Wheelhouse Weekly, March 25, 2025

Volume 31… Number 12, March 25, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Administration Seeks to Limit Federal Unions’ Role As It Prepares for More Layoffs
• NTSB Issues Urgent Safety Recommendations on Risks to Bridges of Vessel Strikes
• The New Issue of The Master, Mate & Pilot Is Now Online
• National Maritime Center’s Web-Based Tools Unavailable
• Soo Locks Open Early for 2025 Shipping Season
• Please Respond to the Survey on Work-Life Balance in Maritime
• Today in History: Remembering Those Who Died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
• News for Blue Water Mariners: NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center Offers New Two-Week Wind/Wave Outlook

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in Newark Hall on Thursday, March 27
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Seattle Hall on Wednesday, April 23
• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Charleston Hall on April 30
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Boston Hall on Thursday, May 15
• MM&P Holiday Closing Schedule

Job Opportunities:

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

And:

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

ADMINISTRATION SEEKS TO LIMIT FEDERAL UNIONS’ ROLE AS IT PREPARES FOR MORE LAYOFFS

The administration has instructed federal agencies to ignore provisions in collective bargaining agreements that could interfere with its ability to proceed with more layoffs of public sector workers.

Probationary workers were among those terminated in the first phase of cuts.

Federal agencies are now being required to submit plans to terminate employees whose positions are not required by statute or designated as essential.

The agencies have been instructed to lay these workers off by Sept. 30.

To smooth the way for more terminations, the Office of Personnel Management has instructed agencies to disregard provisions of collective bargaining agreements that could slow the process.

“Any CBA provisions that are inconsistent with OPM regulations or that excessively interfere with management’s rights to ‘determine the organization’ and the ‘number of employees’ of the agency, as well as ‘layoff, and retain employees in the agency’ are unenforceable,” Charles Ezell, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, told agency heads in a March 12 memo.

In related news, OPM has directed agencies to provide it with information on the costs associated with collective bargaining, including arbitration and the time used to negotiate union contracts.

For purposes of transparency, please note that all MM&P officials are employed by the Union and are not compensated with taxpayer funds, for example, in the form of “official time.”
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NTSB ISSUES URGENT SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS ON RISKS TO BRIDGES OF VESSEL STRIKES

Owners of major bridges should assess the risk that they could collapse if struck by a vessel and take urgent action to mitigate the risk if the level of vulnerability is found to be high.

This is the central recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board’s interim report on the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, when it was struck by MV DALI, a Singapore-flag containership.

Six construction workers died, and another was injured when the bridge collapsed.

One member of the MV DALI crew also died.

The NTSB found that the bridge was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in 1991.

Sixty-eight major bridges in 19 states do not have a current vulnerability assessment, the agency said, and their owners should have one performed to protect public safety.

If an assessment indicates that a bridge has a risk level above the threshold, the NTSB recommends that owners act quickly to develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan.

Baltimore’s Key Bridge was opened in 1977.

Since 1994, the Federal Highway Administration has required that new bridges be designed to minimize the risk of collapse from a vessel collision.

The NTSB found that had the Maryland Transportation Authority conducted a vulnerability assessment of the bridge based on recent vessel traffic, it would have been aware that the bridge was above the acceptable risk level, and it could have acted to reduce the risk of collapse and the associated loss of lives.

The NTSB is also recommending that the Federal Highway Administration, the Coast Guard and the US Army Corps of Engineers establish an interdisciplinary team to provide guidance and assistance to bridge owners on evaluating the risk and, if necessary, implementing infrastructure improvements or operational changes to improve it.

The NTSB marine investigation report is posted here.

The agency said information from the MV DALI’s vessel data recorder would be released in the coming weeks.

The engineering portion of the investigation, including the findings of the maritime investigative team on factors aboard the DALI that contributed to the collision, will be released as part of the NTSB’s final report later this year.

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THE NEW ISSUE OF THE MASTER, MATE & PILOT IS NOW ONLINE

The Spring 2025 issue of the MM&P magazine has been posted on bridgedeck.org under News and Announcements.

In this issue:

— the new MM&P leadership team takes the helm;

— lawmakers from farm states try to save the Food for Peace program, a major source of cargo for the merchant marine;

— Hapag Express Class vessels transferred to the West Coast;

— MAERSK SELETAR Master Jaime Morlett named MLL’s Mariner of the Year;

— aboard the Black Ball ferry MV COHO;

— longtime Norfolk Port Agent Mark Nemergut retires;

— VINIK 6 tows the storied Atlantic liner SS UNITED STATES to Mobile;

— Kevin Zapolski honored by Crowley for helping to save the life

of a shipmate;

— MM&P holiday party photos.

PLUS:

— whistleblower statutes can help you protect your license, your livelihood, and your personal integrity. Read the feature story in the magazine to find out more.

The Master, Mate & Pilot will be in your mailbox soon. In the meantime, look for it online on bridgedeck.org.
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NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER’S WEB-BASED TOOLS UNAVAILABLE

The Coast Guard’s public access portal, Homeport, has been unavailable due to technical issues since March 5.

