Wheelhouse Weekly, May 16, 2023

Volume 29… Number 20, May 16, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Unions Call on Congress to Raise Debt Ceiling Without Preconditions
• Federal Employees Could Be Fired for Any Reason Under New Bill
• Two Mariners Have Surrendered Their USCG Licenses in Midshipman-Y Sexual Assault Case
• Plus: MITAGS Seeks Lead Manager for Navigation Skills Assessment Program Portfolio

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:

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

UNIONS CALL ON CONGRESS TO RAISE DEBT CEILING WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS

America’s unions have launched a campaign to inform the public about what’s at stake in the standoff over the payment of the nation’s bills.

House Republicans are threatening to force a default on the national debt unless the administration makes massive cuts in future spending on critical programs.

They have not specified which programs they want cut, or by how much.

Democrats and the administration say Congress must pass a debt ceiling increase without preconditions—and unions agree.

“House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has offered two paths forward on the debt ceiling: his own austerity bill or a government default,” says AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“Either would be devastating to our economy and working people.”

“This is not a Washington, D.C., parlor game,” Shuler said. “This is our lives.”

“There is another path forward—the one President Biden has already proposed.”

“Default would threaten 8 million jobs, a recession, and retirement plans for millions of Americans,” Biden said in a May 10 statement.

“America is not a deadbeat nation. We pay our bills. Congress has a Constitutional duty to prevent default.”

“Holding the full faith and credit of the U.S. government hostage to arbitrarily slash investments that improve safety, create good jobs in the transportation workforce, and improve the quality of life for your constituents back home is no way to govern,” wrote Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, in an April 26 letter to Congress.

He urged representatives “to act immediately to support a clean increase.”

MM&P is one of the 60 AFL-CIO affiliates and one of the 37 unions that belong to TTD.
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FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COULD BE FIRED FOR ANY REASON UNDER NEW BILL

Fourteen Republican members of Congress have introduced a bill that would make it legal to fire all federal government employees, including Civil Service mariners, for any reason, at any time.

The bill also calls for reducing federal employees’ retirement benefits if they file “frivolous” appeals of adverse personnel actions.

The legislation would abolish the Merit Systems Protection Board, “effectively eviscerating federal workers’ civil service protections and chilling whistleblowing,” wrote Erich Wagner in a May 11 article in Government Executive.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are the lead sponsors of the bill, which would make federal workers at-will employees and take away almost every tool for appeal.

The bill also creates a powerful disincentive to appealing a firing through a provision that says that if a court finds a complaint to be “frivolous” or otherwise “brought in bad faith,” the employee’s defined benefit annuity is automatically reduced by 25 percent.

The bill has gained steam since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.

This and similar proposals, including one to declare federal employee unions unconstitutional, are now at the core of the Republican party’s platform for 2024.

More than a decade ago, Republicans attempted to implement a similar measure, but labor unions, including MM&P, launched a massive, years-long advocacy campaign and ultimately succeeded in getting it defunded.
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TWO MARINERS HAVE SURRENDERED THEIR USCG LICENSES IN MIDSHIPMAN-Y SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE

The Coast Guard has reported that two mariners have surrendered their licenses in relation to the case of Midshipman-Y, one of several that have drawn attention to the problem of sexual misconduct in the maritime industry.

Neither of the two is a member of MM&P.

Last week, a USCG spokesperson told Newsday that an electrician who had worked aboard the ALLIANCE FAIRFAX had voluntarily surrendered his license before the hearing on his case began.

Midshipman-Y had reported to Coast Guard Investigative Services that during sea term, she had been repeatedly harassed and had become so frightened that she slept locked in a bathroom with a knife for protection.

She ultimately received an emergency evacuation in the middle of her tour.

Midshipman-X had earlier released an account of sexual harassment and sexual assault, including rape, aboard the same vessel.

Both cadets filed lawsuits that were settled out of court.

In October 2022, the Coast Guard reported that the captain of LIBERTY GLORY also voluntarily relinquished his license after being accused of sexually assaulting two cadets.

MM&P is working with the MM&P Women’s Caucus Committee and a variety of stakeholders in support of training requirements for members of the seafaring community.

The MM&P Women’s Caucus Committee has developed a resource guide, “Your Shipmates Are Counting on You: Building a Respectful Maritime Workplace,” which is posted on our website.
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MITAGS SEEKS LEAD MANAGER FOR NAVIGATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM PORTFOLIO

MITAGS is seeking an experienced maritime professional and program manager to lead all aspects of the NSAP portfolio.

