Wheelhouse Weekly, Nov. 11, 2025

Volume 31… Number 45, November 11, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• One in Four Seafarers Get No Shore Leave at All
• MM&P Pledges Support for Global Alliance to Protect Port Workers’ Jobs
• US Salutes Merchant Mariners on Veterans Day
• Suspension of Port Fees on China-Linked Ships
• 50th Anniversary of the Sinking of the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD
• Notice for MM&P H&B Plan Participants: Health & Benefit Plan Open Enrollment Opportunity for Dependents

Mark Your Calendar:

• Holiday Parties in the Union Halls
• MM&P Closed for Veterans Day
• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Honolulu Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

ONE IN FOUR SEAFARERS GET NO SHORE LEAVE AT ALL

More than a quarter of the world’s seafarers don’t get any shore leave at all, according to a new report issued by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and World Maritime University.

The report is based on the responses of almost 6,000 seafarers to a survey conducted last year.

A third of those who responded said that during a typical contract lasting 6.6 months, they were able to go ashore only once or twice.

The categories of mariners least likely to get any shore leave at all were ships’ officers, tanker crews and seafarers working in offshore oil and gas fields.

Across all categories, almost half the seafarers who did get shore leave said they spent less than three hours ashore, with the average being under two hours.

Almost all the respondents (93.5 percent) said they could never spend more than six hours ashore.

The barriers to shore leave that the respondents cited most frequently were minimal crewing, heavy workloads, frequent inspections, tight port security, lack of shore-based facilities and the high cost of transport.

“This survey confirms our fears,” said Katie Higginbottom, head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust.

“We hope that these findings will promote discussion and acknowledgement that seafarers deserve a break from their vessels.

“Action must be taken to preserve the possibility of shore leave.”

At a time when mental health and wellbeing are recognized as important contributors to health and safety on board, access to shore leave should be promoted to ensure the safe management of the vessel as well as employers’ ability to attract and retain crew, the researchers said in a statement.

“All stakeholders, from flag states to port states, agents to shipping companies and seafarers themselves, need to recognize that the current regime is leading towards the extinction of shore leave as a viable concept.”

Another survey conducted by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust sheds light on the problem from the perspective of 86 organizations that operate services for seafarers in 25 countries.

It found a 61 percent decline in time spent by seafarers ashore in seafarers’ centers.

The researchers have made the following recommendations:

— Shipping companies should ensure humane conditions of labor, as required by the International Labor Organization and the Maritime Labor Convention, and actively promote crew wellbeing, including access to shore leave.

— The ITF Seafarers’ Trust and other organizations with a similar mission should continue to work with port-based welfare providers to promote adaptable, viable services where they exist and identify new possibilities for extending services within port areas.

— Regulators should review requirements on hours of work/rest and minimum safe manning to ensure that seafarers have sufficient shore leave and time to rest.
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MM&P PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL ALLIANCE TO PROTECT PORT WORKERS’ JOBS

MM&P officials joined leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association and other longshore and maritime unions in Lisbon last week at a tw0-day summit focused on fending off job threats from port automation.

Hundreds of union representatives from more than 60 countries attended the summit, including MM&P President Don Josberger and MM&P Gulf Ports & Government Contracts Vice President Jeremy Hope.

They were joined by industry experts and academics specialized in the impact of automation on jobs.

The ILA and the International Dockworkers Council are spearheading the effort to fight port automation on a global level.

Both organizations have expressed support for port modernization, but say that the transformation to greener, more efficient terminals will not be allowed to happen at the expense of jobs.

Unions at the summit called on ports “to craft a formula for integrating dock workers into their technological investments.”

They adopted an action plan based on the premise that most port automation is aimed at eliminating jobs and maximizing profits, rather than at employers’ oft-stated goal of improving efficiency.

The group is working to establish a labor alliance committed to halting any automation project that involves job loss or violates workers’ rights, with dockworkers acting in concert to shut down operations if employers move to impose automation without consulting with unions.

“If any company decides to implement job-destroying automation in any port whose workers are part of this new alliance, we will confront it with a global strike of three to four weeks,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett.

“If their strategy is global, ours must be too,” said IDC International Labor Coordinator Jordi Aragunde.

“Wherever there is a port, there will be an organized union, and wherever a worker is threatened, there will be international solidarity.”
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US SALUTES MERCHANT MARINERS ON VETERANS DAY

The Department of Veterans Affairs has once again invited the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV) to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Nov. 11 to honor the US Merchant Marine veterans of World War II.

This is only the third time that a merchant mariner contingent has been invited to participate in the Arlington National Ceremony honoring American veterans and war dead.

