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MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

Volume 31… Number 23, June 10, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

Mark Your Calendar:

Job Opportunities:

And:

LEADING MARITIME ORGANIZATIONS URGE CONGRESS TO ENSURE FULL FUNDING FOR CRITICAL NAVIGATION SAFETY SYSTEMS

MM&P and the American Pilots Association have joined other leading maritime organizations in urging Congress to ensure full funding for two vital navigation safety systems: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) and the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).

The PORTS program provides real-time oceanographic and other navigation data to support safe and efficient navigation in US waters.

It improves the safety and efficiency of vessel navigation through the integration of real-time environmental observations, forecasts and other geospatial information.

PORTS also measures and disseminates information related to tides, currents, salinity, and meteorological parameters (e.g., winds, atmospheric pressure, air and water temperature) that are essential to the safe navigation of vessels carrying trillions of dollars of cargo and hundreds of thousands of passengers each year.

IOOS uses buoys, submersible drones and radar installations to track water temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, wave speeds, swell heights and current strengths.

Both PORTS and IOOS are critical tools for professional mariners as they navigate commercial vessels into, out of, and through our ports and along coastal waterways and keep America’s maritime commerce moving safely and efficiently.

In a joint letter to the leadership of the Transportation Committees in the House and the Senate, MM&P, the APA and other leading maritime organizations urged Congress to ensure PORTS and IOOS are fully funded.

“We have become aware that funding for PORTS and IOOS is in jeopardy as efforts to eliminate government waste move forward,” they wrote to Congressional leaders on June 6.

“We think this would be a grave mistake as neither of these programs should in any way be viewed as ‘waste.’

“On behalf of our collective memberships and in the strongest possible terms, we urge you to ensure full funding for these vital navigation safety systems.”

“The need for the information provided by PORTS and IOOS has never been greater,” they wrote.

“These systems provide professional mariners, including pilots, with highly accurate, reliable, repeatable and real-time information as they safely maneuver all manner of vessels—tankers, containers, cruise, general cargo, and tugs/barges—in narrow channels and in close proximity to other vessels and navigational hazards.

“Such information will become even more important in the future as the size

of ships entering US waterways—length, beam and draft—will continue to dramatically outpace channel expansion in America’s ports.

“Put another way, ships are getting larger and larger, but channels are getting correspondingly smaller.

“Further, the volume of maritime commerce continues to grow and the vast majority (95 percent) of economic trade enters and leaves the United States via maritime shipping.

“As a result, port authorities, pilots, shipping companies, and masters and mates will need PORTS, IOOS, and other sources of critical navigation information even more as they go about their vital work of supporting the economy and protecting the marine environment.

“We are of the strong collective view that ceasing or even reducing funding for PORTS and IOOS would be a mistake that would have significant negative impacts on safety of navigation on America’s waterways and the efficient movement of goods and passengers.

“Given the relatively small cost for the federal government to maintain PORTS and IOOS, combined with the enormous potential costs (in terms of safety of life at sea, damage to the environment, and port delays in the event of a shipping accident) of a substantial reduction in navigation safety in near-coastal, harbor entrance and approach, and inland waters, it is ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ for these programs to be cut or to have their funding reduced.

“We support NOAA’s efforts to meet its navigational safety obligations and strongly recommend that funding be maintained for PORTS and IOOS.”

The letter was addressed to: Sen. Ted Cruz, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Sen. Maria Cantwell, the Committee’s Ranking Member; Rep. Sam Graves, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Rep. Rick Larsen, the Committee’s Ranking Member.

The letter was signed by MM&P International President Don Josberger, APA President Jorge Viso, and the presidents of the American Association of Port Authorities, the Chamber of Shipping of America, the Cruise Lines International Association, the American Waterways Operators, and the Waterways Council Inc.
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SALVORS ARRIVE AT SITE OF BURNING PCTC OFF ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

A salvage team has arrived at the scene of the car carrier fire off Alaska’s Aleutian Island chain.

