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MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

Volume 29… Number 22, May 30, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

National Maritime Center News:

Plus:

Attention All Mariners:

Job Opportunities:

And:

PATRIOT WINS TIME CHARTER CONTRACT TO OPERATE HAINA PATRIOT

MM&P-contracted Patriot Maritime has been awarded a one-year charter, plus four options at nearly a year each, to operate the oil/chemical tanker HAINA PATRIOT for Military Sealift Command.

“Well done to our members aboard the HAINA PATRIOT, to MM&P Vice President Gulf Ports Jeremy Hope, to MM&P Contracts Officer Jennifer Stair and, of course, to the officers and crew aboard the vessel who made it happen under difficult circumstances,” said MM&P President Don Marcus.

The HAINA PATRIOT can carry a minimum of 40,000 barrels of clean product in designated cargo tanks with double valve isolation.

The contract includes a 12-month base period with three 12-month option periods and one 11-month option period.

Under the terms of the contract, the vessel and its crew will deploy to Hawaii and worldwide on behalf of MSC.
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CREW OF USNS YUMA WINS MSC MARITIME EXCELLENCE AWARD

Military Sealift Command has honored the crew of USNS YUMA with the Maritime Excellence Award for 2022.

The Maritime Excellence Award was created to recognize MSC ships that have achieved the highest levels of operational readiness and performance during the calendar year.

This is the second time that USNS YUMA has received the award.

MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group Vice President David C. Gommo is master of USNS YUMA.

“Your hard work and professionalism have been recognized,” he told the Civil Service mariners serving aboard YUMA in 2022.

“Congratulations to Captain Gommo and the crew of USNS YUMA on receiving this well-deserved recognition,” said MM&P FEMG Representative Randi Ciszewski.

“This remarkable achievement is an acknowledgment of your leadership, as well as your professional and personal contributions to our industry and your shipmates.”
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WHITE HOUSE ALLOCATES MILLIONS MORE IN FUNDING FOR FERRY SYSTEMS

An additional $220 million has been made available to ferry systems nationwide for FY ‘23, the Biden administration said, with much of it aimed at rural communities.

The funds are being allocated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of the administration’s push to improve and expand ferry service in communities across the country “to help people connect to jobs and opportunity,” according to the Federal Transit Authority.

Earlier this year, the FTA announced the selection of 23 ferry projects in 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands for a total of $384.4 million in grants.

Among the principal beneficiaries of the previous round of grants are ferry systems in Alaska, Maine, Georgia, and California.

“Everyone ought to have access to affordable, reliable transportation options, and thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are taking an important step to improve ferry service across the country,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

DOT estimates that about three million Americans ride the nation’s ferries every month.
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PENDING BILL WOULD HARM MARITIME, U.S.-FLAG COALITION TELLS CONGRESS

Vessel-sharing agreements, which allow U.S.-flag carriers to sail at full capacity, would essentially be banned under legislation now pending in the House of Representatives.

USA Maritime, a coalition of American maritime unions, associations, and U.S.-flag employers, is warning that House bill 1696 would have a negative impact on the operations of American vessels in the foreign trades and on the employment of U.S.-citizen mariners.

In a letter to the leaders of the House Judiciary and the House Infrastructure and Transportation committees, USA Maritime Chair R. Christian Johnsen said the legislation, if enacted, “would likely discourage and otherwise have a significant chilling effect on the U.S.-flag carriers’ ability to form and operate within vessel sharing agreements or alliances and decrease the amount of ocean freight carried on U.S.-flag vessels.”

“VSA’s allow carriers to maximize unused cargo space to ensure ships are as full as possible on certain routes,” he wrote.

“This efficiency allows for ships to call at smaller ports that likely wouldn’t be serviced, in similar fashion to the airline industry’s code-sharing agreements that allow service for under-served passenger markets.”

“Diminishing the opportunity to enter into agreements to share vessel space may force U.S.-flag carriers to offer fewer services and to call on fewer ports.”

“This in turn will mean a reduction in the size of vessels and reduced calls to specific terminals, resulting in less service for U.S.-flag customers, increased costs for vessel operators, and reduced opportunities for American maritime labor.”

“Most importantly, the reduction in service resulting from the proposed legislation will increase prices for the American consumer.”

Christian said the coalition “stands ready to work with Congress and the Administration to support, strengthen and grow the U.S.-flag maritime capability, especially during a time when national security, American jobs and the U.S.-flag fleet are increasingly important to the economic and military security of our nation.”

He warned that HR 1696, if enacted, “would have the opposite effect.”

MM&P and MIRAID are both members of USA Maritime.
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NOAA FORECASTS NEAR-NORMAL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON

Weather forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting a 40 percent chance of a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season.