The first time the invitation was extended to merchant marine veterans was on Nov. 11, 2023, when then-MM&P President Don Marcus attended.

“Seeing the merchant marine flag and, almost unbelievably, a Union flag amongst the participating color guards was phenomenal,” Marcus said at the time.

Also participating in the 2023 Veterans Day commemoration was Captain Petro (“Pete”) Kurkimilis, an MM&P member for more than 70 years.

“Captain Pete recounted his experiences and, like thousands of other merchant marine veterans of World War II, his courageous service, which started in 1942 when he was 15 years old, including a harrowing run to Murmansk and action on D-Day off Normandy,” Marcus recalled.

Kurkimilis later joined the Marine Corps, serving in the Korean War, and then returned to MM&P, sailing for many years as a Panama Canal pilot and then as a master with Sea-Land.

By tradition, Veterans Day is held at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, marking the moment when major hostilities of World War I were formally ended with the adoption of the German Armistice.

In addition to World War II veterans representing the US Merchant Marine at the Veterans Day ceremony, AMMV honors the service of all merchant marine veterans who have served our nation in peace and war.

Many merchant marine veterans and their families are members of AMMV, a non-profit organization serving all US Merchant Marine veterans.
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SUSPENSION OF PORT FEES ON CHINA-LINKED SHIPS

The US formally announced on Nov. 6 that it would suspend the imposition of port fees on vessels with ties to China.

The Office of the US Trade Representative opened a one-day public comment period on the suspension.

The comment period closed on Nov. 7 and port fees were suspended on Nov. 10.

According to the announcement, during the suspension period, the US will negotiate with China pursuant to Section 301 regarding the trade issues raised in the USTR investigation.

“While taking these actions, the US will continue its domestic efforts and its discussions with key allies and partners on revitalizing American shipbuilding,” the USTR said in a statement.

President Trump and President Xi of China had announced the suspension of the tit-for-tat fees after their trade meeting two weeks ago in South Korea.

China said that once the US suspension has taken effect, it would make the corresponding changes to the policies it had imposed on vessels with ties to the US.
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50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINKING OF THE SS EDMUND FITZGERALD

This year marks the 50th anniversary of a tragedy remembered throughout our industry, the sinking of the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD.

(The information that appears below originally appeared in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)

The EDMUND FITZGERALD was owned by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee and constructed by the Great Lakes Engineering Works of River Rouge, Mich.

When it was built, it was the largest ship sailing on the Great Lakes.

For 17 years, it carried taconite from mines along the Minnesota Iron Range near Duluth to iron works in Detroit, Toledo and other Great Lakes ports.

The ship and its crew set seasonal haul records six times, often breaking their own records.

The freighter was popular among members of the public because Captain Peter Pulcer often piped music and commentary about it over the intercom while passing through the St. Clair and Detroit rivers and the Soo Locks.

“Her size, record-breaking performance, and ‘DJ captain,’ endeared the Edmund Fitzgerald to boat watchers,” one Wikipedia editor has noted.

On Nov. 10, 1975, Captain Ernest M. McSorley was in command when the ship ran into a severe storm on Lake Superior with near-hurricane-force winds and waves up to 35 feet high.

It sank suddenly in Canadian waters shortly after 7:10 p.m., taking with it the entire 29-person crew.

No distress signals were sent before it sank.

“I have a bad list, lost both radars. And am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in,” Captain McSorley said in one of his final radio transmissions.

His last message—to the captain of the FITZGERALD’s sister ship, the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON—was, “We are holding our own.”

Everyone on board died, and no bodies were recovered.

The exact cause of the sinking remains unknown, though many books, studies, and expeditions have examined it.

EDMUND FITZGERALD may have been swamped, suffered structural failure or topside damage, grounded on a shoal, or suffered from a combination of these.

It was located in deep water on Nov. 14, 1975, by a US Navy aircraft and found soon afterwards to be in two large pieces.

The sinking led to changes in Great Lakes shipping regulations and practices that included mandatory survival suits, depth finders, positioning systems, increased freeboard, and more frequent inspection of vessels.
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HEALTH & BENEFIT PLAN OPEN ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR DEPENDENTS

The MM&P Health & Benefit Plan is having an open enrollment period.

It began on Nov. 1, 2025, and will continue until Dec. 31, 2025, with coverage effective on Jan. 1, 2026, for dependents.

During this period, you can enroll your dependent if you missed the Open Enrollment for Dependents age 19-26 when offered last year, or the sixty (60) days’ notification requirement for the addition of a dependent, after you became eligible for coverage, as a result of marriage, the birth of a child, adoption of a child, or placement of a child for adoption or under legal guardianship.