The minimum annual salary is $87,360 plus benefits. Compensation is commensurate with skill set.

The successful candidate will work with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate the delivery and continuous improvement and growth of the program.

A superb general manager and experienced maritime professional with an entrepreneurial spirit would be an ideal fit.

Information on NSAP is available here.

The position entails:

— observing industry trends, emerging technology, and case studies to ensure that the NSAP program remains relevant;

— working closely with the business development team and international partners to manage program cost and pricing;

— assisting development and delivery of strategic initiatives related to winning Navy, Coast Guard, and other federal government work.

Job requires travel to MITAGS-West and other offsite locations, no more than 15 percent of the time.

Required qualifications:

— a bachelor’s degree and significant (>10 years) maritime industry or naval experience;

— minimum of three years of leadership and general management experience in an academic environment;

— comprehensive understanding of navigation procedures, equipment, and assessments in a Bridge environment.

Desired qualifications:

— a relevant master’s degree;

— experience delivering, managing, or being directly responsible for programs that assess maritime skills and competencies at sea.

Sea command experience, in a civilian or naval context, is highly valued and would directly contribute to a candidate’s likely success in the role.

For immediate consideration, please send resume and cover letter to jsibiski@mitags.org.
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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); and

— unlicensed deck positions.

There are unlicensed and licensed deck jobs and unlicensed and licensed engineering jobs with Weeks Marine 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.

There are licensed deck jobs with Key Lakes for those with Great Lakes pilotage.

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

Chief Mate for the LMSR fleet needed now. Security clearance required.

Tanker CM also needed.
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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, the MM&P Plan Office, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, and MM&P headquarters will be closed on Monday, May 29, for Memorial Day.
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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): 06/05/23
AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

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

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): 07/24/23, 10/09/23, 12/11/23

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): 09/11/23

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) –06/05/23, 09/26/23, 10/16/23, 11/15/23, 12/19/23

BT-Refresher (3-day) – 06/05/23, 09/26/23, 11/15/23, 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): 06/26/23, 07/24/23, 12/18/23

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 06/19/23, 07/31/23, 10/30/23, 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, 10/02/23

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 08/14/23, 10/16/23

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): 06/05/23*, 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): 06/12/23*, 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): 10/09/23

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

CY-MAR – Cyber-Skilled Mariner (5-Day) **NOT covered by the MATES Program ** – Not currently scheduled

Cyber-MAR-ONL – Cyber Skilled Mariner, Management of Information & Systems Security (Online Seminar) **NOT covered by the MATES Program ** – 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): 07/24/23

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 06/07/23, 09/27/23, 10/18/23, 11/17/23, 12/21/23

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 06/08/23, 09/29/23, 11/13/23, 12/16/23

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

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): 06/19/23, 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): 06/05/23

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: 05/22/23*, 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): 05/20/23, 06/04/23, 07/15/23, 08/26/23, 09/24/23, 10/07/23, 10/15/23, 11/18/23, 12/09/23, 12/22/23

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 05/22/23, 06/08/23, 08/10/23, 09/07/23, 10/26/23

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 05/23/23, 06/09/23, 08/11/23, 09/08/23, 10/27/23

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 05/13/23, 06/19/23, 08/12/23, 09/09/23

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day): 06/05/2023

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 06/12/23, 08/13/23, 09/11/23, 10/30/23

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour) – 06/10/23, 08/12/23, 09/09/23, 10/28/23

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day) – 06/11/23, 08/17/23, 09/10/23, 10/29/23

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day) – 06/16/23, 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-MM&P – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): *05/22/23, 05/24/23, *07/31/23, *08/02/23, 11/13/23, 11/15/23

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 06/12/23, 09/18/23

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 06/12/23, 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): On Request

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 06/19/23, 11/27/23

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

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 06/26/23, 12/11/23

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5-Day): 06/19/23, 08/28/23, 10/16/23, 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

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): 06/26/23

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 10/09/23,

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

May 2023
18-19 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation

20-22Basic Training Refresher

22nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-26 Basic Training (original)

23rd Radar Renewal

30-1 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

June 2023

12-13 Basic Training Revalidation

14th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

19-23 Basic Training (original)

26-30 Tankerman Person-In-Charge

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©2021. 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 or to MM&P headquarters, e-mail communications@bridgedeck.org. Back issues of The Weekly are posted on www.bridgedeck.org