Wheelhouse Weekly, Feb. 24, 2026

Volume 32… Number 8, February 24, 2026

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• US-Flag Coalition Expresses Gratitude to White House for Maritime Action Plan
• US Moves Vessels Into Place in Preparation for Possible Strikes on Iran
• NMC Mitigation Efforts—Credential Extensions
• Union Membership in the US Grows to 16-Year High
• VW Workers in Tennessee Celebrate First Union Contract
• MITAGS Hosts 14th Annual Women on the Water Conference
• Maritime Workers in Argentina Strike Over Cuts to Pay and Benefits
• MM&P Women’s Caucus Committee Presents Mental Health First Aid Training on Feb 26
• Houston Hall Closed on March 2
• Registration Now Open! 2026 Mariners for America Conference March 30-April 1 at MITAGS
• Please Respond to This Survey If You Haven’t Already Done So: What Can Be Done To Reduce the Number of Enclosed Space Deaths

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

US-FLAG COALITION EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO WHITE HOUSE FOR MARITIME ACTION PLAN

USA Maritime, the coalition that represents American merchant mariners and shipping companies, has written to the administration expressing gratitude for the Maritime Action Plan unveiled last week by the White House.

The plan is a roadmap aimed at revitalizing the American merchant marine and US shipbuilding.

It follows up on President Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order, Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.

“[This plan] represents an unprecedented level of support from the Executive Branch for the United States Merchant Marine and the United States maritime industry as a whole,” the coalition wrote in a Feb. 18 letter to two top administration officials, Marco Rubio, assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and Russel Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget.

“[It] represents the largest and most sweeping maritime policy initiative in the history of the United States and reflects President Trump’s continuing historic levels of support and attention to our industry.”

“We pledge to assist you and the rest of the Administration to ensure that the final plan achieves the lofty goals you have set with this document.”

The letter was signed by USA Maritime Chair Brian Schoeneman.

The USA Maritime coalition includes shipping companies operating US-flag, US citizen-crewed vessels in the foreign trades, labor unions representing the licensed and unlicensed men and women who crew the vessels, and related American maritime associations.

Among the essential points set forth in the Maritime Action Plan are:

— the exemption from federal income tax of the income earned by mariners working aboard US-flag vessels operating in the foreign trades;

— a US maritime preference requirement and expanded cargo preference requirements;

— investments in maritime workforce training;

— the creation of a US Strategic Commercial Fleet;

— support for the maritime academies;

— as a stopgap measure as shipbuilding capacity is increased, bringing foreign-built vessels under the US flag to increase the country’s ability to move US trade internationally.

The plan directs the Office of Management and Budget, working with the Department of Transportation, to deliver a legislative proposal for a reliable funding mechanism to sustain these initiatives.
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US MOVES VESSELS INTO PLACE IN PREPARATION FOR POSSIBLE STRIKES ON IRAN

The build-up of American forces in the Middle East continues as tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran.

Negotiators plan to meet for talks in Geneva on Thursday to discuss a new proposal that could allow armed conflict to be avoided just as additional US military assets assume positions within striking distance of Iran.

The buildup includes the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford and their respective strike groups, complete with destroyers, cruisers, submarines, tankers, cargo ships and dozens of additional F-35, F-22, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.

The Trump administration has built up the largest American military presence in the Middle East in decades to push Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program.

It is also seeking to negotiate over the country’s missile program and its support for armed proxies in the Middle East.

President Trump said Friday that limited strikes are possible if the talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fail.

He has warned that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them and that it cannot enrich uranium, and that any other outcome would mean Tehran is “crossing a red line.”
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NMC MITIGATION EFFORTS—CREDENTIAL EXTENSIONS

The National Maritime Center has issued an update on its efforts to mitigate the impact of the government shutdown.

To read the update, search: national maritime center home page.

Then click the first link in the search results.

The most recent update, dated Feb. 20, is posted part way down the page, under the heading Announcements.

If you have questions, contact the NMC Customer Service Center by using the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
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UNION MEMBERSHIP IN THE US GROWS TO 16-YEAR HIGH

The number of American workers covered by a union contract increased to a 16-year high in 2025, according to new data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About 16.5 million workers were covered by a union contract last year, up from 16 million in 2024 and the highest level since 2009.

The total number of Americans who joined unions last year was 463,000.

Union members took home median weekly earnings that were significantly higher than nonunion workers ($1,404 versus $1,174).

Nearly half of all union growth came from the Southern states, with younger workers organizing at a rapid pace.