A notice about Open Enrollment has been sent by mail to all eligible Plan Participants.

Along with the notice, the Plan has also sent a new Summary of Benefits and Coverage Form (SBC) for the 2026 Plan year as required under the Affordable Care Act.

The format of the SBC is required by federal law and is only a summary of your benefits.

Please refer to the Summary Plan Description for additional information about your benefits.

PDF copies of the SBCs are posted on www.bridgedeck.org.

From the home page please click on the “MM&P Plans” button, and then on the button that reads “H&B Forms.”

The link for the SBC forms appear after the Summary Plan Descriptions.

The notice mailed to participants includes the Plan’s Notice of Nondiscrimination as required by law and information about the new Plan Office member portal, about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider—TELUS Health—and from RX Saving Solutions, a prescription drug saving program.

If any member has any questions, please feel free to contact the Plan Office.
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HOLIDAY PARTIES IN THE UNION HALLS

MM&P is welcoming the holiday season with parties in the union halls!

Here is the schedule. To RSVP and for more information, please contact the hall.
ATLANTIC PORTS

— Charleston: 12/2/25 @ 1130-1530; Kickin’ Chicken, 1179 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Charleston, SC 29407

— Newark: 12/5/25 @ 1130-1530; Newark Union Hall, 570 Broad Street, Suite 701, Newark, NJ 07102

— Boston: 12/9/25 @ 1130-1530; Boston Union Hall, 2 Channel Street, Unit 505, Boston, MA 02210-2333

— Norfolk: 12/16/25 @ 1130-1530; Dockside Seafood, 3311 Shore Dr.,

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

— Miami/PEV: 12/19/25 @ 1130-1530; Umberto’s, 3051 E. Commercial Blvd.,

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

GULF PORTS

— Houston: 12/10/25 @ 1100, Esteban’s Cantina, 402 W Main St. League City, TX 77573

PACIFIC PORTS

— Honolulu: 12/11/25 after 1100 job call; Honolulu Hall, 521 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 254, Honolulu 96813

— LA/LB: 12/12/25 after 1100 job call; LA/LB Hall, 533 N. Marine Ave., Suite A, Wilmington, CA 90744

— Seattle: 12/16/25 after 1100 job call; Seattle Hall, 15208 52nd Ave., South, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98188

— SF/Oakland: 12/9/25, from 1200 to 1500; Fat Lady, 201 Washington St., Oakland, CA 94607.
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MM&P CLOSED FOR VETERANS DAY

All MM&P union halls, the MM&P Plan Office, the MM&P Federal Credit Union and MM&P headquarters will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE HONOLULU HALL ON THURSDAY, NOV. 13

There will be an Offshore Membership Meeting in the MM&P Honolulu Hall on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The meeting will take place after 1000 job call.

Pacific Ports Vice President Melany Velleca and Honolulu Representative Randy Swindell will attend the meeting and give their reports.

The MM&P Honolulu Hall is located at:

521 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste 254

Phone: 808-523-8183

Honolulu@bridgedeck.org
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS

— BUCHANAN MARINE is looking for a Mate: MMC with a Mate of Towing with Inland Waters

— BUCHANAN is looking for a Deckhand – MMC with an OS.

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the company’s website.

Google Buchanan Marine LP, then click “careers” and scroll down to “apply online.”

If you have questions, please contact Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org or 973-495-9377.

— — MORAN is looking for

— a tankerman: MMC with a PIC, preferably with an AB and STCW but will work with an OS.

— Licensed Engineer (Ship Assist) – MMC with STCW;

— Assistant Engineer (ATB/Offshore) – 3rd AE Unlimited Oceans or C/E;

— AB (ATB/Offshore) – MMC with AB & STCW.

If interested, please email your resume to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call at 973-495-9377.

POLING & CUTLER is looking for:

— Mates with a 200-ton coastwise licensed & TOAR;

— Tankerman – PIC with an OS.

If interested, please email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org.

If you have any questions, please call at 973-495-9377.

REINAUER is looking for a Mate – MMC with 500-ton license and TOAR. If interested, please email Keith at kpoissant@bridgedeck.org.

STATEN ISLAND FERRY is looking for Provisional Marine Oilers with their QMED.

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s website.

https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/marine-oiler-in-staten-island-jid-27357

Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org.

STATEN ISLAND FERRY is looking for a Deckhand with an AB.

