Wheelhouse Weekly, January 7, 2025

Volume 31… Number 1, January 7, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• The Master, Mate & Pilot Is Now Online
• ILA and US Maritime Alliance Are Set to Resume Negotiations
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Newest Fleet Oiler
• Congress to Continue Investigating Allegations of Sexual Assault and Harassment at Coast Guard Academy
• CIVMARS Bring Christmas Cheer to Children in the Philippines
• Finland Detains Seven Crewmembers of Tanker Suspected of Sabotage
• The Deadline to Apply for a Union Plus Scholarship Is Fast Approaching 

Mark Your Calendar:

• MM&P Closed for Martin Luther King’s Birthday

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

THE MASTER, MATE & PILOT IS NOW ONLINE

The Winter 2024 issue of The Master, Mate & Pilot will be in your mailbox soon. In the meantime, look for it online on bridgedeck.org under News and Announcements.

In this issue:

— a team of experienced, intelligent and capable officers stands ready to assume the watch as MM&P President Don Marcus retires after 12 years at the helm of the organization;

— the MM&P General Executive Board names Captain Don Marcus President Emeritus of the Union;

— results of the 2024 MM&P elections;

— leaders of MM&P and Nautilus address NATO on the risks of the decline of merchant navies;

— licensed deck officers at OSG vote for MM&P representation;

— award for heroism to MM&P members aboard Staten Island ferry DOROTHY DAY;

— ITF honors MM&P’s Captain George Quick and the IBU’s Terri Mast for meritorious contributions to the federation’s work.

Plus:

— MM&P Plans announces the launch of the MM&P Plans Member Portal, where you can downland important documents and more!
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ILA AND US MARITIME ALLIANCE ARE SET TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the US Maritime Alliance have said they will resume contract negotiations today, just over a week before thousands of longshore workers at East and Gulf coast ports could go out on strike.

After a three-day strike in early October, the two sides agreed on pay increases, but the level of automation that will be allowed in longshore operations remains unresolved.
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NAVY ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF NEWEST FLEET OILER

Last month, the US Navy took delivery of the USNS ROBERT F. KENNEDY, the fourth ship in its John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.

The delivery of the vessel by General Dynamics NASSCO followed the completion of integrated sea trials during which the ship’s readiness and capabilities were tested and validated.

“This delivery is a significant milestone as we bring another oiler into our fleet and increase our replenishment underway capabilities,” said John Lighthammer, Navy program manager for auxiliary and special mission ships.

“This is the final stepping-stone in getting this essential ship to our civilian mariners.”

The John Lewis-class ships are operated by Military Sealift Command and are a cornerstone of the Navy’s fuel delivery system.

They feature aviation capability, as well as substantial volume for oil and significant dry cargo capacity.

General Dynamics NASSCO is also building the USNS LUCY STONE, the USNS SOJOURNER TRUTH, the USNS THURGOOD MARSHALL, and the USNS RUTH BADER GINSBURG.

The future USNS HARRIET TUBMAN and USNS DOLORES HUERTA are under contract.

The Navy issued a block-buy contract in September 2024 for the detail, design, and construction of the next eight ships in the John Lewis class, T-AO 214 to 221.
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CONGRESS TO CONTINUE INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT AT COAST GUARD ACADEMY

Members of Congress say they will continue investigating cases of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy, including evidence of a cover-up by some former USCG officials.

Committees in the House and the Senate issued reports in December that concluded there had been attempts to hide the results of an internal Coast Guard inquiry into what had taken place.

The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability found that references to the internal inquiry, which the Coast Guard named “Operation Fouled Anchor,” had been removed from official records.

“[Our] report confirms and provides additional powerful evidence that the cover-up of sexual assault in the Coast Guard was deliberate, purposeful and longstanding,” said Senate Subcommittee Chair Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

“The public deserves an explanation. So do the survivors.”

On Dec. 20, the USCG released a response that read in part, “The Coast Guard is keenly aware of and is aggressively responding to the unacceptable activities underpinning the report, namely sexual assault and sexual harassment.”

It added that it “is working proactively to prevent and reduce these devastating crimes, secure justice for survivors and provide the care and support victims need and deserve.”

The Coast Guard had previously issued a public apology for how it had handled SA/SH complaints at the academy.

Operation Fouled Anchor, which was conducted from 2014 to 2019, identified more than 100 allegations of sexual assault at the academy from the early 1990s to 2006.

They included 62 “substantiated incidents” of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment that had either occurred at the academy or been committed elsewhere by cadets.

Coast Guard officials did not fully disclose the investigation until 2023, after CNN had reported on it.

More than 20 former cadets have filed complaints saying they were sexually assaulted at the academy.

During Operation Fouled Anchor, the Coast Guard Investigative Service found that dozens of allegations of criminal misconduct from the late 1980s through 2006 had not been adequately addressed by academy administrators.

Only five cases were referred to law enforcement, allowing almost all the alleged perpetrators to continue their careers or simply leave the school.
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CIVMARS BRING CHRISTMAS CHEER TO CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES

Civil Service mariners aboard the dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS CHARLES DREW and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS RAPPAHANNOCK shared the spirit of Christmas with children in two social service centers in Olongapo City, the Philippines.

