Volume 31… Number 19, May 13, 2025
STORIES COVERED
In This Issue:
- Administration Nominates MLL Executive as Maritime Administrator
- TTD President on MSP: “A Bipartisan, Cost-Effective Program That Should Be Fully Funded”
- Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Federal Workers Who Are Also Military Reservists in Long-Running Pay Dispute
- Unmanned Boat Rams Merchant Vessel Off Coast of Iran
- Does the Union Have Your Current Email Address on File?
- Your Voice Matters! Please Respond to the Survey on Work-Life Balance in Maritime
- Plus: National Maritime Day Is Thursday, May 22
- Donate to the MM&P PCF: Help Defend the American Merchant Marine
- Important News From the MM&P Plan Office: Plan Office Change of Bank for the Vacation Plan and PRO Payments
- More Important News From the MM&P Plan Office: Dependent Eligibility Audit Letter Mailed to Participants on May 9
Mark Your Calendar:
Job Opportunities:
And:
ADMINISTRATION NOMINATES MLL EXECUTIVE AS MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR
The administration has nominated Stephen Carmel, an executive with Maersk Line Ltd., to lead the Maritime Administration, the agency responsible for promoting domestic shipping and shipbuilding and providing funding for intermodal port connections with rail and trucking.
Carmel sailed as a deep-sea tanker captain before coming ashore to work in a variety of operations and finance positions at MLL.
He is now MLL’s senior vice president, maritime services.
He is also an adviser to the Yorktown Institute, a national security and geopolitical forum.
Carmel’s nomination comes on the heels of the introduction in Congress of The SHIPS for America Act, landmark legislation that would revitalize America’s maritime and shipbuilding industries.
It also follows President Trump’s Executive Order “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.”
In a 2021 presentation for the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs, a not-for-profit foreign policy forum, Carmel said the US merchant fleet is “in serious trouble,” due to a lack of sealift capacity.
“At the end of the day, this is one of those issues that the US has some serious studying to do,” Carmel said during his presentation.
“There are no easy answers, and we are just beginning to grapple with how big this problem is and what needs to be done to fix it.”
Carmel has served on a number of advisory boards including the CNO Executive Panel, Marine Board at the National Academies, and the Naval Studies Board.
He is currently a member of the Board of Visitors of the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
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TTD PRESIDENT ON MSP: “A BIPARTISAN, COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE FULLY FUNDED”
The Maritime Security Program helps ensure that US-flagged and US-crewed vessels are available for military and humanitarian needs, Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, noted during a recent radio interview, adding that it also supports national security and the commercial shipping industry.
This makes it a bipartisan priority that deserves continued funding, Regan said in an interview last week with America’s Workforce radio.
Besides underlining the importance of MSP, Regan spoke of other transportation issues that urgently require the attention of legislators: aviation safety and public transport safety.
He stressed the need for significant multiyear investments to modernize the country’s aging air traffic control system and hire more air traffic controllers, concerns that have been repeatedly expressed by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Regan also spoke of the rise in violence against transit workers.
Bus operators and train platform workers often face threats, he said, noting that the country experienced a 232-percent increase in assaults aboard public transit systems between 2014 to 2022.
Regan called on federal leaders to implement changes to ensure the safety of public-facing transport workers, such as improvements in bus design and the use of visible camera systems as a deterrent.
The goal, he said, is to create a safer environment not only for transit workers but also for passengers, as assaults can lead to dangerous situations for everyone on board.
MM&P is one of the 37 unions representing millions of transportation workers nationwide who belong to the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department.
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SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF FEDERAL WORKERS WHO ARE ALSO MILITARY RESERVISTS IN LONG-RUNNING PAY DISPUTE
The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that government employees who also serve in the military reserve must be paid the equivalent of their federal civilian salaries when called to active duty during national emergencies.
The Court’s decision could affect hundreds of thousands of people, ensuring that they don’t suffer financially when they temporarily leave one form of government service for another.
The justices ruled on an appeal filed by an air traffic controller who spent five years on active duty in the Coast Guard at a pay rate lower than what he earned as a Federal Aviation Administration employee.
