Wheelhouse Weekly, June 27, 2023

Volume 29… Number 26, June 27, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Unions Back Bill To Prioritize US-Grown Commodities for Food Aid
• Numerous Investigations Opened Into Submersible Accident
• 661 Containers Lost at Sea in 2022, the Lowest Number in 12 Years
• List of Congressional Candidates Who Support the Merchant Marine Posted on MM&P Website
• ILWU President Willie Adams on Tentative Agreement With PMA: “The True Heroes Are the Members of Our Great Union”
• Plus: New Edition of IFSMA Newsletter Posted on Bridgedeck.org
• National Maritime Center Update: Credential Production Delays Resolved

Attention All Mariners:

• Well-Paying Jobs Offering Permanent Employment Are Available With MM&P on the Great Lakes and in Coastal Waters!

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available
• Engineering Jobs Available Offshore and on the Great Lakes

And:

• MM&P Holiday Closing Schedule
• MITAGS-East Academic Notes
• MITAGS–West Academic Notes

UNIONS BACK BILL TO PRIORITIZE US-GROWN COMMODITIES FOR FOOD AID

MM&P has joined forces with more than 50 other organizations to push for passage of a bill that would ensure that US commodities are the cornerstone of international food aid.

The bipartisan legislation, the “American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023,” was introduced in Congress by Reps. Rick Crawford, John Garamendi, Tracey Mann, and Jimmy Panetta.

It would restore the Food for Peace program’s original intent to use US-grown commodities to fight global hunger, rather than using American taxpayers’ dollars to purchase food from America’s competitors, as is now too often the case.

“MM&P strongly supports this legislation,” says MM&P President Don Marcus.

“It will increase the amount of life-saving agricultural commodities provided by America’s farmers to help feed the world’s hungriest people through much-needed reforms to the international food aid programs.”

“At the same time, it will strengthen America’s national security and commercial sealift readiness capability by increasing the amount of cargo available to US-flag vessels and their American-citizen crews.”

Supporters argue that the bill would also restore transparency to international food aid programs and preserve more funds for food purchases.

“It would deliver beneficial results here at home and abroad by restoring accountability, transparency, and a Made-in-America focus to our international food security programs,” says AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Greg Regan.

“We must seize this opportunity to strengthen the state of our maritime and agricultural industries while maintaining our commitment to fighting global hunger.”

The legislation is supported by maritime groups that include unions, ports, US-flag shipping companies, and their advocacy groups.

It is also supported by numerous players in the agricultural industry.

“Our bipartisan bill restores the careful balance to ensure that taxpayer dollars for foreign relief are spent on American-grown foods transported on US-flag vessels, not foreign alternatives,” said Rep. John Garamendi.

“Congress always intended for these foreign relief programs to be a triple bottom line.”

“A win for America’s farmers in years when they grow more than they can sell.”

“A win for our nation’s shipbuilding and maritime industries, guaranteeing cargo during peacetime so we have the US-flag vessels needed during wartime.”

“And a win for projecting the generous spirit of Americans to help starving people around the world.”
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NUMEROUS INVESTIGATIONS OPENED INTO SUBMERSIBLE ACCIDENT

All the major North American maritime safety agencies have opened investigations into the catastrophic failure of the submersible TITAN, which imploded last week during a tourist expedition to view the wreck of the TITANIC.

Four passengers and the sub’s owner died in the accident.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard convened a Marine Board of Investigation, the agency’s highest level of investigation.

The MBI will issue a public report, including safety recommendations.

It can also make recommendations to the relevant authorities to pursue civil or criminal sanctions in cases of “misconduct, incompetence, negligence, unskillfulness, or willful violation of law.”

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has also launched an investigation.

On the Canadian side, the accident is being investigated by the Coast Guard, the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

OceanGate, the company that owned the submersible, operated in an environment that was largely free of regulation because the dives took place in international waters, outside the jurisdiction of any one country.

The company had been criticized in the past for not having the craft undergo formal safety classification by a classification society.

