Wheelhouse Weekly, July 7, 2026

Volume 32… Number 27, July 7, 2026

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• GOP Leaders in House of Representatives Ask President to End Jones Act Waiver
• Study Finds “No Evidence Any Waiver Voyage Met Legal Standard of Military Necessity”
• USNS Kanawha Is First MSC Ship to Receive the Military’s Highest Unit Award
• Resurgence of Somali Piracy: IMO Sounds Alarm Over Deteriorating Conditions of Kidnapped Seafarers

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in Fort Lauderdale Hall on Thursday, July 23
• Offshore Membership Meeting in MM&P Norfolk Hall on Thursday, Aug. 13
• Offshore Membership Meeting in MM&P Charleston Hall on Friday, Sept. 18

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes & Gulf Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

GOP LEADERS IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ASK PRESIDENT TO END JONES ACT WAIVER

Key Republican decision-makers in the House of Representatives have asked President Trump to allow the administration’s sweeping 150-day Jones Act waiver to expire on Aug. 16.

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.

The 52 Republican lawmakers who signed the June 30 letter to the President include Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Transportation Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), and 47 other members of the House of Representatives.

Their letter states in part:

“Our nation’s strongest shield against foreign exploitation of American waterways is the Jones Act, which requires vessels transporting cargo between U.S. ports to be American-built, American-owned, American-crewed, and American-flagged.

“As with similar laws governing other modes of transportation, the Jones Act ensures that domestic waterborne commerce is conducted by U.S. vessels and mariners rather than by heavily subsidized foreign competitors.

“Over time, it has helped sustain a safe and reliable commercial fleet, supporting hundreds of thousands of well-paying American maritime jobs and moving more than 760 million tons of domestic cargo each year, including agricultural products, petroleum, steel, coal, and other essential commodities.”

In the letter, the GOP Congressional leaders said that data from the US Maritime Administration shows that 95 percent of the voyages conducted under the waiver have benefited foreign operators that do not pay US taxes or comply with US immigration laws to crew their vessels.

“In practice, foreign-flagged vessels have operated under the waiver even in circumstances where U.S.-flagged vessels were available, creating understandable concern about the effect on American jobs, manufacturing, and investment,” they wrote.

“In short, the Jones Act waiver has become a loophole exploited by adversarial countries to erode America’s maritime dominance.”

The Congressional leaders also noted the serious concerns that the American maritime industry has expressed about the waiver’s negative impacts on domestic shipping.

“Anecdotal reports suggest [that] at least some Jones Act newbuild decisions have been slowed down in order to wait for long-term clarity on the Act’s future, and that U.S. oil-industry charterers have used the threat of waivers to press U.S. tanker operators for day-rate discounts,” they wrote.

The letter from GOP Congressional leaders to the President has been posted on bridgedeck.org under News and Announcements.
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STUDY FINDS “NO EVIDENCE ANY WAIVER VOYAGE MET LEGAL STANDARD OF MILITARY NECESSITY”

A new study concludes that the administration’s 150-day blanket Jones Act waiver has undermined the US maritime industry while at the same time failing to deliver its promised benefits.

The study, 2026 Waiver After Action Report, was circulated last week by the American Maritime Partnership, of which MM&P and MIRAID are members.

Analyzing 78 waiver voyages and 659 cargo movements using data from the Maritime Administration, the report found no evidence that any voyage met the legal standard of military necessity, despite that being the sole justification for a Jones Act waiver.

The report also determined that US-flag vessels were available for nearly 87 percent of qualifying voyages, although foreign-flag ships—including many built in or controlled by China—were permitted to carry domestic cargo instead.

The study also found no measurable reduction in gasoline prices attributable to the waiver, noting that Jones Act vessels were often more cost-effective than foreign competitors and that only a small percentage of US gasoline moves by ship.

The researchers also noted that the US continued exporting large volumes of petroleum products during the period in which the waiver was justified as necessary to address concerns over domestic fuel supply.

The findings demonstrate the validity of arguments being made by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, American mariners and labor organizations who are urging the administration to allow the waiver to lapse, as scheduled, on Aug. 17.
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USNS KANAWHA IS FIRST MSC SHIP TO RECEIVE THE MILITARY’S HIGHEST UNIT AWARD

A Military Sealift Command auxiliary ship will be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the first time ever that a civilian-crewed vessel in the MSC fleet has received the Pentagon’s highest honor.

The award is a rare recognition: the Pentagon has only issued it about 100 times since World War II, and recipients are among the most storied units in military history.

USNS Kanawha will receive the award for the crew’s performance in support of the Ford Carrier Strike Group from February through May, during Operation Epic Fury.

Over the course of the deployment, the crew conducted more than 110 underway replenishments, transferring more than 17 million gallons of fuel.

The military-crewed warships in the strike group received the same award, and Kanawha’s award recognizes her comparable participation (but with merchant mariners operating the vessel, and without onboard defenses of their own).

Last year, USNS Kanawha received the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon—the Navy’s second-highest honor, just behind the Presidential Unit Citation—for her performance in support of combat operations related to the Red Sea crisis.

That deployment put the ship in harm’s way, within reach of attack from Houthi forces in western Yemen.

Kanawha operated in the area from October 2023 through May 2024, conducting more than 110 UNREP evolutions, transferring 3,400 pallets of goods, 30 million gallons of diesel and 4.7 million gallons of MGO.