NOAA’s prediction calls for 12 to 17 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher.

Five to nine of them could become hurricanes, with one to four becoming major hurricanes, reaching Category 3 or higher and packing winds of at least 111 mph.

NOAA’s forecast takes into account warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures and the return of El Niño, a naturally occurring climate pattern that boosts ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.

Together, the El Niño conditions and warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures are expected to lead to a less active hurricane season than has been the case in recent years.
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GUIDANCE ON EVALUATION OF SUITABILITY FOR MMC APPLICANTS WITH CONVICTIONS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-23, titled Evaluation of Suitability for Applicants with Convictions for Sexual Assault.

The Coast Guard will use this policy when evaluating applications for a merchant mariner credential subject to safety and suitability determinations under 46 CFR 10.209(e)(1) when the criminal history record information indicates that the applicant has a previous conviction for a sexual offense in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 7511.

Mariners applying for an MMC who have been convicted of specific sexual offenses will be disqualified for and denied the issuance of an MMC. These sexual offenses are described in the policy letter.

Mariners applying for a credential within five years of a conviction for other sexual offenses, such as abusive sexual contact, will be denied the issuance of an MMC.

This policy letter is available on the Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialing policy website.

It may also be accessed by selecting “Policy & Regulations” on the National Maritime Center’s website.

Mariners and other interested parties should contact the Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division at MMCPolicy@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2357 with any questions or feedback.
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UNAPPROVED EVENING COURSES AT MID-ATLANTIC MARITIME ACADEMY

The Coast Guard says that between January 2015 and December 2019, instruction hours designated for evening courses (courses scheduled to convene at or after 3PM) provided at Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy in Virginia were cut by 50 percent or more.

The agency says that end-of-course exams may also have been compromised and that the courses did not meet the time requirements in the terms of their Coast Guard approvals.

As a result, these evening courses were not Coast Guard approved and certificates issued for these courses are invalid.

To avoid interruption of the marine transportation system, the National Maritime Center will allow mariners to retain endorsements associated with these courses by taking specific actions within six months of this bulletin or prior to any future application to the NMC, whichever is later.

Mariners and employers with questions about how to address situations related to the truncated courses should first read the information posted on this site, and then direct any additional questions to the NMC Compliance Investigations Branch at (304) 433-3466 or via e-mail at MCFTF@uscg.mil.
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MITAGS SEEKS LICENSE ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM DEPARTMENT CHAIR

MITAGS is seeking a License Advancement Program Department Chair.

The minimum salary is $91,000 with full-time benefits.

The job entails developing and delivering IMO STCW and USCG approved courses and ensuring quality classroom instruction.

Department chairs are responsible to the MITAGS Director for the content and quality of the courses in their department.

The LAP Department Chair will have the duties and responsibilities of a lead instructor, as well as:

— ensuring a high-quality training curriculum and supporting other departments in training development;

— assisting in budget management;

— providing input into the training, professional development, and assignment of instructors;

— acting as primary liaison between the Academic Director and instructional staff;

— supporting scheduling, including arrangement of guest lecturers, transportation of students for off-campus instructional purposes, and requisitioning course supplies;

— helping make staffing recommendations;

— reviewing the performance of department staff;

— working with specific companies for curriculum development or special projects.

May be expected to travel no more than 15 percent of the time to offsite training locations including MITAGS–West.

Required qualifications:

— USCG Officer Level License with experience sailing under his/her highest-level license or similar experience—may be substituted with equivalent uniformed service experience (NOAA, USCG, USN);

— minimum five years’ experience teaching professional subjects to adults;

— experience, training, and qualifications necessary to obtain USCG approval to teach courses in the field.

Desired qualifications:

— degree in Adult Education, Maritime Sciences or related field—post-grad work a plus;

— IMO STCW 2/II Master Mariner;

— two years’ experience supervising and managing a team in a maritime or educational environment;

— STCW Train the Trainer;

— experience delivering online training through a learning management system.

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);

— 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.

At Key Lakes, there are licensed deck jobs for those with Great Lakes pilotage.

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

If you are interested, please contact UIG Vice President Tom Bell (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, tbell@bridgedeck.org” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>tbell@bridgedeck.org, or (216) 776-1667.
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MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

MM&P Pacific Ports union halls will be closed on Monday, June 12, for King Kamehameha Day, a contract holiday.
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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

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, 10/09/23, 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

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

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): 09/11/2023

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: 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): 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): 06/08/23, 08/10/23, 09/07/23, 10/26/23

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

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 06/19/23, 08/12/23, 09/09/23, 10/28/23

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-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): *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): Upon 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): 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

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©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.