Here are alternative ways to get some of the information that cannot now be accessed through the portal:

— To check the status of an application for a merchant mariner credential or medical certificate, contact NMC at 1-888-427-5662, IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or via Live Chat.

Customer service agents are available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. EST.

The busiest times are around midday; to avoid longer wait times, call early in the morning or use Live Chat, which during normal hours will connect you with the support team.

To verify the authenticity of a merchant mariner credential, email IASKNMC@uscg.mil.

For a faster response, put Credential Verification in the subject line of your email.

In the body of the email, put the mariner(s) name(s) and mariner reference number(s).

Processing times vary based on volume of email received.

Course curricula and course certificate modification requests should be sent to NMCCourses@uscg.mil.

To prevent delays in mariner applications, course and program completions should be documented through the issuance of completion certificates.

Completion certificate format and content should match those approved by the NMC during the approval process.

For questions related to mariner training and assessment, contact the NMC at 206-815-6893.

When online service is reestablished, NMC will provide an update.

In the meantime, it thanks you for your patience.
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SOO LOCKS OPEN EARLY FOR 2025 SHIPPING SEASON

The Detroit District of the US Army Corps of Engineers opened the Poe Lock on March 21, marking the start of the 2025 Great Lakes shipping season.

“Opening the Soo Locks early provided relief to the increased pressure that the Great Lakes Navigation System faces with the influx of foreign vessels, including the Canadian domestic fleet,” said Lake Carriers’ Association President James Weakley.

“Our winter maintenance period is a critical time for us to execute strategic asset renewal investments in our aging locks,” said LeighAnn Ryckeghem, Soo Locks operations manager.

“This year, a number of factors worked in our favor, allowing us to safely deliver this critical maintenance and also open to navigation traffic a few days early.”

The locks officially closed after passage of the last vessel of the 2024 season on Jan. 16.

Federal regulation establishes the shipping season based on the feasibility of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions.

During the 10-week-long winter shutdown, crews performed a variety of tasks on the Poe Lock, including fabricating and replacing anchorages on gate 3, commissioning the temporary dewatering system, removing underground storage tanks and repairing the winter work bridge recesses.

“We worked hard to accelerate work up-front during our annual closure to optimize the short time available for critical maintenance and repairs,” said Nicholas Pettit, maintenance branch chief.

“Due to the hard work of our crews during an extreme winter season, we’ve been able to accomplish all required work ahead of schedule.”

The Poe Lock was not dewatered this year for scheduled maintenance.

The MacArthur Lock remains closed for maintenance until April.
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PLEASE RESPOND TO THE SURVEY ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN MARITIME

The World Maritime University (WMU) is calling on all mariners currently working on any commercial ship or who have worked on such ships during or after 2013 to participate in a survey on work-related aspects, psychological well-being, and career intentions.

WMU is conducting the survey in collaboration with MM&P and MEBA.

The insights gathered will help the maritime community consider improvements.

The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete, and all responses will remain completely anonymous.

Please share the link to the survey with other mariners in your network and encourage them to fill it out.

The deadline to complete the survey is June 30, 2025.

Follow the link to complete the survey or paste this URL into your browser:

https://wmuhq.questionpro.eu/seafarersworklifebalancesurvey
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REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED IN THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE

Today is the 114th anniversary of one of the deadliest industrial accidents in US history, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

Locked doors and inadequate fire escapes contributed to the tragedy, which killed 146 garment workers—123 women and girls and 23 men—who died from the fire, from smoke inhalation, or from falling or jumping to their deaths.

The factory was located on the upper floors of the Asch Building, later renamed the Brown Building, which still stands at 23–29 Washington Place and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

A short video on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire is posted on YouTube.
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NOAA’S OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER OFFERS NEW TWO-WEEK WIND/WAVE OUTLOOK

NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center is offering a new two-week wind/wave outlook for Blue Water Mariners.

Week 2 Winds/Waves over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is a new, experimental product that can be accessed by going to this link or pasting this URL into your browser: https://ocean.weather.gov/week2/

It provides 8- to 14-day lead time probabilistic forecasts for three different wind thresholds: 34 (Gale), 48 (Storm), and 64 (Hurricane-force) kt and four different seas thresholds: 4, 6, 9, and 14 m (12, 20, 30, and 45 ft).

It is hoped that the outlook may be helpful for vessel route planning while crossing the oceans.

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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN NEWARK HALL ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Newark Union Hall on Thursday, March 27 at 1100.

International President Don Josberger and International Secretary-Treasurer J. Lars Turner will attend the meeting and give their reports.

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The Newark Hall is located at:

570 Broad Street, Suite 701

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: 201-963-1900
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN SEATTLE HALL ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Seattle Union Hall on Wednesday, April 23, immediately after the 1100 job call.

If you have items you wish to have placed on the agenda, and/or questions that may require research, please email them to Melany Velleca at mvelleca@bridgedeck.org or call the Seattle Hall at 206-441-8700.