“[The crew of USNS Kanawha] protected vital global commerce through two strategic maritime chokepoints, defended key allies and partners, deterred aggression, and forged partnerships founded in trust and unity of effort against violations of international law,” the Navy Unit Commendation citation reads.

“They provided a crucial naval presence in the region at a pivotal moment in history.”

“MM&P CIVMARS continue to serve as the unsung, indispensable lifeblood of America’s strategic sealift capability, executing high-risk logistics missions in contested waters to sustain global combat readiness,” said MM&P Government Fleet Representative Randi Ciszewski.

“They are the ultimate backbone of global maritime defense, delivering critical operational support in the world’s most hostile waters with unmatched grit.

“This historic milestone is well deserved recognition of their bravery operating alongside warships in active combat zones.

“Kanawha is the first auxiliary ship in the 77-year history of MSC to receive the nation’s highest unit-level military honor for combat valor.

“Kudos to our MM&P leaders for going above and beyond the normal call of duty during this time—especially Captain Brian Roney, First Officer Anthony Canseco, and all of our MM&P members who selflessly performed such extraordinary service to our great nation.”

MM&P represents the LDOs, Pursers & MSOs aboard all MSC CIVMAR manned ships.
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IMO SOUNDS ALARM OVER DETERIORATING CONDITIONS OF KIDNAPPED SEAFARERS

The IMO is calling on the international community to help secure the release of 44 seafarers who were kidnapped by Somali pirates in a seven-day period between the end of April and early May.

The hostages are being held aboard their vessels, the MT Honour 25, the MT Eureka, and the cargo ship Sward, which were seized off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden in separate hijackings several months ago.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said Monday in an address to the IMO Council in London that the crew members are running critically low on food and water and are facing the constant threat of violence.

Some are also suffering from serious untreated health conditions.

“Their situation remains dire and I ask for your support in securing their safe release,” Dominguez told Council members.

“These incidents are a stark reminder that the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery to seafarers has not receded and continues to warrant vigilance and support for coordinated action.”

According to the IMO, 24 actual and attempted piracy and armed robbery incidents have been recorded in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past three months alone.

Last week, the 21-person crew of the MV Golden Arsenal was saved by India’s Navy after retreating to the ship’s citadel when the vessel was boarded by pirates while sailing between Yemen and Somalia.

The attackers are using increasingly dangerous weapons, including RPGs, and do not hesitate to use violence against merchant mariners.

Dominguez noted in his address to the IMO Council that another merchant vessel, the bulk carrier Lady Naeima, had been attacked by pirates over the weekend.

“At the moment it is navigating towards the next destination and the crew is safe, but it is a reminder to flag states, shipowners and vessel operators to remain alert and use the best management practices to combat these incidents,” he said.
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Mark Your Calendar:

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN FORT LAUDERDALE HALL ON THURSDAY, JULY 23
There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Fort Lauderdale Hall on Thursday, July 23, at 1100.

Please contact dispatchers Andrea or Maike at pompano@bridgedeck.org for a head count.

The Fort Lauderdale Hall is located at:

3081 East Commercial Blvd.

Suite 100

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308

Phone: 954-946-7883

All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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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 MM&P CHARLESTON HALL ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 18
There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Charleston Hall on Friday, Sept. 18 at 1100.

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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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.

Marine Oil Service
1) Tankerman PIC – MMC tankerman (PIC) with DL (required)

If you are interested, please fill out an application online https://avanan.url-protection.com/v1/r01/url?o=https%3A//marineoilservice.com/careers/&g=ZTI2ZjJkOTljODYzYjliYg==&h=OTNiOGYzYTQwMmQzOTNlMjg2N2ZiZTY2YTU4ZGFjYzc2YTI0MzNiYzhjNTczOWM2ZTllNDFkYjFkOWJiNTQwMg==&p=YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOjc2OTE2OWVlODk1YTQ0YzA0NGRhNWY5NmZhMjJjMzVkOjc6dDpU or email the company careers@marineoilservice.com

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

Reinauer
1) Mate with a 500-ton masters or mate near coastal but will accept 200-ton masters or mate near coastal

If you are interested in either of the above positions, please email your resume and copies of your credentials to Keith at kpoissant@bridgedeck.org.

If you have any questions, please call Keith at 973-420-0492
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GREAT LAKES & GULF MARITIME REGION JOBS

— Unlimited Masters with Great Lakes Pilotage needed for 28/28 rotation – Self Unloading Vessels

— Unlimited Mates with Pilotage needed for 28/28 rotation – Research Vessel and Self Unloading Vessels

— QMED with STCW (RFPW and Able Seafarer-Engine) 21/21 rotation needed for Hopper Dredges

— 2nd Cook needed May through October aboard R/V Lake Guardian operating in the Great Lakes

Email resumes and MMC to elulko@bridgedeck.org
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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: 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): 07/13/26, 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):

07/18/26, 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: 07/20/26, 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: 07/13/26, 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): 07/13/26, 10/05/26

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 07/20/26, 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): 07/13/26, 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): 07/27/26*, 07/30/26*, 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: 07/20/26*, 07/27/26*, 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): 08/17/26

[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

July 2026

13-31 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation

22nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

28-31 Advanced Firefighting

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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