They brought food and gifts to a safe house for children who have been abused and to children with special needs living in an orphanage.

The gifts and donations were provided by the Civil Service mariners sailing aboard USNS CHARLES DREW and USNS RAPPAHANNOCK.

Military Sealift Command Far East planned and coordinated the events.

“The kids are very happy to receive visitors and gifts,” said Araceli Menor, the co-founder of Niños Pag Asa Orphanage.

“It makes them feel that they are part of the community and that they have not been left behind.”

“These visits are very important to the kids,” agreed Hana Linzaga, a care worker at Olangapo’s Social Development Center, which provides support and a safe environment for children who have been abandoned or abused.

“Some of them don’t have family who come and see them so the visitors are sort of like their families. And the donations really help.”

“I always try to go when there’s a humanitarian event, and I always think it’s great,” Lorraine Ninete, who sails as purser aboard USNS RAPPAHANNOCK, told Grady Fontana of MSCFE Public Affairs.

“I have 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. These children remind me of my own kids and I have a soft spot in my heart for them. I want them to know that they are loved.”

The MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group represents the licensed deck officers, pursers, and MSOs aboard MSC vessels.

MSC Far East supports the US 7th Fleet and ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific Region are manned, trained, and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to US forces and coalition partners, both at sea and on shore.
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FINLAND DETAINS SEVEN CREWMEMBERS OF TANKER SUSPECTED OF SABOTAGE

A court in Finland has ordered the detention of seven members of the crew of a Panamax tanker suspected of severing multiple undersea cables in the Baltic during the last week of December.

The tanker, the EAGLE S, which sails under the flag of the Cook Islands, is said to be part of the “dark fleet.”

Lloyd’s List defines a dark fleet tanker as one that is 15 or more years old, with beneficial owners who seek to hide their identities, and that is deployed in sanctioned oil trades or other illegal shipping operations.

The Finnish police said they suspect that the seven crewmembers who have been detained are guilty of vandalizing the cables.

They have not been placed under arrest and are being allowed to continue living and working aboard the EAGLE S.

The authorities said that the tanker’s AIS track line corresponded to the damage sites, and that a drag line of up to 50 nm was shown on a sonar survey.

The crew complied when the authorities asked them to divert from international waters to Finnish territorial waters, at which point police boarded the vessel from a military helicopter.

News outlets have reported that the EAGLE S is poorly maintained and has been used exclusively in recent years to ship Russian oil.

Finnish customs officials said it had taken on a cargo of unleaded gasoline in the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on Dec. 23, prior to the cables being severed.

Five months ago, the shipowner reportedly changed classification societies to avoid an unscheduled survey into the vessel’s condition.

The tanker is now in a sheltered anchorage at Porvoo, where a Port State Control investigation is said to be underway.

The case is the most recent in a string of similar incidents involving severed cables and damaged pipelines, but this is the first case in which a suspect vessel and crew have been detained.

A spokesperson for Taiwan’s coast guard said on Jan. 6 that a Chinese freighter may be responsible for severing a telecom cable off the island’s northern coastline last week.
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THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR A UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP IS FAST APPROACHING 

Union Plus awards one-time cash scholarships ranging from $500 to $4,000 to students who belong to union families.

This year, Union Plus is awarding $200,000 in scholarships.

Current and retired members of MM&P and other unions that participate in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children are eligible to apply.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor.

Scholarships are granted for attendance at a two-year college, a four-year college, graduate school, or a recognized technical or trade school.

Please note: The Scholarship website has its own unique login, which is not the same as the login for www.unionplus.org.

To create an account on the Scholarship website, click here.

Applications are due by Jan. 31, 2025.

Scholarship winners will be notified during the first week of June.

To find out more, go to https://www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/union-plus-scholarships
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MM&P CLOSED FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING’S BIRTHDAY

All MM&P union halls, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, MM&P headquarters, and the Plan Office will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, for Martin Luther King’s birthday. 
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OFFSHORE JOBS

CM SLNC Goodwill

CM SLNC Pax

CM tanker PIC needed on Haina Patriot asap.

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
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, 04/07/25,

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 02/03/25, 02/24/25, 04/14/25, 09/08/25

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 01/20/25, 03/24/25, 05/05/25, 06/09/25, 09/22/25, 10/20/25, 11/12/25

BT-Refresher (3-day): 01/20/25, 05/05/25, 06/09/25, 09/22/25

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): 01/06/25, 03/17/25, 04/21/25, 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): 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, 06/09/25

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, 06/16/25

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) : Not currently scheduled

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, 04/14/25, 09/08/25

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, 05/07/25, 06/11/25, 09/24/25, 11/22/25, 11/14/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 01/23/25, 05/08/25, 06/12/25, 09/18/25, 11/10/25

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): 01/13/25*, 03/12/25*, 04/21/25, 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): Not Currently Scheduled

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) : Not currently scheduled

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

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

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 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): 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*, 07/08/25, 07/10/25, 08/26/25, 08/28/25, 09/30/25, 10/05/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 02/17/25, 04/21/25

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 01/16/25, 04/28/25,

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): 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: 03/03/25, 05/05/25

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

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 02/26/25, 05/14/25

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

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

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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
January 2025

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

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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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