Wheelhouse Weekly, May 28, 2024

Volume 30… Number 22, May 28, 2024

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Update on MM&P Tanker Organizing Campaign: OSG Licensed Deck Officers To Vote in Representation Election
• New York Can’t Slash Retiree Health Care Benefits, Appeals Court Rules
• Full Reopening of Baltimore Channel Pushed Forward to June 7
• Atlantic Hurricane Season To Set New Records
• Plus: Free Webinars on Hurricane and Marine Forecasting for Blue Water Mariners

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available
• Job Opportunities on the Great Lakes

And:

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

OSG LICENSED DECK OFFICERS TO VOTE IN REPRESENTATION ELECTION

The National Labor Relations Board has set June 12 as the day ballots will be mailed to licensed deck officers serving aboard OSG vessels voting in a representation election.

OSG is a wholly owned subsidiary of OSG Ship Management Inc.

An NLRB Regional Director approved the representation election for OSG LDOs last week, in a May 22 decision in which he found that the unit MM&P petitioned for is appropriate and that the chief mates are not supervisors as defined under the National Labor Relations Act.

OSG licensed deck officers, including chief mates, floating chief mates, second mates, and third mates, are eligible to vote in the election.

The ballots will be counted in the NLRB’s Tampa office on Oct. 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

The MM&P Offshore Membership Group campaign to represent the OSG LDOs is being led by Captain Tom Larkin with the full support and assistance of the other members of the Offshore Advisory Committee, pensioner member Captain Shawn Tucy, and numerous others.

“Congratulations to all the LDOs working in the OSG fleet,” Larkin said.

“Your resolve and support have brought us to the next leg of our voyage.”

OSG is headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It owns and operates ten U.S.-flag Jones Act tankers licensed to transport crude oil and refined petroleum products between ports within the United States.

It also owns and operates three U.S.-flag tankers licensed to transport petroleum products between foreign ports and U.S. ports.

In January 2024, licensed deck officers at Alaska Tanker Company, another wholly owned subsidiary of OSG Ship Management Inc., voted by a wide margin to be represented by MM&P.

ATC operates three Alaska-class crude oil tankers transporting crude oil from Alaska to refineries along the West Coast.

Pending additional litigation at the NLRB, ATC licensed deck officers and MM&P will soon be working towards a first contract.

“The Board’s approval of a representational election at OSG, on the same basic terms as the one that was conducted earlier this year at ATC, is a testament to the determination and solidarity of the Licensed Deck Officers of both companies as well as the expert legal service of the MM&P legal team,” said MM&P President Don Marcus.

We encourage any MM&P member who has sailed with, gone to school with, or knows any Licensed Deck Officer working for OSG to reach out and answer any questions they may have about MM&P.

Let them know that the most and the best opportunities in the industry are with a Union of Licensed Deck Officers: Master, Mates & Pilots.
“Congress should further codify the safety necessity of at least two well-trained and qualified pilots on the flight deck of every airliner.”
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NEW YORK CAN’T SLASH RETIREE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, APPEALS COURT RULES

An appeals court has barred New York City from forcing retired employees—including MM&P members who sailed for the Staten Island Ferry—to give up the health care benefits guaranteed by their union contracts.

The court’s May 21 ruling bars the city from reneging on its pledge to pay for retirees’ Medicare Part B premiums and supplemental insurance.

Members of the MM&P Atlantic Maritime Group who sailed for the Staten Island Ferry joined hundreds of other New York City retirees in the class action suit to halt the attempt to slash their benefits.

A former NYC deputy mayor submitted an affidavit stating that access to traditional Medicare with a city-paid supplemental plan served as “an essential recruiting and retention tool.”

She said some people left higher-paying jobs to work for New York because “the promise of lifetime free Medicare Part B and Medigap was worth the significant financial sacrifice.”

Attorneys for the retirees said many healthcare providers do not accept the city-proposed substitute plan, Aetna MAP, which they said is well-known for denying pre-approvals and rejecting a high percentage of claims.

“The City has made clear, consistent, unambiguous representations over the course of more than 50 years that New York City municipal worker-retirees would have the option of receiving health care in the form of traditional Medicare with a City-paid supplemental plan,” the appeals court ruled.

“Consequently, the City cannot now mandate the proposed change eliminating that choice.”

