS-SMB-CG-INV@uscg.mil.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR ANN PHILLIPS TO STEP DOWN IN VIEW OF PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

Maritime Administrator Ann C. Phillips is preparing to leave the administration as the presidential transition approaches.

Phillips, a retired Navy rear admiral, has served as maritime administrator for almost three years.

In an interview with Dave Gardy of Maritime TV, she thanked labor unions, carriers, operators and “the incredible technically competent, innovative and hard-working staff at MARAD, unsung heroes in the maritime industry,” for supporting her work throughout her time in office.

“You can’t do this work without partners,” she added.

“MM&P is grateful for the dedication and hard work undertaken by Administrator Ann Phillips and her sadly under-resourced staff during her tenure at MARAD,” said MM&P President Don Marcus.

“Admiral Phillips has been a strong advocate for mariners and the U.S. Merchant Marine.”

“We are particularly grateful to her for her outspoken concern for the protection of American seafarers and the safe passage of U.S.-flag vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”

“She has not hesitated to deliver a reality check to DOT, DOD, the U.S. Navy, and USTRANSCOM on the challenges facing U.S. mariners and on the state of our industry.”

“We thank her for her advocacy and wish her well in the future.”
Back to Stories Covered

---

MARINER CREDENTIALING PROGRAM TRANSFORMATION FINAL RULE

The Coast Guard is in the process of replacing the merchant mariner licensing and documentation database that the National Maritime Center uses to issue merchant mariner credentials.

The new database, Coast Guard Navita, is technologically advanced and more user-friendly.

It will reduce risk and improve customer service to mariners and the maritime industry.

To support the implementation of the new system, the agency has issued a final rule that:

— updates the required payment method for credentialing fees;

— removes the requirement that prospective mariners take an oath before an authorized official; and

— changes format requirements for certificates of discharge.

The final rule supports the future implementation of Navita by allowing for modern information submission processes and payment procedures.

For more information, the final rule is available on the Federal Register or by searching on www.regulations.gov under Docket Number USCG–2021–0834.

The NMC will provide more information on the requirement to pay MMC fees using Pay.gov, the removal of the requirement to take an oath while completing MMC applications (Form CG-719B), and the format changes for certificates of discharge.

Please check back later on the NMC website for these updates.

Specific questions on mariner applications or credentialing procedures may be directed to the NMC Customer Service Center, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 1 (888) 427-5662, via email to iasknmc@uscg.mil.
Back to Stories Covered

---

FINLAND SAYS SHIP SUSPECTED IN CABLE SABOTAGE DRAGGED ANCHOR FOR 50 NAUTICAL MILES

Authorities in Finland say a sonar survey shows that the tanker they suspect of severing multiple subsea cables dragged its anchor along the bottom for up to 50 nautical miles.

When they boarded the vessel to inspect it, they said the anchor was missing and the anchor chain was still in the water.

“The trail ends where the ship lifted the anchor chain,” a Finnish National Criminal Police inspector told local news.

“There are several dozen kilometers [of trail] east of that point, if not almost a hundred kilometers…”

The tanker, the EAGLE S, is considered part of the “shadow” or “dark fleet” that moves illicit goods, such as sanctioned Russian oil. It sails under the Cook Islands flag.

Finnish police are said to be interrogating members of the crew.

While the investigation continues, the Finnish Coast Guard reports it is now monitoring two other tankers loaded with Russian oil that are in the area of the Gulf of Finland.

Nations of the Baltic region, including Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, and Finland, report that they have launched new efforts to monitor and protect critical undersea infrastructure.

The EU and NATO have said they would also move to increase resources in the area.

In November, two telecom cables in Swedish waters were apparently severed by a Chinese vessel.

In 2023, another Chinese vessel was suspected of damaging a gas pipeline running between Finland and Estonia.

The 2022 damage to the Nord Stream pipelines remains under investigation.
Back to Stories Covered

---

ONE IN THREE SEAFARERS STILL BEING FORCED TO PAY ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT FEES

A survey carried out earlier this year found that one in three seafarers had paid a fee to get a job, with many reporting that they had gone into debt to do so.

Most of the time, the person demanding payment was a crewing or manning agent; in 41 percent of cases, it was companies or individuals linked to a crewing agency or to a shipping company.

Payments were almost always requested in cash or by bank transfer.

A little over a third of the respondents who said they had been forced to pay a fee said it was less than $500.

Nearly half said they had been forced to pay between $500 and $5,000. Eight percent said they had paid more than $5,000.

About seven percent of respondents said it had taken them more than five years to pay off the recruitment fee.

“Many seafarers are accumulating intolerable levels of debt in order to secure a position,” the researchers said.

The problem affects licensed and unlicensed seafarers in about equal measure, the survey found.

Despite the fact that demanding a recruitment fee is illegal under the Maritime Labor Convention, only one in five seafarers said they had tried to tell someone in authority about what had happened to them.

About 40 percent said they didn’t know how to make a report, while 37 percent said reporting “would make no difference.”

The survey was conducted by the Institute for Human Rights and Business and an ethical recruitment platform, Turtle, with support from the International Transport Workers’ Federation and The Mission to Seafarers.

The researchers are calling on shipping companies, shippers, and governments to end the practice.

They said that regulators and governments should introduce systems to punish those who charge seafarers illegal recruitment fees.

Employers, they said, should provide channels for seafarers to find jobs without paying fees, as well as opportunities for them to report incidents, and possibly even a mechanism to reimburse seafarers in whole or in part for the fees they have been forced to pay.