Most deep-sea submersibles are made of contiguous materials, like titanium, and have a spherical shape.

The TITAN was oblong, to provide space for more passengers, and built of carbon fiber/titanium composite.

Carbon fiber is cheaper than titanium or steel and is extremely strong, but it is largely untested for deep sea vessels.

OceanGate sold $250,000 tickets to take people 2.5 miles down to the ocean floor to see the wreckage, where the pressure is 400 times that experienced on Earth.
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661 CONTAINERS LOST AT SEA IN 2022, THE LOWEST NUMBER IN 12 YEARS

The World Shipping Council said that its annual survey of container losses shows that last year, only 661 containers were lost at sea out of a total of 250 million transported.

WSC has surveyed its member companies annually since 2011 to estimate the number of containers lost at sea each year.

It says that the survey is representative of the entire container market because its members operate more than 90 percent of global containership capacity.

The 2022 total of 661 containers represents the lowest loss in percentage terms since 2011, when the survey was conducted for the first time.

“[But] from a liner shipping industry perspective, every container overboard is one too many,” WSC said in a statement.

It noted that carriers share responsibility for safety with the other parties in the supply chain, including container operators, shippers, terminals, freight forwarders and ports.

It says that the average loss in each of the past three years was 2,301 containers annually.

The average annual loss in 2020-21 was 3,113, up from 779 in the previous two-year period, an increase driven by several major incidents including the 2020 loss by the ONE OPUS of more than 1,800 containers in severe weather.

WSC and several member companies are partnering in the MARIN Top Tier project, which uses scientific analyses and studies, as well as real-life measurements, to develop “specific, actionable and effective recommendations to increase container safety.”

Initial results have shown that parametric rolling—a phenomenon that is not well known and can develop unexpectedly in following seas—is especially hazardous.

Today, at the international level, there are mandatory reporting requirements for containers lost overboard that are declared to contain dangerous goods and marine pollutants.

There are not yet mandatory reporting requirements for containers lost overboard irrespective of their declared content.
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LIST OF CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT THE MERCHANT MARINE POSTED ON MM&P WEBSITE

An updated list of the Congressional candidates who have received a contribution from the MM&P Political Contribution Fund for their 2024 races has been posted in the Members’ Only section of bridgedeck.org.

The list is periodically updated as the MM&P PCF makes additional contributions, and as more information about candidates and their position on issues important to the Masters, Mates & Pilots become available.

If you have any questions about a particular candidate, please contact MM&P headquarters or Jim Patti at jpatti@miraid.org.

And remember: The PCF needs resources to support the campaigns of candidates who, regardless of political party, will work with us to ensure that America’s laws, policies, and regulations promote the use of U.S.-flag vessels and the employment of U.S.-citizen mariners.

Help protect your job by donating to the MM&P PCF.
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ILWU PRESIDENT WILLIE ADAMS ON TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH PMA: “THE TRUE HEROES ARE THE MEMBERS OF OUR GREAT UNION”

ort of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero sat down recently with ILWU President Willie Adams to discuss the union’s tentative agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association on a new six-year contract covering 22,000 workers at all 29 West Coast ports.

The key issues in the negotiations included automation and benefits, Adams told him.

The next step for each party to the agreement is ratification by the members.

For the ILWU, the process will get underway in July with a meeting of the Longshore Caucus, the highest governing body of the ILWU Longshore Division.

After that, the agreement will be presented for discussion to delegates for the 29 West Coast ports, before being put before the membership for a ratification vote.

“The true heroes of this whole thing are the members of our great union,” Adams says.

MM&P partners with the ILWU, the American Radio Association, the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, and the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association in the Maritime Labor Alliance.
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NEW EDITION OF IFSMA NEWSLETTER POSTED ON BRIDGEDECK.ORG

The June issue of the newsletter of the International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations has been posted on bridgedeck.org.

MM&P is a member of IFSMA, the professional organization that represents the world’s serving shipmasters at the IMO, the ILO, and other international and national forums.