A tug carrying salvage experts and equipment reached the burning vessel, MORNING MIDAS, on Monday, according to the ship manager, Zodiac Maritime.

A second tug, this one with firefighting and towing capabilities, is also heading to the scene.

In the meantime, the company said, they are monitoring conditions aboard the vessel through its onboard satellite-connected systems.

The Coast Guard received a distress call from the crew of the Liberian-flagged car carrier on June 3 at around 3:15 p.m. when it was roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak Island.

“Smoke was initially seen emanating from a deck carrying electric vehicles,” a spokesperson for Zodiac Maritime said.

“The crew immediately initiated emergency firefighting procedures using the vessel’s onboard fire suppression systems.”

“However, despite their efforts, the situation could not be brought under control.”

The 22-person crew was forced to abandon ship in a lifeboat and later rescued by a merchant vessel. No injuries have been reported.

The Coast Guard said the 2006-built PCTC is carrying 3,048 vehicles, of which 70 are fully electric and 681 are partial-hybrid electric.

It left Yantai, China, on May 26, headed to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico.

Given the recent spate of fires, the maritime industry may be facing a pivotal moment in its approach to fire safety, according to the publication Ship Universe.

Shipping companies are discussing the implementation of measures that include pre-shipment battery safety certification and unified standards for EV stowage on international voyages.

Industry working groups are drafting new EV-specific cargo-handling protocols and recommendations for enhanced fire detection and suppression systems.

The International Maritime Organization and national regulators are accelerating rule changes, including proposed amendments to SOLAS that may include mandatory thermal isolation for EV cargo and more firefighting training for mariners, with a specific focus on the risks of lithium-ion ignition.
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PIRATES BOARD CARGO SHIP IN GULF OF GUINEA AND KIDNAP INJURED CREWMEMBER

The Curacao-flagged ORANGE FROST was attacked by pirates on May 30 off the coast of West Africa between Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Most of the crewmembers were able to muster in the citadel but one of them, the second engineer, was injured in the attack and is missing, presumed kidnapped.

As the situation unfolded, the master of the vessel was able to monitor the situation over CCTV and report what was happening to security operators at the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade-Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG).

Seven armed pirates boarded the vessel with what appeared to be guns, the master said.

They damaged equipment on the bridge before disembarking the following day.

According to security consultant Dryad Global, piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea increased by 30 percent in the first five months of 2025.

In March, 10 armed pirates boarded a bitumen tanker, the BITU RIVER.

The crew tried to shelter in the citadel and the engine room, but the pirates were able to breach their defenses and kidnap 10 members of the crew, including the captain and the chief engineer.

Those abducted include seven Indian nationals and three Romanians.

The remaining crewmembers later navigated the vessel to Libreville, Gabon, where the ship is currently anchored under guard.

In April, another vessel, the SEA PANTHER, reported being boarded by pirates.

The perpetrators were aboard for four hours before disembarking with the crew’s belongings and other property.
Back to Stories Covered


NTSB RELEASES AUDIO TRANSCRIPT FROM MV DALI VOYAGE DATA RECORDER

The National Transportation Safety Board has released the audio transcript from the MV DALI’s voyage data recorder for the night of March 26, 2024, when it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Readers can access the complete audio transcript here.



The written transcript of the voice conversations was posted following the NTSB’s outline of the information in a March 2025 press briefing.

The bridge collapsed when it was struck by the Singapore-flag cargo ship, killing six members of a road repair crew.

Plans are being drawn up to get a replacement bridge up and running by 2028.

Legal cases surrounding the accident are expected to run for many years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Insurers say the collision could be one of the largest maritime claims in history.
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NEW ZEALAND MARITIME AUTHORITY SEEKS TO BAN SUBSTANDARD SHIPS

Accident investigators in New Zealand are calling on the government to pass a law to prohibit ships that pose significant safety risks from entering the country’s territorial waters.

The demand for action comes on the heels of a series of incidents caused by a flag-of-convenience containership that had been cited in multiple jurisdictions for mechanical deficiencies before entering New Zealand’s maritime zone.