Congress first adopted a differential pay statute in 2009, but the Justice Department argued that it only applied to people whose service had a strong connection to a national emergency.
A majority of the justices disagreed, ruling that any reservist who is called to active duty during a national emergency bolsters the country’s defenses and their salary should match what they would have made in their federal civilian jobs.
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UNMANNED BOAT RAMS MERCHANT VESSEL OFF COAST OF IRAN
Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a Persian Gulf security incident in which an unmanned boat collided with a merchant ship.
The master of the vessel, which has not been identified, alerted UKMTO on May 10 regarding an unusual encounter south of Kish Island, Iran, at a position approximately 80 nautical miles northwest of Jebel Ali.
The master reported that a small craft had collided with his vessel after it had previously attempted to collide with several other nearby ships.
The crew of the small boat was spotted transferring to another small craft so as to leave the boat unmanned before its final maneuver into the hull of the merchant ship.
No members of the crew of the merchant ship were injured in the incident.
The merchant ship remained at the scene for some time before proceeding on its voyage, UKMTO said.
While it was in the area, it received VHF calls from people identifying themselves as “local authorities” who demanded that a boarding party be allowed access to the merchant ship.
Although the small boat did not detonate, the incident bears the hallmarks of Houthi bomb boat technology.
Typically, Houthi bomb boats are piloted by a human until the final approach, when the pilot activates a remote control system and abandons ship.
Then the crew of a nearby support vessel guides the bomb boat by remote control the rest of the way to the target ship.
Based on the examination of captured examples of other small boats, Iran appears to have supplied at least some of the guidance systems.
Iran has also long experimented with unmanned craft of its own, and Iranian security forces are known to use misleading radio announcements to merchant shipping.
During previous periods of heightened tensions, Iran has periodically engaged in boardings and hijackings.
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DOES THE UNION HAVE YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS ON FILE?
Did your email address change? Did you change email providers? If so, have you informed the Union of your current email address?
Please note that the Union and the Plan Office have separate databases.
When your contact information—including your email address—changes, you should make sure that both the Union and the Plan Office have your new information.
To inform the union, email membership@bridgedeck.org or call 410-850-8700 and choose Option 5.
To inform the Plan Office, email PlanOffice@mmpplans.com.
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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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NATIONAL MARITIME DAY IS THURSDAY, MAY 22
Congress designated May 22 as National Maritime Day to commemorate the Atlantic crossing of the SS SAVANNAH, which sailed from Savannah to Liverpool in 1819.
National Maritime Day was observed for the first time in 1933.
Congress viewed National Maritime Day as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the country’s maritime heritage and to honor the mariners who answer the nation’s call in peace and war.
This year, the National Maritime Day observance in Washington will take place at the headquarters of the Department of Transportation from 10:00 to 11:00.
The theme for 2025 is “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.”
In Oakland, the Propeller Club of Northern California is observing National Maritime Day on Wednesday, May 21, from 11:30 to 1:30 at Scott’s Seafood.
In San Pedro, the American Merchant Marine Memorial Committee invites everyone to attend the National Maritime Day Observance and luncheon.
The service will be held on May 22 at the foot of 6th Street in San Pedro beginning at 11:00. Luncheon will follow at the Memorial Wall.
Once again, the Committee recommends Massey’s House of Flowers on Western Ave. in Lomita (310) 325-8222.
Massey’s will deliver all the wreaths on Monday morning before the program begins.
There is a new parking lot located next to the Memorial.
If you have any questions, please contact Harold Gage, Hgage@mfoww.org (562)253-8120 cell.
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HELP DEFEND THE AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE
The 2026 Congressional elections are fast approaching.
Help protect your job and the jobs of your shipmates by donating to the Political Contribution Fund.
Legislation that would weaken the Jones Act is pending in Congress and must be defeated.
The cargoes that the US-flag fleet depends on are under threat as never before and must be restored.
For the first time in decades, legislation to significantly grow the U.S.-flag fleet—the SHIPS for America Act—has been introduced and must be enacted.