In this issue of the newsletter:

— IMO Council establishes an award to recognize women or men who work in their professional or personal capacity to advance gender equality—the deadline for nominations is July 17;

— research commissioned by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force has found that worldwide, up to 800,000 seafarers could require additional training to use low-to-zero-carbon fuels by the mid-2030’s;

–the new issue of the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch Safety Digest can be viewed online—MAIB investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK vessels worldwide and other vessels in UK territorial waters;

— honorary IFSMA member Michael Gray discusses what factors are necessary to ensure “good working conditions” for today’s seafarers—among them are internet connectivity, enough crewmembers on board to handle the workload, and access to shore leave;

— lapses in cybersecurity aboard an autonomous ship could lead to collisions, hijacking, theft, or blackmail, but little attention has been paid so far to the security of autonomous vessels compared to other similar applications such as autonomous cars, drones, and aircraft.

To read the new issue of the IFSMA newsletter, go to bridgedeck.org and click on News and Announcements.
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CREDENTIAL PRODUCTION DELAYS RESOLVED

The National Maritime Center reported in April on technical difficulties with its credential production equipment that led to delays in issuing merchant mariner credentials.

These issues have been resolved, NMC said last week, and production and issuance times have returned to normal.

Mariners who are approved to print can expect their credential to be produced and issued within 2-3 business days.

As always, the agency says, mariners can expect to receive a status update email at each stage of the application, including upon issuance of their credentials.

To get the most up-to-date status information, use NMC’s online status tool, or contact the agency via Live Chat or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

If necessary, mariners can request expedited mailing of their MMC or medical certificate, which includes the ability to track the package.

Instructions detailing the expedited mailing process are provided on the NMC website.
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WELL-PAYING JOBS OFFERING PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ARE AVAILABLE WITH MM&P ON THE GREAT LAKES AND IN COASTAL WATERS!

The MM&P United Inland Group has jobs available with Grand River Navigation, Weeks Marine, Cetacean Marine, and Key Lakes.

At Grand River Navigation on the Great Lakes, there are:

— licensed deck jobs for those with Great Lakes pilotage;

— jobs for open water mates with a Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR);

— licensed engineering jobs.

At Cetacean Marine, there are licensed and unlicensed engineering jobs.

At Weeks Marine, there are licensed and unlicensed engineering jobs aboard their growing fleet of dredges.

Cross-shipping rights for Offshore applicants/members are available for licensed personnel, with sea time and points counting towards upgrading Offshore membership.

Key Lakes is looking for a mate with Great Lakes pilotage and an open-water mate.

The regular relief is for 30 days but could be modified if mutually agreed on.

These are long-term, permanent jobs.

For more information, go to the Jobs page on bridgedeck.org.

If you are interested, please contact UIG Vice President Tom Bell at tbell@bridgedeck.org or 216-776-1667 with any questions.
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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

Two third mates needed in the tanker fleet. TPIC not required.
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ENGINEERING JOBS AVAILABLE OFFSHORE AND ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are openings for engineers in the MM&P Offshore fleet and the Great Lakes & Gulf Region.

For engineering jobs in the Offshore Group, contact Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin, tlarkin@bridgedeck.org, or 201-963-1900.

For engineering jobs on the Lakes, contact MM&P Great Lakes & Gulf Region Vice President Tom Bell, tbell@bridgedeck.org, or (216) 776-1667.
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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 Tuesday, July 4, for Independence Day.