Port State Control-Tokyo had previously designated the ship, the Singapore-flagged SHILING, a “high-risk vessel.”

It had also been cited 19 times by the maritime authorities of China, Chile and Russia.

The SHILING suffered multiple engine failures in the Port of Wellington, New Zealand, in July 2022.

In April of the following year, crewmembers aboard the vessel had to deploy both anchors to stop it from running aground after the main engine broke down as it departed the port.

A detailed inspection carried out after it was towed back identified numerous mechanical problems.

These took a month to repair, the authorities said.

Then in May, as the SHILING was leaving for Singapore, the main engine failed again.

This time it remained in Wellington for an additional 45 days while repairs were made to the engine, the generators and several other onboard systems.

In their report, inspectors at NZ Maritime issued a number of recommendations, including that they be given the authority to ban substandard vessels from the country’s territorial waters.

Investigators at AMSA, in neighboring Australia, already have that authority.

“[T]he SHILING had a history of deficiencies and it’s virtually certain that it wasn’t seaworthy the entire time it was in New Zealand,” said NZ Maritime’s Chief Accident Investigator Naveen Kozhuppakalam.

“Owing to its troubled history, it was just a matter of time before a serious incident occurred.”
Back to Stories Covered


MAKE SUMMER TRAVEL PLANNING EASIER WITH UNION PLUS

Want to get away?

Union members can book a hotel almost anywhere in the world with the Union Plus Hotels platform and get exclusive discounts.

Members also have access to car rental discounts at nine national car rental companies.

Union Plus makes it easy to navigate travel planning, and it offers savings on nearly every kind of experience, from thoughtfully planned once-in-a-lifetime vacation tours to worldwide excursions, day trips to theme parks, and visits to other attractions.

Explore more and spend less with Union Plus.
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MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

All MM&P union halls, MM&P headquarters, the MM&P Plan Office, and the MM&P Federal Credit Union will be closed on Thursday, June 19, for Juneteenth.
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE OAKLAND HALL ON MONDAY, JUNE 16

There will be a membership meeting in the MM&P Oakland Hall on Monday, June 16, immediately after the 11:00 a.m. job call.

MM&P Secretary-Treasurer J. Lars Turner, Pacific Ports Vice President Melany Velleca and Port Agent-Pacific Ports John Taylor will attend the meeting.

The Oakland Hall is located at:

315 Broadway, Second Floor

Oakland, CA 94607

Phone: 510-808-7068
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL ON TUESDAY, JUNE 17

There will be a membership meeting in the MM&P Oakland Hall on Monday, June 16, immediately after the 11:00 a.m. job call.

MM&P Secretary-Treasurer J. Lars Turner, 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
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ATLANTIC MARITIME Jobs

Buchanan is looking for two Mates with a Mate of Towing in Inland Waters Endorsement.
If you are interested, please fill out an application on the company’s website Buchanan Marine LP. Click on “Careers” and scroll down to “Apply Online.”

If you have questions, please send an email to: ptrzepacz@bridegeck.org.

Reinauer Transportation is looking for a Mate with a 500 Ton license with a near coastal and TOAR.

If you have questions, please contact Keith Poissant at 973-420-0492 or kpoissant@bridgedeck.org

Staten Island Ferry is looking for Provisional Marine Oilers with their QMED.

If you are interested, please fill out an application with the attached link

https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/marine-oiler-in-staten-island-jid-27357

If you have questions, please send an email to: Aturzio@bridegeck.org

Statue City Cruises is looking for Deckhands, and Mates and Captains with a 100-ton license.

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the company’s website Statue of Liberty Tickets & Tour Experiences – Statue City Cruises.

Click on “Careers” on the bottom right.

Once you do that, please contact Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org.

