Volume 30… Number 30, July 23, 2024
STORIES COVERED
In This Issue:
- Statement From AFL-CIO Officers on President Biden’s Announcement
- AFL-CIO Unanimously Endorses Kamala Harris for President
- MM&P-Contracted Blue and Gold Fleet Launches First Hydrogen-Powered Ferry
- PRESIDENT REAGAN Joins APL Fleet
- GLT Christens New Tug; Cleveland-Based Steel Producer Acquires Steel Products Company
- Fire Aboard Time-Chartered Maersk Containership Claims a Life
- Mariners Can Now Apply for a New Passport One Year Before Current One Expires
- Message From the Plan Office: Are Your Sunglasses Protecting Your Eyes From UV Rays?
Mark Your Calendar:
Job Opportunities:
- Offshore Jobs Available
- Job Opportunities on the Great Lakes
- US Army Corps of Engineers Virtual Career Fair July 15–Aug. 22
And:
STATEMENT FROM AFL-CIO OFFICERS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ANNOUNCEMENT
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond issued the following statement:
There has been no greater champion in the White House for America’s workers than President Joe Biden.
He has had workers’ backs every day of his presidency, constantly pushing his administration to use every tool in its toolbox to create and protect our jobs, defend our rights in the workplace, and invest in our economic security.
President Biden’s legacy as the most pro-labor president in history, and that of the Biden–Harris White House, is indisputable.
The president led the passage of landmark legislation that rescued our economy from the brink of another depression, brought manufacturing jobs back to America and put us on the pathway to create millions of good-paying union jobs.
He ensured a pro-labor National Labor Relations Board that has defended workers’ rights and held bad bosses accountable, including corporate CEOs.
He has pressed for labor standards in every federal investment and raised the wages of hundreds of thousands of federal contractors, raising the tide for fair pay for working people across the country.
This is why the AFL-CIO unequivocally supported Biden–Harris for re-election earlier than any other presidential endorsement in our history.
And it is why, with our deepest gratitude and respect, we honor President Biden’s choice to not run for re-election.
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AFL-CIO UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSES KAMALA HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
Following a vote of its Executive Council, today the AFL-CIO unanimously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election.
“From day one, Vice President Kamala Harris has been a true partner in leading the most pro-labor administration in history,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.
“At every step in her distinguished career in public office, she’s proven herself a principled and tenacious fighter for working people and a visionary leader we can count on.”
“With Kamala Harris in the White House, together we’ll continue to build on the powerful legacy of the Biden-Harris administration to create good union jobs, grow the labor movement and make our economy work for all of us.”
“The AFL-CIO is proud of our early and steadfast support for the Biden-Harris administration, and now we’ll ratchet up our mass mobilization of union workers to elect Vice President Harris as president,” Shuler continued.
“Like Harris, the labor movement doesn’t back down—and we’ll never shy away from a tough fight when the future of workers and unions is on the line.”
“Together, we will defeat Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and their devastating anti-worker Project 2025 agenda in November.”
The AFL-CIO is a democratic, voluntary federation of American labor unions.
MM&P is one of the 60 AFL-CIO affiliates, which together represent more than 12.5 million working Americans.
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MM&P-CONTRACTED BLUE AND GOLD FLEET LAUNCHES FIRST HYDROGEN-POWERED FERRY
The first hydrogen-powered ferry in the US was launched last week in San Francisco.
SEA CHANGE, operated by Blue and Gold Fleet under contract with San Francisco Bay Ferry, is the world’s first fully hydrogen-powered commercial passenger ferry.
Its hydrogen fuel cell power plant emits only water vapor, a portion of which is condensed, remineralized and diverted to the passenger compartment’s drinking fountain.
SEA CHANGE can carry up to 75 passengers at speeds of about 16 knots using 250 kilos of compressed hydrogen for fuel.
It will serve on the Blue and Gold Fleet-operated San Francisco Bay Ferry network, which connects the downtown waterfront with Alameda, Oakland, Richmond and Vallejo.
“I want everyone to know what a great job our Blue and Gold engineers and the company have done to get the boat online,” said Sly Hunter, MM&P UIG-PMR Regional Representative for Northern California.
SEA CHANGE is being operated free of charge for passengers for a six-month trial period as a way to demonstrate the new technology to as many people as possible.
Ferry service on the bay is operated by the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), a regional public transit agency.