MM&P headquarters, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, Atlantic Ports union halls, Pacific Ports union halls, and the Tampa Hall will be closed on Wednesday, July 5, for Bloody Thursday.
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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): Not currently scheduled
AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/13/23

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): 07/24/23, 10/09/23

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP-Refresher (Now including Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots) (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 07/10/23, 09/10/23 (Sunday-Thursday)

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 09/26/23, 10/16/23, 11/13/23, 12/19/23

BT-Refresher (3-day): 09/26/23, 12/18/23

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): 09/18/23

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 07/24/23, 10/09/23, 12/18/23

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 07/31/23, 12/11/23

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/16/23

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 7/10/23, 11/27/23

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 07/17/23, 12/04/23

CM-OPS 2 APL – Chief Mate Operations II APL Specific (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 08/07/23, 12/11/23

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 08/14/23, 11/13/23

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 10/02/23

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 11/06/23

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 07/10/23*, 08/14/23, 09/11/23, 10/02/23, 10/30/23 12/04/23

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 07/17/23*, 10/09/23, 11/06/23, 12/11/23

**SHS-ADV-I & II are now approved to include SAR-CMM assessments at MITAGS**

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 12/18/23

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 09/25/23

WX-HW-ATL – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Atlantic Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-IND – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Indian Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 08/05/23, 12/02/23

CIW-DPA/IA – Continual Improvement Workshop: Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day) ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program **

Online: 07/12/23

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): Not currently scheduled

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

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 11/27/23

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

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 09/10/2023 (Sunday-Thursday)

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 09/27/23, 10/18/23, 11/15/23, 12/21/23

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 09/29/23, 12/16/23

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

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

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (10-Day): 07/17/23

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 09/11/23, 11/16/23

IEN – Integrated Electronic Navigation (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 07/10/23, 10/16/23

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-TPIC (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

LNG-BADV (3 Day): Coming Soon!

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

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments not included): 12/04/23

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 07/10/23*, 08/21/23*, 10/02/23, 12/04/23

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 08/07/23, 11/27/23

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 07/10/23*, 08/21/23*, 09/18/23, 10/02/23

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 07/15/23, 08/26/23, 09/24/23, 10/07/23, 10/15/23, 11/16/23, 12/09/23

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 08/10/23, 09/07/23, 10/26/23

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 08/11/23, 09/08/23, 10/27/23

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 08/12/23, 09/09/23, 10/28/23

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 08/14/23, 09/11/23, 10/30/23

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 08/12/23, 09/09/23, 10/28/23

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 08/13/23, 09/10/23, 10/29/23

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 08/18/23, 09/15/23, 11/03/23

NDMS-ENAV – Navigational Decision Making Series – Best Practice in eNav (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): *07/31/23, *08/02/23, 11/06/23*, 11/08/23*

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 09/18/23

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 09/21/23

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): Upon Request

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 11/16/23

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 10/23/23

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

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 08/28/23, 10/16/23, 11/13/23, 12/18/23

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: 09/11/23

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not currently scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 07/10/23, 09/11/23, 11/13/23

TRAC-TUG-2 (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program **: Not Currently Scheduled

VPDSD – Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties: Not Currently Scheduled

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

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 12/04/23

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 07/10/23
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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 2023
10-28 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

31-4 Radar Observer Unlimited

31-4 Basic Training

31-4 Advanced Shiphandling I

August 2023

7-10 ARPA

7-11 Advanced Shiphandling II

14-18 Advanced Stability

14-18 Basic Shiphandling

21-25 Basic Meteorology

28-31 Advanced Firefighting

28-1 Leadership & Managerial Skills

September 2023

5-6 Basic Training Revalidation

5-7 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

7th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

11-15 Medical Care Provider

11-22 Medical Person-In-Charge

18-29 GMDSS

October 2023

2-3 Basic Training Revalidation

2-6 ECDIS

4th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

9-12 Advanced Firefighting

9-13 Tankerman Person-In-Charge

16-20 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

23-27 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

30-1 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

30-3 Basic Training

30-10 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

31-3 ARPA

November 2023

6-7 Basic Training Revalidation

6-10 Medical Care Provider

6-10 Leadership & Managerial Skills

13-15 Search & Rescue

16th Leadership & Teamworking Skills

17th Flashing Light Assessment

27-30 Advanced Firefighting

27-15 Celestial Navigation

December 2023

7-8 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

9-10 Basic Training Revalidation

9-11 Basic Training Refresher

11th Radar Renewal

11th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

11-15 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.

For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.