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s website.

https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/deckhand-in-staten-island-jid-34931

Any questions, please send an email to Anthony at aturzio@bridgedeck.org.
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OFFSHORE JOBS

Senior LMSR positions available.
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GREAT LAKES & GULF JOBS

Immediate openings in the Great Lakes region for the following permanent jobs:

— Great Lakes Towing CAPTAINS – Must live within one hour of Ports; Detroit, Toledo, Chicago, Duluth, Cleveland, Buffalo – Start Date Immediately

If you’re interested in applying or want more information, please contact MM&P GL&G 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
[STCW, MEDICAL & SAFETY Courses]
BT – Basic Safety Training: 02/02/26, 03/16/26, 09/07/26, 11/30/26

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting: Not Currently Scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: 02/02/26, 03/16/26, 09/07/26, 11/30/26

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: Not Currently Scheduled

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 12/08/25, 02/02/26

MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/17/25, 01/05/26

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day):

11/18-19/25 (Evening Session), 12/13/25, 01/10/26, 02/07/26

[STCW License & Radar Renewal Courses]

Revalidations (REV): You have 360+ days of sea time in the last 5 years

BT-REV (2-day): 11/12/25, 12/08/25, 01/19/26, 03/30/26, 05/15/26, 09/14/26, 09/28/26, 10/26/26

FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 11/14/25, 12/10/25, 01/21/26, 04/01/26, 05/20/26, 09/16/26, 09/30/26, 10/28/26

Refreshers (REF): You have less than 360 days of sea time in the last 5 years

BT-REF (3-day): 11/12/25, 01/19/26, 03/30/26, 10/26/26

FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 11/10/25, 01/22/26, 04/02/26, 10/29/26

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 11/11/25, 01/21/26

[CMM – Chief Mate & Master Upgrade Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 12/08/25, 02/16/26, 04/20/26, 06/08/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 12/01/25, 02/09/26, 04/27/26, 06/01/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): 02/23/26

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 04/13/26

LAP Testing Notice: Due to changes at the Baltimore REC, LAP courses no longer include priority testing. Seating is limited to 6 students. All testing now requires a scheduled appointment and an approval letter.

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills: 12/15/25, 02/16/26, 03/23/26

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: 03/23/26

SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: 03/09/26

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 12/01/25, 01/12/26*, 02/06/26*, 03/02/26, 04/06/26, 05/11/26, 06/15/26

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: 03/16/26

[AB TO MATE Upgrade Courses]

ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 02/09/26*

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 01/19/26, 03/23/26

CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 12/01/25, 03/09/25

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 11/17/25*, 02/23/26*, 03/02/26

FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day): Contact Admissions

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 03/23/26

LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): Contact Admissions

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 02/02/26*

SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 02/09/26, 02/16/26, 03/02/26

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: Not Currently Scheduled

STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: Not Currently Scheduled

TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 01/05/26*

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 01/12/26

WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 01/05/26, 02/19/26

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-I – Anti-Terrorism Officer (Online): Contact Admissions

MSC-ATO-II – Anti-Terrorism Officer II (MSC-ATO-III included): 01/26/26

MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 01/08/26, 03/12/26

MSC-CBRD-OFF – Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer: 03/23/2026, 06/22/2026

MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 01/09/26, 03/13/26

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 01/09/26, 03/13/26

MSC-SMA – Small Arms (4-Day): 12/09/25, 01/12/26, 02/09/26, 03/15/26, 04/13/26

MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 01/10/26, 03/14/26

MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 12/08/25, 01/11/26, 02/08/26, 03/15/26, 04/12/26

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 01/16/26, 03/20/26

[MM&P Company Specific Requirements Courses]

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations: 01/12/26

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – CM Operations II Maersk Specific: 01/19/26

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3-Day): 12/15/26, 02/02/26, 02/05/26

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 12/02/25*, 12/04/25* 01/06/26, 01/08/26, 03/17/26, 03/19/26, 5/12/26, 05/14/26, 09/01/26, 09/03/26, 10/27/26, 10/29/26 – Contact Admissions to Register

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 11/17/25*, 01/26/26

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 11/15/26, 12/06/25

[Other MITAGS Courses]

AB – Able Seaman: 02/16/26

BRM – Bridge Resource Management: 03/23/26

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): 02/13/26

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): 02/16/26

HAZ – Hazardous Materials: Not Currently Scheduled

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not Currently Scheduled

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

[Continual Improvement Workshops – NOT covered by the MATES Program]

Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 02/04/26

Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: 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

November 2025
17-18 Basic Training Revalidation

19th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

December 2025</strong?

1-2 Basic Training Revalidation

1-3 Basic Training Refresher

1-12 GMDSS

3rd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

4-5 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

8-12 Basic Training

15-18 Advanced Firefighting

15-19 Tankerman Person-In-Charge

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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.

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