Under the San Francisco Bay Ferry brand, WETA carries over three million passengers annually using a fleet of 15 high-speed passenger-only ferry vessels.
PRESIDENT REAGAN JOINS APL FLEET
The PRESIDENT REAGAN has been flagged into the American President Lines fleet as part of the company’s fleet renewal program.
The PRESIDENT REAGAN is the third of up to seven new ships (following the PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS and the PRESIDENT GRANT) that APL is bringing into its fleet to replace older vessels.
The fleet renewal program is scheduled to continue with the arrival in the coming months of the PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH, the PRESIDENT MONROE, and the PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
The 837-foot newbuilds will assume the Maritime Security Program slots of the outgoing vessels they replace.
APL says the delivery and phase-in of the replacement ships will take place on a monthly basis, with the last vessel tentatively scheduled to join the fleet in December 2024.
The ships are crewed by members of MM&P, MEBA, SIU, SUP, and MFOW.
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GLT CHRISTENS NEW TUG; CLEVELAND-BASED STEEL PRODUCER ACQUIRES STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY
The Great Lakes Towing Company held a christening ceremony in Cleveland for its newest tug, MINNESOTA.
The MINNESOTA was delivered last year as part of a series of 10 new Damen 1907 ICE tugs built by Great Lakes Shipyard, a sister company to Great Lakes Towing.
Both companies are part of The Great Lakes Group.
The new tug is compact and highly maneuverable, which makes it particularly well suited to navigate the narrow waterways and low bridges typical of the harbor towing business on the Great Lakes.
The christening of the new tug coincided with a ceremony marking the 125th anniversary of the founding of Great Lakes Towing Company.
In related news, the acquisition of Stelco by Cleveland-Cliffs is an indicator of the strength of an industry that is one of the most important sources of cargo for Great Lakes carriers. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America.
Headquartered in Cleveland, it employs approximately 28,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada.
Stelco produces steel products for customers in industries that include construction, energy, and appliances.
In more news from the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway traffic results as of June 30, 2024, show that compared to the same period last year, transports of iron ore and coal are down 16 and 17 percent, respectively, but general cargo is up by slightly over 24 percent.
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FIRE ABOARD TIME-CHARTERED MAERSK CONTAINERSHIP CLAIMS A LIFE
One person has died in a fire that broke out on July 19 aboard MAERSK FRANKFURT while the vessel was sailing from Mundra to Colombo.
“The ship’s operator reports a body in the lashing bridge, but it is impossible to reach it because of the flames,” said a spokesperson for the registry of Panama, the flag state.
Reuters reported that the cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit and that the seafarer who died was from the Philippines.
A spokesperson for India’s Coast Guard said Sunday that a fire in the forepart of the vessel had been extinguished, but that the blaze had later reignited midship.
MAERSK FRANKFURT is now in the Arabian Sea, about 6.5 nautical miles south of Karwar, India.
The 20 remaining members of the crew are fighting the blaze along with coast guard personnel on helicopters, planes, and boats.
In a brief statement issued over the weekend, Maersk confirmed the death of the crewmember and said that the vessel remains stable while the firefight continues.
“We can confirm that a fire was reported onboard one of our time-chartered vessels, Maersk Frankfurt, around 1430 IST,” the company said in a statement posted to X.
“Firefighting is underway with support from the Indian Coast Guard. The vessel is in stable condition.”
“At the moment, we are unable to confirm the extent of the fire’s impact on the chartered vessel.”
“We are in constant touch with the vessel owner and ship managers.”
“The safety of the crew remains the top priority at this moment.”
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MARINERS CAN NOW APPLY FOR A NEW PASSPORT ONE YEAR BEFORE CURRENT ONE EXPIRES
An update to passport rules that took effect on June 28 allows mariners to renew their passports a full year before their current passport expires.
Previously they could only apply seven months before the expiration of their current passport.
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ARE YOUR SUNGLASSES PROTECTING YOUR EYES FROM UV RAYS?
The sun emits ultraviolet radiation in the form of three types of rays—UVA, UVB, and UVC.
It’s important to understand UV rays so you can protect yourself from the damage they can cause.
UVC is the most damaging source of UV radiation, but as none reaches Earth, it poses no real risk.
Medium-wavelength UVB significantly promotes skin cancer development. Therefore, it could be considered the most harmful.