“Years of organizing have delivered gains across industries as workers turn to unions,” the AFL-CIO said in a statement.

“Thanks to years of sustained organizing, 11.2 percent of all wage and salary workers in the United States are now covered by union contracts, up from 2024 and the highest in 16 years.”

“These numbers confirm what we’ve seen in the labor movement,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“Workers… are hungry to take back their power. They know that the best check on a bad boss is a strong union contract.

“Labor is one of the last institutions in this country that working people actually trust.”

Recent polls show that nearly 70 percent of Americans support unions, an all-time high.

Shuler called on Congress to make it easier for workers to join a union by passing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.
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VW WORKERS IN TENNESSEE CELEBRATE FIRST UNION CONTRACT

After two years of organizing and threatening to strike, Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga have won their first contract, making VW the first foreign-owned auto plant in a southern US state to unionize.

Under the terms of the contract, employees at the Chattanooga plant will get a 20 percent pay raise over four years, lower health care costs, job security guarantees and an enforceable grievance procedure.

Ninety-six percent of workers at the plant voted in favor of the new contract.

“This isn’t just a win for Chattanooga autoworkers,” said Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council President Billy Dycus.

“It’s a win for our entire state because these workers have proven that when we band together, Southern workers have the power to win the wages, affordable healthcare, job security and respect we all deserve.”

“This victory shows what happens when workers stand up and refuse to be ignored,” said Yogi Peoples, a member of the UAW bargaining committee.

“We didn’t just win better wages and raise standards at our plant, we forced respect onto the table and got it all in writing.”

“Our victory here at Volkswagen should send a message to workers everywhere: don’t let management divide you.

“When workers fight together—united and unafraid—we can beat the odds and win.”
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MITAGS HOSTS 14TH ANNUAL WOMEN ON THE WATER CONFERENCE

Union members and officials, educators and representatives of government met at MITAGS earlier this month for the Women on the Water Conference.

The annual conference includes panel discussions and networking events designed to introduce cadets from the maritime academies to a variety of career pathways.

This year, it included a day in Washington, DC, to showcase the workings of Congress, federal agencies, trade associations, law firms and advocacy groups.

MM&P President Don Josberger welcomed the conference participants to MITAGS.

In his opening remarks, he underlined MM&P’s efforts to foster an environment that allows every mariner to develop to his or her full potential.

As a case in point, he cited the work being done by the MM&P Women’s Caucus Committee and the Mental Health Resources Committee.

The conference also featured sessions on labor unions, mentorship and navigating leadership challenges.

Congresswoman Emily Randall (D-Wash.), a co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Ferry Caucus, described the importance of making it easier for qualified individuals from different backgrounds to enter the maritime industry.

“The driving force for me is how to make sure that every young person has the information and the support that they need to choose the path that’s right for them,” she said, whether it’s working on a ferry, joining the Coast Guard or serving as a licensed officer on a containership.

This year’s Women on the Water conference was organized by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, in partnership with K&L Gates, and the US Maritime Administration.

The speakers also included Vice Adm. Joanna Nunan, former superintendent of the US Merchant Marine Academy, and The Honorable Elaine Chao, who served as a cabinet secretary in the fields of labor and transportation in two administrations.
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MARITIME WORKERS IN ARGENTINA STRIKE OVER CUTS TO PAY AND BENEFITS

Workers across Argentina walked off the job on Feb. 19 to protest the passage of a law that will eliminate benefits that have been guaranteed to them since the 1940s.

The law is backed by Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who says it will grow the economy and create new job opportunities by lowering taxes on business.

Since taking office in 2023, Milei has implemented austerity policies which his supporters credit with reducing the annual inflation rate from 150 percent to 32 percent.

But his policies have also led to a significant drop in workers’ disposable income.

The new law, which was passed last week, limits the right to strike, makes it easier to fire workers and allows employers to impose work schedules of up to 12 hours a day without paying overtime.

It also curtails unions’ organizing rights and lowers mandatory business contributions to health care, sick leave and pensions.

It reclassifies seafarers and longshoremen as “critical workers,” who, in the event of a strike, must guarantee that businesses can still function by ensuring that half of all operations are covered by non-striking staff.

The law would further weaken unions by mandating that when a contract expires, all negotiated work rules and union rights expire with it.

On Thursday, in addition to participating in street protests in Buenos Aires, maritime and longshore workers shut down the port, the country’s largest.

“This strike is not against the country or against production, it’s in defense of our working conditions and navigation safety,” the Maritime and River Trade Union Federation said in a statement.
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MM&P WOMEN’S CAUCUS COMMITTEE PRESENTS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING

The MM&P Women’s Caucus Committee will present a 60-minute information session hosted by Miriam Anthony, seafarer and maritime psychotherapist, on Shipmate Psychological Wellness for Critical Incidents.