Back to Stories Covered


OFFSHORE JOBS

Senior LMSR positions available.
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Great Lakes & Gulf Jobs

Immediate openings in the Great Lakes region for the following permanent jobs:

Grand River Navigation MATES and CAPTAINS (28/28 Rotation)

Grand River Navigation ASSISTANT ENGINEERS – 1st, 2nd, 3rd or DDE (28/28 Rotation)

Weeks Marine QMED – Must have STCW documents: AS-E, VPDSD, RFPEW (21/21 Rotation)

Great Lakes Towing CAPTAINS – Must live within one hour of Ports; Detroit, Toledo, Chicago, Duluth, Cleveland, Buffalo

If you’re interested in applying or want more information, please contact MM&P GL&G Vice President Ed Lulko, elulko@bridgedeck.org.
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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): 09/22/25

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): Not currently scheduled

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

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): 10/20/25

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 09/08/25

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

BT-Refresher (3-day): 09/22/25

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): Not Currently scheduled

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 08/04/25, 10/13/25, 12/08/25

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 07/28/25, 12/01/25

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

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 08/18/25, 10/20/25

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 8/25/25, 10/27/25

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (5-Day): 06/23/25, 10/06/25, 12/15/25

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 09/15/25

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 09/22/25

NOTICE–SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day) & SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day) – Have been combined into a 2-week(10-Day) course. These courses will only be offered as one course moving forward.

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 07/14/25*, 08/11/25, 09/15/25, 10/06/25, 11/03/25, 12/01/25

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day): 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: 08/13/25

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): Not currently scheduled

ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-day): Not currently scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 09/08/25

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 09/24/25, 11/22/25, 11/14/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 09/18/25, 11/10/25

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 07/21/25

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 07/21/25

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross-Ton-License (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 08/18/25, 08/21/25, 10/01/25, 10/15/25, 12/15/25

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): Not Currently Scheduled

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 07/07/25, 10/06/25, 12/08/25

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 08/04/25, 11/17/25

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 07/12/25, 08/09/25, 10/11/25, 11/16/25, 12/13/25

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (MSC-ATO-III included) (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): 08/07/25, 09/11/25

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 08/08/25, 09/12/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 08/10/25, 09/14/25

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 08/11/25, 09/15/25

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 08/09/25, 09/13/25

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 08/10/25, 09/14/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 06/20/25, 08/15/25, 09/19/25

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 07/08/25*, 07/10/25*, 08/26/25*, 08/28/25*, 09/30/25*, 10/02/25*, 12/02/25, 12/04/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 09/15/25

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

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

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 09/24/25, 11/11/25

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: Not currently scheduled

SAR – Search & Rescue (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 06/23/25, 07/28/25, 09/08/25

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

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

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 08/18/25

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 09/15/25

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): Not currently scheduled
Back to Stories Covered


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

June 2025

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

July 2025
7-11 Medical Care Provider

14-15 Basic Training Revalidation

14-16 Basic Training Refresher

16th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

17-18 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-1 Terrestrial Navigation

21-24 Advanced Firefighting

28-29 Basic Training Revalidation

30th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

August 2025
4-8 Radar Observer Unlimited

4-8 Basic Training

11-14 Advanced Firefighting

18-22 Medical Care Provider

25-29 ARPA

September 2025

3-5 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

8-12 ECDIS

9-12 Advanced Firefighting

15-19 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

15-26 GMDSS

22-23 Basic Training Revalidation

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-26 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

29-1 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

29-3 Leadership & Managerial Skills

29-3 Meteorology – Operational Level

29th MSC – Security Watchstander Advanced

30-3 MSC – Small Arms

October 2025
6-9 Search & Rescue

7-10 Advanced Firefighting

9th Flashing Light

10th Leadership & Teamworking Skills

13-17 Basic Training

13-17 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

13-24 Watchkeeping – Operational Level

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation

20-22 Basic Training Refresher

20-24 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

22nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-23 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

27-30 ARPA

27-31 Medical Care Provider

27-31 Basic Shiphandling

27-7 Medical Person-In-Charge

November 2025
3-5 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

3-7 Leadership & Managerial Skills

10-12 Search & Rescue

10-13 Advanced Firefighting

17-18 Basic Training Revalidation

19th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

December 2025Back to Stories Covered


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.