MM&P is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
Back to Stories Covered

---

MM&P Holiday Closing Schedule

All MM&P union halls, the Plan Office, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, and MM&P headquarters will be closed for the holiday on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

The San Juan Hall will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6, for Three Kings’ Day. 
Back to Stories Covered

---

LAST DAY FOR PROCESSING VACATION AND PRO PAYMENTS

The Plan Office received approval to close the year-end Internal Revenue Service and company reports and to process Vacation and PRO payments for 2024 no later than Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. EST.

All requests for 2024 Vacation and PRO payments received after this date and time will be held until Jan. 2, 2025, for processing and will therefore be taxable in 2025.

If you have questions, please contact the Vacation Department at 410-850-8625 or Ken Ryan at 410-850-8617.
Back to Stories Covered

---

NEW OFFSHORE JOBS

CM tanker PIC needed on Haina Patriot asap.

CM LMSR needed asap in sunny Saipan.
Back to Stories Covered

---

GREAT LAKES JOBS

GREAT LAKES JOBS
There are job openings on the Great Lakes!

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.

If you want more information about Great Lakes job listings, go to https://bridgedeck.org/job-opportunities/.

Interested candidates should reach out to Thomas Bell at the MM&P Cleveland office: tbell@bridgedeck.org.
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): 02/10/25, 04/28/25

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 02/03/25, 03/24/25

AZIPOD (2-Day): 01/09/25

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

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): 01/06/25

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 02/03/25, 02/24/25

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 01/20/25, 03/24/25

BT-Refresher (3-day): 01/20/25

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): 02/17/25

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 01/13/25, 03/24/25, 04/28/25

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 12/16/24, 01/06/25, 03/17/25, 06/02/25

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 01/20/25

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 02/10/25, 05/12/25

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 12/16/24, 02/17/25, 05/19/25

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 03/31/25

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (5-Day): 03/10/25

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 03/03/25

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 02/17/25

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 01/13/25, 02/03/25, 03/10/25, 04/07/25, 05/05/25,

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 01/20/25, 02/10/25, 03/07/25, 04/14/25, 05/12/25

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 04/28/25

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 02/24/25

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 01/11/25, 03/01/25, 04/26/25, 08/02/25

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

Online: 02/19/25

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/05/25

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): 01/27/25

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

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 03/17/25

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-day): 03/03/25

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 02/03/25

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 01/22/25, 03/26/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 01/23/25

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

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): 02/07/25

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 02/24/25

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 03/10/25

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): 02/10/25

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

Ton License (15-Day): 06/03/25

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 12/16/24*, 01/13/25, 03/12/25, 05/05/25, 06/04/25

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): 02/24/25

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): 03/24/25

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 01/20/25, 04/07/25, 05/12/25

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 01/06/25, 03/03/25, 04/28/25

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 02/03/25, 04/07/25, 05/12/25

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 01/11/25, 01/25/25, 03/08/25, 04/12/25, 05/03/25, 05/17/25

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (5-Day): 01/20/25

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): 01/09/25, 03/13/25, 05/08/25, 06/12/25

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 01/10/25, 03/14/25, 05/09/25, 06/13/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 01/12/25, 03/16/25, 05/11/25

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 01/13/25, 02/11/25, 03/17/25, 04/15/25, 05/12/25, 06/16/25

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 01/11/25, 03/15/25, 05/10/25, 06/14/25

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 01/12/25, 02/10/25, 03/16/25, 04/14/24, 05/11/25, 06/15/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 01/17/25, 03/31/25, 05/13/25, 06/20/25

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 01/07/25*, 01/09/25*, 03/25/25*, 03/27/25, 04/29/25, 05/01/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 02/17/25

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 01/16/2025

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): 01/29/25

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): Contact Admissions

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 01/27/25, 03/17/25

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 02/26/25

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 03/07/25, 04/14/25

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 12/16/24, 01/27/25*, 04/21/25, 06/23/25

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: 02/10/25

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 01/20/25

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not currently scheduled

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

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): , 02/26/25

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 01/20/25, 04/21/25

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 03/10/25

Back to Stories Covered

---

MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

2024 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
January 2025

6-7 Basic Training Revalidation

6-8 Basic Training Refresher

8th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

9-10 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

13-16 Advanced Firefighting (Original)

20-24 Basic Training

27-31 Lifeboatman/Proficiency in Survival Craft

27-31 Medical Care Provider

27-31 Advanced Shiphandling I

27-7 Medical Person-In-Charge

February 2025

3-21 Celestial Navigation

10-14 Basic Training

10-14 Advanced Shiphandling II

17-21 Able Seaman

19-20 Basic Training Revalidation

21st Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

24-27 Advanced Firefighting (Original)

24-28 Meteorology (Operational Level)

March 2025

3-4 Basic Training Revalidation

3-7 Leadership & Managerial Skills

3-7 Basic Shiphandling

5th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-14 ECDIS

10-14 Basic Training

10-28 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

17-20 Advanced Firefighting (Original)

17-21 Lifeboatman/Proficiency in Survival Craft

24-28 Able Seaman

17-28 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

31-4 Radar Observer Unlimited

31-4 Basic Training

April 2025

7-8 Basic Training Revalidation

7-9 Basic Training Refresher

7-9 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

7-11 ECDIS

9th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-11 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-17 Advanced Firefighting (Original)

14-25 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

21-24 ARPA

21-25 Medical Care Provider

21-2 Medical Person-In-Charge

2-2 ECDIS

28-9 GMDSS

May 2025

5-9 Basic Training

5-16 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

12-15 Advanced Firefighting

12-30 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

19-20 Basic Training Revalidation

21st Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

June 2025

2-6 Radar Observer Unlimited

2-6 Leadership & Managerial Skills

2-6 Basic Training

9-13 Med PIC Refresher

9-13 Advanced Shiphandling I

16-17 Basic Training Revalidation

16-20 Advanced Shiphandling II

18th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

23-26 Advanced Firefighting

23-27 Advanced Stability

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.