The session will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 1300 EST.

Shipmate Psychological Wellness for Critical Incidents is a framework based on Psychological First Aid and adapted for the modern mariner.

Psychological First Aid is an evidence-based approach aimed at teaching individuals how to provide immediate, humane, and practical support to people experiencing acute distress, disaster, or trauma.

It focuses on safety, stabilization, calming, and connecting individuals to resources.

The training covers topics that include recognizing and responding to people experiencing crisis-related stress, deciding when to refer someone to a higher level of care, and self-care for first responders.

The information is presented for educational purposes and is not professional advice tailored to an individual circumstance.

Mariners should always act in accordance with the governing laws, ship management system and relevant company policies.

To participate in the training session on Feb. 26 at 1300 EST, click here or paste the link into your browser:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24278948724496?p=d35zZDgVDNnDgYykj2
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HOUSTON HALL CLOSED ON MARCH 2

The Houston Hall will be closed on Monday, March 2, for Harry Bridges Memorial Day.
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2026 MARINERS FOR AMERICA CONFERENCE MARCH 30-APRIL 1 AT MITAGS

Registration is now open for the 2026 Mariners for America Conference, which will take place at MITAGS from March 30 to April 1.

The conference will bring together maritime industry professionals, vessel operators, academics and government officials to participate in expert-led sessions and discussions, hands-on training and networking opportunities.

America’s maritime industry is entering a period of historic growth as a result of the President’s Executive Order on Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance and the introduction in Congress of the Ships for America Act.

At the center of the effort to reconstitute the nation’s maritime industry is the need to attract and retain a strong, sustainable American mariner workforce.

MM&P President Don Josberger will speak on the importance to recruitment and retention of giving mariners the opportunity to achieve a better work-life balance.

Professor Maria Carrera Arce of World Maritime University will discuss the results of recent WMU surveys on work and rest hours and shore leave.

For a complete list of speakers, click here.

Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and advance your career in maritime. Register today for the 2026 Mariners for America Conference!
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WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ENCLOSED SPACE DEATHS

Last spring, the International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA) asked MM&P to encourage all working mariners who receive The Wheelhouse Weekly to respond to a survey on enclosed space fatalities.

IFSMA is a member of a working group looking at the ongoing industry challenge related to enclosed space incidents/fatalities.

If you haven’t already responded to the questionnaire, please do so. The survey closes on March 1.

MM&P is an affiliate of The International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations, which represents the interests of serving shipmasters in international forums, including the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization.
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS

Buchanan Marine

1) Mate – MMC with a Mate of Towing within Inland Waters

2) Captain – MMC with a Master of Towing within Inland Waters

If you are interested in any of the above positions, please fill out an application on the company’s website first.

Google Buchanan Marine LP, then click “careers” and scroll down to “apply online.”

Then email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call Paulina at 973-495-9377

Staten Island Ferry

1) Provisional Marine Oilers with their QMED

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s web-site. https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/marine-oiler-in-staten-island-jid-36530 Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org

2) Deckhand with an AB

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s web-site. https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/deckhand-in-staten-island-jid-36197

Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org

Poling & Cutler

1) Mate with a 200-ton coastwise license & TOAR

2) Captain with a 200-ton coastwise license & TOAR

If interested in any of the above positions, please email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call Paulina at 973-495-9377.

Moran

1) Licensed Engineer (Ship Assist) – MMC with STCW

2) Assistant Engineer (ATB/Offshore) – 3rd A/E Unlimited Oceans or C/E (limited) or A/E (limited) Oceans or Near Coastal (min 6000hp) & STCW

3) AB (ATB/Offshore) – MMC with AB & STCW

If interested in any of the above positions, please fill out an application on Moran’s website first.

Then email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org.