“The appeals court ruling is a big victory for Staten Island Ferry retirees, many of whom may have taken a job at a lesser salary because of the retirement health coverage,” said MM&P City Representative Anthony Turzio.

“We will keep fighting to ensure that the city continues to respect the conditions in our collective bargaining agreement.”

Legislation that would bar the city from cutting retiree healthcare is pending in the state legislature.

“Public sector employees, such as our members, have earned the health insurance benefits they were promised,” MM&P President Don Marcus wrote in a letter of support for the legislation.

“At a time when health care is a burden for every working person, none more so than the elderly, retirees should not be asked to suffer reduced access to medical care, excessive pre-authorization procedures and the need to switch providers.”

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FULL REOPENING OF BALTIMORE CHANNEL PUSHED FORWARD TO JUNE 7

Removing the final piece of the Francis Scott Key Bridge will take a week longer than originally expected, according to the Unified Command overseeing salvage operations at the Port of Baltimore.

Although the MV DALI has been removed, the channel is still narrower than it was before because the last section of the bridge remains partially submerged and stuck in the mud.

“We are not taking our foot off the gas,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“We are pushing forward as quickly and safely as possible to reach 700 feet and ensuring we remove all wreckage to prevent any impact to future navigation.”

The section of bridge that remains in the water must be cut into several pieces and then lifted out of the sediment by one of the massive cranes being used to remove debris.

“This effort is more complex than initially estimated,” the spokesperson said, which means the full opening of the channel will be delayed until June 8 or 10.
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ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON TO SET NEW RECORDS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting 17 to 25 named storms in 2024, the most it has ever forecast this early in the season for the Atlantic Ocean.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and typically lasts until Nov. 30.

NOAA usually issues a May forecast and then an updated forecast in August.

NOAA believes that eight of the 13 named storms could become hurricanes, Rick Spinrad, the agency’s administrator, said at a news conference last week.

They could include four to seven major hurricanes rated Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 m.p.h.

Meteorologists working at other private and public organizations have also forecast a season that could potentially set new records for storm frequency and intensity.

An average Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

According to NOAA, there is an 85 percent chance of an above-normal season and a 10 percent chance of a near-normal season, with a 5 percent chance of a below-normal season.

Forecasters are basing their predictions on record warm water temperatures in the Atlantic and the potential formation of a La Niña weather pattern.

They have been forced to extrapolate, they say, because in consulting records that date back to the mid-1800s, they are now seeing a combination of circumstances that has never before occurred.

Warm ocean waters increase evaporation rates, leading to more moisture in the air. High temperatures can also cause storms to intensify rapidly.

The moist environment, combined with specific wind patterns, can create the conditions for tropical storms and hurricanes to form.

Since La Niña is associated with rising, unstable air, the situation has the potential to generate an elevated number of tropical storms and hurricanes.
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FREE WEBINARS ON HURRICANE AND MARINE FORECASTING FOR BLUE WATER MARINERS

The National Hurricane Center is offering two free webinars on Hurricane and Marine Forecasting.

The webinars are intended for mariners who operate over the open ocean.

The first webinar, “Hurricane Analysis and Prediction,” will be held on Wednesday, June 5, at 2-3 PM EDT, by Dan Brown, Branch Chief, Hurricane Specialist Unit

Register here

The second webinar, “Wind and Wave Forecasting,” will be held on Thursday, June 6, at 2-3 PM EDT, by Chris Landsea, Chief, Tropical Analysis & Forecast Branch
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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

Tanker PIC’s needed.

CM’s Needed for LMSR’s, please email jhope@bridgedeck.org with any questions or visit any Offshore Hall.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are job openings on the Great Lakes!

If you want more information about any of the listings that appear below, go to https://bridgedeck.org/job-opportunities/.

Interested candidates should reach out to Thomas Bell at the MM&P Cleveland office: tbell@bridgedeck.org.

CARDINAL POINT CAPTAINS, which operates the RV LAKE GUARDIAN out of Milwaukee, has an opening for a QMED with electrical background and an opening for an Assistant Engineer unlimited or DDE (Dedicated Duty Engineer) 4,000 hp.

KEY LAKES, a division of Key Stone, has openings for Mates with Great Lakes pilotage; they may take an Open Water Mate if COI allows. The company operates a fleet of two 1000’ x 105’ ships.

