Wheelhouse Weekly, July 28, 2026

Volume 32… Number 30, July 28, 2026

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Maritime Labor Tells Congress: “Highly Trained US-Citizen Crews Are Key to Maritime Safety”
• Democrats on House Transportation Committee Call for End to Jones Act Waiver
• House of Representatives Adds SHIPS Act Provisions to Defense Authorization Bill
• Crew of MV George III Rescues Man Who Spent Weeks Adrift on Demasted Sailboat
• INMC Processing Timeline Update: National Maritime Center Recovery Efforts Continue to Reduce Processing Times

Mark Your Calendar:

• Pacific Ports Mainland Halls Closed on July 28 for Harry Bridges Birthday
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Norfolk Hall on Thursday, Aug. 13
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Aug. 20
• Charleston Hall Meeting Rescheduled Until Oct. 8

And:

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

“HIGHLY TRAINED US-CITIZEN CREWS ARE KEY TO MARITIME SAFETY”

MM&P President Don Josberger testified on behalf of maritime labor last week at a roundtable discussion held by the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on the topic of improving maritime safety programs.

“[T]here is no better way to enhance maritime safety and protect life and property at sea than by ensuring that a vessel, regardless of type and size, operates with a trained and qualified crew,” Josberger testified.

“We are keenly aware that the men and women responsible for vessel navigation and watchstanding, and for monitoring and maintaining engines and other machinery, are the first line of defense against shipboard accidents.”

“As a result,” he said, “maritime labor is committed to providing US-flag vessels with the best trained mariners available anywhere in the world.”

He testified that another critical component of maritime safety is ensuring that vessels are adequately manned.

“Increased paperwork requirements, obligations, and other responsibilities placed on the crew can lead to fatigue and create an environment that threatens the safety of life and property at sea,” he said, making it “essential that the Coast Guard ensures that the COI requires the necessary number of shipboard personnel.”

The unions have also proposed that Congress authorize the establishment of a center of expertise directly related to maritime firefighting and salvage.

The US currently lacks a centralized national capability dedicated to the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery phases of major maritime incidents, including marine firefighting.

“Since it is naive to believe that we can safeguard against and prevent all accidents from occurring,” Josberger testified, “it is important to have the necessary response mechanism in place when an accident occurs.”
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DEMOCRATS ON HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CALL FOR END TO JONES ACT WAIVER

Congressmen John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) took the opportunity of last week’s House Transportation Committee safety roundtable to call for an end to the administration’s Jones Act waiver.

The waiver—which was first imposed for 60 days on March 17 and has since been extended for an additional 90 days—covers more than 600 products.

News outlets have reported that the President is considering extending the waiver beyond its scheduled expiration date in mid-August.

“The administration has to end this Jones Act waiver,” Larsen said.

“Rather than issuing waivers, it needs to strengthen its enforcement of the programs that support the US-flag fleet.”

He added that the administration has reduced the capacity of the Coast Guard search and rescue mission, a central component of maritime safety.

“The administration needs to reopen the stations that were closed in 2024—because lives depend on it,” Larsen said.

Garamendi took the floor to talk about the administration’s overall maritime policy.

“The President issued a national maritime strategy, presumably to rebuild the American maritime industry, but then almost immediately” suspended the penalties on China that were set to be imposed as a result of the US Trade Representative’s finding that China is unfairly subsidizing its shipping industry.

The penalties on China had been intended to fund activities at US ports, Garamendi pointed out, but will not generate any revenue at all for the American maritime industry because the administration has suspended them.

Garamendi cited the 150-day Jones Act waiver as another case in point, asking whether “the President [is going to renew it] to the detriment of the American maritime industry.”

“[T]he question for this administration is whether the President is going to say on one hand we’ve got the national maritime strategy that will build the American maritime industry, and then on the other hand gut what presumably he wants to do.”

“We need consistency here. And frankly, we need loud voices. We need loud voices from this committee and from the participants in this hearing.

“If you’re going to be silent, you’re going to get screwed.

“If you’re going to speak up, fight for what you need and what the law will allow you to have, you’ve got a chance of overcoming the inconsistency of this administration.”
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADDS SHIPS ACT PROVISIONS TO DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

The House of Representatives has added many of the most important provisions in the SHIPS for America legislation and the President’s Maritime Action Plan to the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2026.

The defense bill, including the maritime provisions, passed on July 22 and was sent to the Senate.

Included among the provisions added to the defense bill were the following:

–an increase in cargo preference to 100 percent;

— the requirement that the President name a Maritime Security Advisor and establish a Maritime Security Board to coordinate maritime policy;

— the establishment of a Maritime Security Trust Fund;

— a preference for US-flag vessels at US ports;

— a US-flag vessel preference for cargoes in the foreign trade; and

— greater financial assistance and other incentives for individuals attending the maritime academies.