All Offshore members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The Seattle Hall is located at:

15208 52nd Ave. South

Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98188

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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE CHARLESTON HALL ON APRIL 30

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin will convene an Offshore membership meeting in the Charleston Union Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 1100.

International President Don Josberger will attend the meeting and give his report.

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

The address of the Charleston Hall is:

1481 Tobias Gadson Blvd, Suite 2C

Charleston, SC 29407

The phone number is: 843-766-3565.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN BOSTON HALL ON THURSDAY, MAY 15

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Boston Union Hall on Thursday, May 15, at 1200.

International President Don Josberger will attend the meeting and give his report.

The Boston Hall is located at:

12 Channel Street, Suite 606-A

Boston, MA 02210-2333

Phone: 617-671-0769

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

The MM&P Honolulu Hall will be closed on Saturday, March 29, for Harry Bridges Memorial Day.

Pacific Mainland Ports will be closed on Monday, March 31, for Cesar Chavez Day.
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AMG Jobs

Buchanan Marine is looking for a permanent Deckhand with an OS license.

Buchanan is also looking for a Mate 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 any 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

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OFFSHORE JOBS

CM needed for Haina Patriot. TPIC required.

CM SLNC Pax

LMSR positions available.

Numerous ROS CM jobs.
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GREAT LAKES & GULF JOBS

WEEKS MARINE SEEKS WELDER – 1 OS/WIPER (MIN.)

Weeks Marine is seeking a welder to work aboard the DREDGE MAGDALEN.

Required Documents:

1. Valid MMC (Must have BST, VPDSD & OS/Wiper (Min.) endorsements)

2. Valid USCG Medical Certificate

3. TWIC

Crew Change Date: 3/27/2025 (Arrive the evening of 3/25. Onboarding & Orientation on 3/26)

GRAND RIVER NAVIGATION IS HIRING TWO ASSISTANT ENGINEERS ON ATB UNITS.

Any Unlimited License (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

12hr Days

If you are interested in applying or want more information, please contact MM&P GL&R 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): 04/28/25, 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): 03/31/25

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): 04/07/25, 10/20/25

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 04/14/25, 09/08/25

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 05/05/25, 06/09/25, 09/22/25, 10/20/25, 11/12/25

BT-Refresher (3-day): 05/05/25, 09/22/25

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

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 04/28/25, 08/04/25

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 04/21/25, 06/02/25, 07/28/25

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

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 05/12/25, 08/18/25

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 05/19/25, 8/25/25

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

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

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

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 04/07/25, 05/05/25*, 06/09/25, 07/14/25, 08/11/25, 09/15/25

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 04/14/25, 05/12/25, 06/16/25, 07/21/25, 08/18/25, 09/22/25

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): 04/26/25, 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: Not currently scheduled

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/05/25, 12/01/25

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

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

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-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: 05/07/25, 06/11/25, 09/24/25, 11/22/25, 11/14/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 05/08/25, 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): 06/03/25

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 04/21/25*, 06/04/25, 08/18/25

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): 04/07/25, 05/12/25, 07/07/25

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 04/28/25, 08/04/25

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

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 04/12/25, 05/03/25, 05/17/25, 07/12/25, 08/09/25

[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): 05/08/25, 06/12/25, 08/07/25, 09/11/25

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 05/09/25, 06/13/25, 08/08/25, 09/12/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 05/11/25, 08/10/25, 09/14/25

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 04/15/25, 05/12/25, 06/16/25, 08/11/25, 09/15/25

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 05/10/25, 06/14/25, 08/09/25, 09/13/25

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 04/14/24, 05/11/25, 06/15/25, 08/10/25, 09/14/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 05/13/25, 06/20/25, 08/15/25, 09/19/25

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 04/29/25*, 05/01/25*, 07/08/25, 07/10/25, 08/26/25, 08/28/25, 09/30/25, 10/05/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 04/21/25, 09/15/25

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 05/01/25, 09/25/25

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): 04/09/25

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 05/07/25, 09/24/25, 11/11/25

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 11/03/25

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

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 04/14/25

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 04/21/25*, 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): 07/28/25

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not currently scheduled

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

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 05/14/25, 08/18/25

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

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): Not currently scheduled
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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
March 2025

31-4 Radar Observer Unlimited

31-4 Basic Training

April 2025

7-8 Basic Training Revalidation

7-9 Basic Training Refresher

7-9 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

7-11 ECDIS

9th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-11 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-17 Advanced Firefighting (Original)

14-25 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

21-24 ARPA

21-25 Medical Care Provider

21-2 Medical Person-In-Charge

2-2 ECDIS

28-9 GMDSS

May 2025

5-9 Basic Training

5-16 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

12-15 Advanced Firefighting

12-30 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

19-20 Basic Training Revalidation

21st Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

June 2025

2-6 Radar Observer Unlimited

2-6 Leadership & Managerial Skills

2-6 Basic Training

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

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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.