Experts have found that UVA also contributes to skin cancers, so people must protect themselves from both UVB and UVA radiation.
UV radiation can harm the eyes, contributing to the development of cataracts and other eye conditions.
For example, skiers not wearing protective goggles at altitude risk painful UV burns to the surface of the corneas.
Prolonged UV exposure to the eyes can also increase the risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
Overexposure to UVA or UVB rays can also lead to serious eye problems like photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea), which can cause temporary vision loss, and pingueculea and pterygia (growths on the eye’s surface).
The rays can also damage the lens and the retina, and cause burns on the eye’s surface.
The darkness of your lenses has no effect on UV protection.
You want sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
Look for labels that say “99% UV protection guaranteed” or “100% protection guaranteed.”
Some also might be labeled “UV 400,” which means the lenses block all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. (This covers all UVA and UVB rays.)
Close-fitting, wraparound sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of both UVA and UVB rays provide the most protection.
Sunglasses also protect against skin cancer. The eyelid region is one of the most common sites for nonmelanoma skin cancers.
In fact, skin cancers of the eyelid, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, account for 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers.
Sunglasses are for everyone, but essential for some. Children’s eyes are especially sensitive to UV rays, so it’s important to provide quality sunglasses for them, too.
Adults with eye disorders such as cataracts, macular degeneration and retinal disease are especially susceptible to UV rays and should take extra precaution.
While some contact lenses offer UV protection, they don’t cover the entire eye, so contact lens wearers still need sunglasses.
What time is shade time? The closer you are to Earth’s equator, the stronger UV rays are.
UV rays are also stronger at high altitudes and against the reflective surfaces of snow, water or sand.
They pass through clouds, so don’t be fooled into thinking protective eyewear isn’t necessary when the sky is cloudy.
Even though shaded areas reduce UV exposure, your eyes can still be exposed to rays that bounce from buildings, roads and other surfaces.
So, whenever you’re outdoors, it makes sense to keep your eyes—and your family’s eyes—protected with a pair of good sunglasses.
Regular eye exams are important so vision problems can be detected early.
Schedule an eye exam today with your eye care professional.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE NEWARK HALL ON AUG. 1
There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Newark Union Hall on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 1100.
MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger will attend the meeting and give his report.
The Newark Hall is located at:
570 Broad Street, Suite 701
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 201-963-1900
All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.
MAINLAND PACIFIC PORTS CLOSED JULY 29 FOR HARRY BRIDGES BIRTHDAY
MM&P Mainland Pacific Ports will be closed on Monday, July 29, for Harry Bridges Birthday.
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SEA SISTERS RETREAT OCT. 25-27
The 2024 Sea Sisters retreat will take place in Sausalito, Calif., Oct. 25-27.
Sea Sisters’ mission is to promote the recruitment and retention of women in the maritime industry by:
— serving as an information source for women who want to pursue a career in maritime or are already in the industry and seeking to advance their careers;
— facilitating the growth of networks to support long and fulfilling careers in maritime.
The retreat will take place Oct. 25-27 at:
NatureBridge at Golden Gate
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
1033 Fort Cronkhite
Sausalito, CA, 94965.
Click here to purchase tickets.
The deadline to buy tickets is Oct. 23.
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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE
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.
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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.
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US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR JULY 15–AUG. 22
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is conducting a Virtual Career Fair from July 15 to Aug. 22.
If you are interested in the Army Corps’ wage grade and maritime career opportunities, register at: http://usace.yellogov.com/app/collect/event/oVjrRz0bsBSE7e0XQ9xcGA
Resumes reviewed and interviews scheduled until Aug. 22.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems (channels, harbors, locks, and waterways) to facilitate commerce, national security needs, and recreation.
The MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group represents masters, mates and pilots employed by USACE.
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): 07/15/24, 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): 08/05/24, 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) – 07/27/24, 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
ADV-FF – 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): 08/05/24*, 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
MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 07/29/24, 11/18/24
MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 08/19/24
MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 08/03/24, 08/24/24, 10/05/24, 11/17/24
[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): 08/08/24, 09/12/24, 10/31/24
MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24
MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 08/09/24, 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: Not Currently Scheduled
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
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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES
You can enroll online at www.mitags.org or contact our Admissions Department 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org
July 2024
24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation
29-2 Basic Training
August 2024
5-9 Radar Observer Unlimited
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
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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.
For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.