GRAND RIVER NAVIGATION has openings for two mates with Great Lakes pilotage and may take on an Open Water Mate with valid TOAR. The company operates a fleet of seven ships, two articulated tug/barge units and one integrated tug/barge unit.

GRAND RIVER NAVIGATION has an opening for a 1st Assistant Engineer.

GRAND RIVER NAVIGATION has openings for two mates with Great Lakes pilotage and may take on an Open Water Mate with valid TOAR.

GREAT LAKES TOWING has an opening for a minimum 200-ton Great Lakes master with Towing endorsement, pilotage not required.

If you want more information about any of the listings that appear above, go to https://bridgedeck.org/job-opportunities/.

Interested candidates should reach out to Thomas Bell at the MM&P Cleveland office: tbell@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): 06/10/24, 09/16/24

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 08/12/24, 11/04/24

AZIPOD (2-Day): Contact Admissions

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): Contact Admissions

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): Contact Admissions

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

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 09/09/24

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 6/10/24*, 06/13/24, 09/30/24, 10/28/24

BT-Refresher (3-day): 06/10/24*, 09/30/24, 10/28/24

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

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 06/24/24, 10/07/24, 12/09/24

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 06/17/24, 09/23/24, 12/16/24

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/14/24

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 07/08/24, 12/09/24

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 07/15/24, 12/16/24

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 08/12/24, 11/11/24

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 08/12/24, 11/18/24

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 09/30/24

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 10/28/24

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 06/03/24*, 07/08/24, 08/05/24*, 09/09/24, 09/30/24, 11/04/24, 12/02/24

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 06/10/24, 07/15/24, 08/12/24*, 09/16/24, 10/07/24, 11/11/24, 12/09/24

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

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 11/04/24

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 09/16/24

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 05/11/24, 06/15/2024, 07/27/24, 11/16/24

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

Online: 05/15/24

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): 12/09/24

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

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 09/09/24

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 06/12/24, 06/15/2024, 10/02/24, 10/30/24

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 06/13/24, 10/03/24

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

Online: Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 08/26/24, 12/02/24

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 07/22/24, 10/07/24

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): 06/03/24

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 05/20/24*, 06/17/24*, 09/09/24, 10/21/24*

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

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): 12/02/24

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 08/19/24, 09/30/24

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 07/29/24, 11/18/24

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 07/08/24, 08/19/24

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 07/13/24, 08/03/24, 08/24/24, 10/05/24, 11/17/24

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (5-Day): 08/19/24

MSC-ATO-III – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer III (1-Day): 08/23/24

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): 06/07/24, 08/08/24, 09/12/24, 10/31/24

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 06/07/24, 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class):, 06/07/24, 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24

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

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 06/10/24, 07/15/24, 08/12/24, 09/16/24, 11/04/24

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 06/08/24, 08/10/24, 09/14/24, 11/02/24

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 05/12/24, 06/09/24, 07/14/24, 08/11/24, 09/15/24, 11/03/24

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 06/14/24, 07/19/24, 08/16/24, 09/20/24, 11/08/24

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 06/27/24*, 08/17/24*, 08/19/24*, 08/21/24*, 12/09/24*, 12/11/24*

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 06/17/24, 09/23/24

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 09/26/24

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): 06/12/24

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 08/05/24, 10/28/24

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 07/22/24

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 06/24/24, 07/22/24*, 10/14/24, 12/16/24

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: Not currently scheduled

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not Currently Scheduled

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

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

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 05/31/24, 08/26/24, 12/04/24

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 07/29/24
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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 2024

30-31 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

June 2024

1-2 Basic Training Revalidation

1-3 Basic Training Refresher

3rd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

3-7 Basic Training

3-14 GMDSS

3-21 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

24-25 Basic Training Revalidation

26th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

July 2024

15-18 Advanced Firefighting

15-2 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

22-23 Basic Training Revalidation

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

29-2 Basic Training

August 2024

5-9 Radar Observer Unlimited

12-16 Medical Care Provider

12-23 Medical Person-In-Charge

26-27 Basic Training Revalidation

26-30 Advanced Stability

28th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

September 2024

4-7 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

9-13 Basic Training

9-13 Advanced Shiphandling (Week 1)

16-20 Advanced Shiphandling (Week 2)

16-27 GMDSS

23-26 ARPA

23-27 Advanced Meteorology
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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.