The Senate has not yet considered its defense bill.
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CREW OF MV GEORGE III RESCUES MAN WHO SPENT WEEKS ADRIFT ON DEMASTED SAILBOAT

The crew of MV George III rescued a solo sailor approximately 750 miles from Hawaii on July 21.

The story began at approximately 0300 hours, when Third Mate Omar D’Abreu spotted a small sailboat in distress.

All hands were called to assist in the recovery of solo sailor Kaichi Sato, who had been drifting for weeks aboard his leaking, demasted, 32 foot sailboat.

Chief Mate Gregory Ferris and members of the crew rigged the vessel’s pilot ladder, preparing life rings, messenger lines and life-throwing appliances to assist in the recovery operation.

Captain Eric Veloni, Third Mate Omar D’Abreu and Second Mate Edward Barnett-Borys maneuvered George III to intercept the sailing vessel in distress.

A line-throwing appliance was deployed when the containership was close enough to the drifting boat.

The line landed across the sailboat and Sato was able to pull the attached messenger line, making it fast to the small boat’s stern.

The crew of George III pulled the disabled sailboat’s stern to the pilot ladder, which Sato used to climb aboard George III.

Once safe on board, he told the crew that he had left Long Beach to sail to Hawaii on June 7.

On July 20, he encountered rough seas and strong winds, which snapped his mast.

He ran out of drinking water. The only way he was able to prepare food was to boil it in seawater.

He told the crew that he had been able to collect some rainwater to drink during this time and had become dehydrated and severely depressed.

He has expressed his thanks and gratitude to the entire crew of George III for saving his life.

“In all, from sighting to recovery, it took approximately 1.5 hours to complete the rescue and bring him aboard,” the chief mate said, “an incredibly short timeframe for this type of operation.”

“The success of the rescue, which went off without injuries or hiccups, testifies to the skill, the dedication, and the professionalism of the crew of George III.

“Captain Veloni did an amazing job maneuvering this 775 foot ship close enough to the sailboat and the crew worked together perfectly to get Mr. Sato aboard without incident.

MV George III is crewed by members of MM&P, MEBA and SIU.
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NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE TO REDUCE PROCESSING TIMES

The National Maritime Center has made substantial progress in reducing the backlog of applications resulting from the 2026 lapse in appropriations.

As a result of sustained recovery efforts and increased production capacity, the NMC is updating its published processing timeline.

Effective immediately, complete applications are expected to be processed within four months from the date received, excluding any time waiting for mariner applicants to test or provide additional information.

This improvement reflects expanded production efforts, overtime, surge processing, workflow efficiencies, and the reallocation of personnel and resources to reduce the backlog inventory accumulated during the lapse.

While application volumes remain elevated, current trends indicate continued progress toward restoring more normal processing timelines.

Mariners and maritime employers should continue to plan accordingly and submit applications early to avoid potential disruptions to employment and vessel operations.

Applications will continue to be processed on a first-in, first-out basis.

Only applications demonstrating a clear and documented nexus to national defense will be considered for expedited processing.

Mariners are strongly encouraged to apply early via the ASAP Tool to account for unforeseen delays.

As a reminder, mariner credential renewals may also be post-dated up to eight months, allowing mariners to renew early.

Paper and incomplete submissions may delay issuance.

Mariners should verify the expiration dates on their medical certificates before submitting a renewal application.

Medical certificate expiration dates may differ from MMC expiration dates, and medical certificate renewal may not yet be necessary.

The NMC remains committed to further improving processing times while maintaining the safety, security, and professional standards of the merchant mariner credentialing system.

Mariners are encouraged to monitor the NMC website for updates regarding processing times, REC operations, and policy adjustments as operations stabilize.

For questions, contact the NMC Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
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Mark Your Calendar:

PACIFIC PORTS MAINLAND HALLS CLOSED ON JULY 28 FOR HARRY BRIDGES BIRTHDAY
The Pacific Ports mainland halls are closed on Tuesday, July 28, for Harry Bridges Birthday.

The Honolulu Hall is open.
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Mark Your Calendar:

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN MM&P NORFOLK HALL ON THURSDAY, AUG. 13
There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Norfolk Hall on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 1100.

Please contact dispatcher Pete at norfolk@bridgedeck.org for a head count.

The Norfolk Hall is located at:

Interstate Corporate Center, Building 8

6353 Center Dr., Ste 200

Norfolk, VA 23502

Phone: 757-489-7406

All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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Mark Your Calendar:

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL ON AUG. 20
There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P LA/LB Hall on Aug. 20 immediately following the 11:00am job call.

MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Melany Velleca and Port Agent-Pacific Ports John Taylor will attend the meeting.

The Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall is located at:

533 N. Marine Ave., Ste A

Wilmington, CA 90744-5527

Phone: 310-834-7201

All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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Mark Your Calendar:

CHARLESTON HALL MEMBERSHIP MEETING RESCHEDULED TO OCT. 8
The Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Charleston Hall has been rescheduled to Oct. 8 at 11:00 a.m.

Please contact dispatcher John at charleston@bridgedeck.org for a head count.

The Charleston hall is located at:

1481 Tobias Gadson Blvd., Suite 2C

Charleston, SC 29407-4794

Phone: 843-766-3565

All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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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: 09/07/26, 11/30/26

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-Day): 09/28/26, 01/25/27

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

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 11/02/26, 11/09/26

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 10/12/26, 11/30/26

MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 08/10/26*, 11/16/26

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

08/15/26, 10/17/26, 11/15/26, 12/05/26

[STCW LICENSE & RADAR RENEWAL Courses]

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

BT-REV (2-day): 09/14/26, 10/26/26, 12/07/26

FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 09/16/26, 10/28/26, 12/09/26

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

BT-REF (3-day): 10/26/26, 12/07/26

FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 10/29/26, 12/10/26

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 10/28/26, 12/09/26

[CMM – CHIEF MATE & MASTER UPGRADE Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 08/24/26, 10/05/26, 12/07/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 08/17/26, 09/28/26, 11/30/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 09/21/26

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: 09/21/26, 12/14/26

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: Not Currently Scheduled

SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 09/14/26, 10/12/26, 11/02/26, 11/30/26

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: Not Currently Scheduled

[AB TO MATE UPGRADE Courses]

ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 08/10/26, 11/09/26

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 08/17/26*, 11/02/26, 02/08/27

CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 08/24/26, 11/30/26

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 08/17/26*, 11/16/26

FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day): 08/06/26, 10/08/26

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): 10/12/26, 03/01/27

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 08/24/26, 01/04/27, 03/15/27

LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 10/02/26, 11/13/26

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 08/03/26, 10/26/2026

SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 08/03/26, 10/05/26, 01/11/27

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 11/30/26, 01/04/27

STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 08/10/26*, 10/26/26, 02/01/27

TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 10/05/26

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 09/14/26, 02/15/27

WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 11/16/26, 01/08/27

[MSC – MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND Courses]

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

MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 08/06/26, 09/17/26, 11/05/26

MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 08/07/26, 09/18/26, 11/06/26

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 08/07/26, 09/18/26, 11/06/26

MSC-SMA – Small Arms (4-Day): 08/10/26*, 09/21/26, 10/12/26, 11/09/26, 12/07/26

MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 08/08/26, 09/19/26, 11/07/26

MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 08/09/26*, 09/20/26, 11/08/26, 12/06/26

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 08/14/26, 09/25/26, 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): 10/26/26*, 10/29/26

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 09/01/26*, 09/03/26 Scheduled – Contact Admissions to Register

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 10/26/26*

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 08/22/26, 10/03/26, 12/05/26

[OTHER MITAGS Courses]

AB – Able Seaman: 09/14/26, 12/07/26

BRM – Bridge Resource Management: Not Currently Scheduled

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: 12/14/26

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 8/31/26

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

[CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOPS – NOT covered by the MATES Program]

Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 08/12/26

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

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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

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

August 2026

3-4 Basic Training Revalidation

3-7 Meteorology (Operational Level)*

3-7 Radar Observer Unlimited

5th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-14 Radar Observer Unlimited

10-14 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

17-20 ARPA

17-21 Basic Training

24-27 Advanced Firefighting

24-28 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

31-4 ECDIS

31-1 Basic Training Revalidation

September 2026

2nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

8-11 Advanced Firefighting

14-18 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

14-25 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

21-25 Cargo Handling & Stowage

21-25 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

21-2 Medical Person-In-Charge

28-30 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

28-9 GMDSS

October 2026

5-8 Advanced Firefighting

5-9 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

12-16 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

12-16 Basic Training

12-16 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

16th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

17-18 Basic Training Revalidation

19-23 Basic Training

19-23 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

19-23 Cargo Handling & Stowage

26-30 Medical Care Provider

26-30 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

27-30 ARPA

November 2026

2-4 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

2-5 Advanced Firefighting

2-6 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

2-6 Leadership & Managerial Skills

9-11 Search & Rescue

12-13 Basic Training Revalidation

14th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

16-20 Basic Training

16-20 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

16-20 Basic Shiphandling

December 2026

30-4 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

30-11 Medical Person-In-Charge

30-18 Celestial Navigation

1-4 Advanced Firefighting

7-8 Basic Training Revalidation

7-9 Basic Training Refresher

7-18 GMDSS

9th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-11 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-18 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

14-18 Basic Training
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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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