The MM&P Political Contribution Fund needs resources to support the campaigns of candidates in both parties who will work to ensure that our laws, policies, and regulations promote the use of US-flag vessels and the employment of US-citizen mariners.
Please support members of Congress who stand with the American Merchant Marine in the battle to defend family-supporting maritime jobs.
P.S. The list of those who have received a contribution from the PCF for their 2025 races has been posted in the Members Only section of bridgedeck.org and will be updated as more information becomes available.
If you have questions about a candidate, please contact MM&P headquarters or Jim Patti at jpatti@miraid.org.
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PLAN OFFICE CHANGE OF BANK FOR THE VACATION PLAN AND PRO PAYMENTS
The Vacation Plan has had an account for Vacation Payments and PRO Payments for many years with the Bank of America.
Earlier this year, Bank of America informed the Plan that they will no longer support (keep open) ERISA Accounts like the Vacation Plan.
It is important for you to make sure you cash all of your Vacation or PRO checks in a timely manner.
Once the checking accounts at the Bank of America have been closed, you will not be able to cash checks issued on these accounts.
The bank will likely close our accounts by June 30, 2025.
At their last Board of Trustees meeting in March 2025, the Board of Trustees directed the Plan to look for a national bank that has branches in cities in which the Union has port offices.
If the Plan cannot find another suitable national bank with branches, the Plan will not be able to have a place where you can cash these checks without fees.
Participants should consider having their Vacation and PRO payments made by Direct Deposit.
We strongly encourage you to have a Direct Deposit Form on file with the Vacation Plan.
(If you already have a Direct Deposit Form on file with the Plan, you do not have to file a new form unless you want to change your bank or account.)
If you have this form on file with the Vacation Plan you can still elect, at the time you file for your Vacation, to receive your Vacation pay in the form of a check.
The Vacation ACH form is posted on the MM&P Members’ Only site.
Just click on Documents, then on Plan Documents, and then look under the heading labeled Vacation.
The form is titled Vacation Plan – Application for Electronic Funds Transfer/Direct Deposit.
The document is five pages long and the form itself appears on page 3.
Please do not delay.
It could take a few days/weeks to process new direct deposit forms through the banking system, and if you wait, we may not be able to send your next Vacation payment by Direct Deposit before Bank of America closes our account.
The Plan Office will keep you informed as we explore our options regarding new checking accounts for Vacation and PRO payments.
If, after you review this information, you have any questions regarding these payments, please contact the Vacation Benefit Advisor at 410-850-8625.
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DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY AUDIT LETTER MAILED TO PARTICIPANTS ON MAY 9
The Plan was informed by Part D Advisors, Inc. (PDA), which the Board of Trustees selected to handle the details of the dependent eligibility audit, that their letter to participants was delayed.
The letter was mailed on May 9, 2025.
MM&P members will have to return the required documents to Part D Advisors by July 21, 2025.
For questions about the dependent eligibility audit, please call the Part D Advisors Help Line at 833-756-5471.
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MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE
All MM&P union halls, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, the Plan Office and MM&P headquarters will be closed on Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN BOSTON HALL ON MAY 15
MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin will convene 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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AMG 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.
OFFSHORE JOBS
LMSR positions available.
ROS CM jobs: pensioners with valid credentials wanted.
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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): 06/09/25, 08/04/25, 10/13/25, 12/08/25
ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 06/02/25, 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
SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 06/09/25, 07/14/25*, 08/11/25, 09/15/25, 10/06/25, 11/03/25, 12/01/25
SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 06/16/25, 07/21/25, 08/18/25, 09/22/25, 10/13/25, 11/10/25, 12/05/25
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: Not Currently Scheduled
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: 06/11/25, 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): 06/03/25
LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled
LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 06/04/25*, 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): 05/12/25, 07/07/25, 10/06/25, 10/17/25
MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 08/04/25
MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled
MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 05/17/25, 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): 06/12/25, 08/07/25, 09/11/25
MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 06/13/25, 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): 06/16/25, 08/11/25, 09/15/25
MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 06/14/25, 08/09/25, 09/13/25
MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 06/15/25, 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): 04/29/25*, 05/01/25*, 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): 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): 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
May 2025
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
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.
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