If you have any questions, please call Paulina at 973-495-9377.
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OFFSHORE JOBS

Senior LMSR positions available.
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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

[STCW, MEDICAL & SAFETY Courses]

BT – Basic Safety Training: 04/13/26, 09/07/26, 11/30/26

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-Day): 03/02/26, 05/11/26

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: 09/07/26, 11/30/26

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 06/29/26

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 04/06/26*, 05/11/26, 07/13/26, 09/28/26

MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 04/27/26

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

04/11/26, 04/26/26, 05/16/26

[STCW License & Radar Renewal Courses]

Revalidations (REV): You have 360+ days of sea time in the last 5 years

BT-REV (2-day): 03/30/26, 05/15/26, 09/14/26, 09/28/26, 10/26/26

FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 04/01/26, 05/20/26, 09/16/26, 09/30/26, 10/28/26

Refreshers (REF): You have less than 360 days of sea time in the last 5 years

BT-REF (3-day): 03/30/26, 10/26/26

FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 04/02/26, 10/29/26

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 04/01/26, 10/28/26

[CMM – Chief Mate & Master Upgrade Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 04/20/26, 06/08/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 04/27/26, 06/01/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): 02/23/26

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 04/20/26*, 07/13/26

LAP Testing Notice: Due to changes at the Baltimore REC, LAP courses no longer include priority testing. Seating is limited to 6 students. All testing now requires a scheduled appointment and an approval letter.

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills: 03/23/26, 05/04/26

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: 03/23/26

SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: 03/09/26

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 03/02/26, 04/06/26, 05/11/26, 06/15/26

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: 03/16/26

[AB TO MATE Upgrade Courses]

ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 05/04/26

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 03/16/26, 05/18/26

CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 03/09/25, 05/25/26

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 02/23/26*, 03/02/26, 05/18/26

FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day): 05/07/26 or Contact Admissions

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): 04/13/26*

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 03/23/26, 05/25/26

LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 05/08/26

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 04/27/26

SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 05/04/26

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 02/23/26*, 04/27/26

STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 03/19/26, 05/11/26

TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 04/06/26

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 03/30/26, 07/20/26

WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 07/06/26

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-I – Anti-Terrorism Officer (Online): Contact Admissions

MSC-ATO-II – Anti-Terrorism Officer II (MSC-ATO-III included): 08/17/26

MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 03/12/26, 05/07/26, 06/11/26, 08/06/26, 09/10/26, 11/05/26

MSC-CBRD-OFF – Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer: 03/23/2026, 06/22/2026, 08/24/26

MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 03/13/26, 05/08/26, 06/12/26, 08/07/26, 09/11/26, 11/06/26

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 03/13/26, 05/09/26, 06/11/26, 08/07/26, 09/11/26, 11/06/26

MSC-SMA – Small Arms (4-Day): 03/15/26*, 04/13/26, 05/11/26, 06/15/26, 07/13/26, 08/10/26, 09/14/26, 10/12/26, 11/09/26

MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 03/14/26, 05/09/26, 06/13/26, 08/08/26, 09/12/26, 11/07/26

MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 03/15/26*, 04/12/26, 05/10/26, 06/14/26, 08/09/26, 09/13/26, 11/08/26

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 03/20/26, 05/15/26, 06/19/26, 08/14/26, 09/18/26, 11/13/26

[MM&P Company Specific Requirements Courses]

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations: Not Currently Scheduled

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – CM Operations II Maersk Specific: Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3-Day): 07/27/26, 07/30/26

****Offsite LNG-BADV at MMP LA/LB Union Hall: 05/24/26, 05/27/26

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 03/17/26*, 03/19/26, 5/12/26*, 05/14/26, 10/27/26, 10/29/26 – Contact Admissions to Register

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 04/20/26, 07/20/26

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

[Other MITAGS Courses]

AB – Able Seaman: 04/20/26

BRM – Bridge Resource Management: 03/23/26*

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials: 06/15/26

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-Day): 04/08/26

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 04/13/26

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 02/23/26

[Continual Improvement Workshops – NOT covered by the MATES Program]

Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 05/13/26

Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: Not Currently Scheduled
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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

February 2026

28-29 Basic Training Revalidation

28-1 Basic Training Refresher

March 2026

2nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

2-6 Basic Shiphandling

9-12 Advanced Firefighting (original certification)

9-13 ECDIS

11-13 Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW)

16-20 Leadership & Managerial Skills

16-20 Basic Training (original certification)

16-27 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

30-31 Basic Training Revalidation

30-3 Able Seafarer

April 2026

6-10 ECDIS

6-10 Basic Training (original certification)

20-23 Advanced Firefighting (original certification)

27-8 Medical Person-in-Charge

27-8 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

May 2026

11-15 Basic Training (original certification)

16th Vessel Personnel w/Designated Security Duties (VPDSD)

18-19 Basic Training Revalidation

20th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

20-22 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

26-29 Advanced Firefighting (original certification)

June 2026

1-5 Medical Care Provider

8-12 Basic Training (original certification)

16-17 Basic Training Revalidation

18th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

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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©2023. Articles can be reprinted without prior permission if credit is given to The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly.

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