Wheelhouse Weekly, Nov. 18, 2025

Volume 31… Number 456, November 18, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Houthis Say They Will Stop Red Sea Attacks
• Iran Seizes Tanker in Gulf of Oman
• Resumption of Service at NMC Regional Examination Centers
• Piracy Rises in First Nine Months of 2025
• Navy Awards General Dynamics the Contract for Two More John Lewis Class Vessels
• Pittsburgh Newspaper Workers Celebrate Victory After Three-Year-Long Strike
• “No Contract, No Coffee”: Baristas Strike Over Starbucks’ Failure to Bargain a Contract
• National Hurricane Center Offers Experimental Graphic Marine Wind Warnings

Mark Your Calendar:

• MM&P Closed for Veterans Day
• Holiday Parties in the Union Halls

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

HOUTHIS SAY THEY WILL STOP RED SEA ATTACKS

Houthi rebels in Yemen have released a letter pledging to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea and lift their blockade on Israeli ports.

The letter was circulated among Houthi leaders on Aug. 28 but was just released to the public last week.

The Houthis have claimed that their attacks were motivated by opposition to Israel, but the threat to ships transiting the Red Sea has had the effect of causing many shipping companies to avoid the area entirely out of fear that their vessels would be targeted.

If the Houthi pledge holds true in coming weeks, traffic flows through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal are expected to begin returning to what they were previously.

The decision by the terrorist group to declare a ceasefire is being attributed to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the deaths of many of their senior commanders and the toll taken on their arsenal by US and Israeli air raids and drone attacks.
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IRAN SEIZES TANKER IN GULF OF OMAN

Iranian forces seized a Marshall Islands-flag tanker on Nov. 14 about 20 nautical miles east of the port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates.

Ambrey, a security firm, told AP that three boats carrying a raiding party boarded the oil tanker, MV TALARA, and that afterwards it quickly sailed out of the UAE’s Exclusive Economic Zone and into that of Iran.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that it was “in line with safeguarding the interests and resources of the Iranian nation.”

The crew of the TALARA were still being held as this edition of The Wheelhouse Weekly was being published.

Cyprus-based Columbia Shipmanagement, which manages the vessel, said in a statement that it had lost contact with the ship and was working to reestablish communications.
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RESUMPTION OF SERVICE AT NMC REGIONAL EXAMINATION CENTERS

Now that funding for the federal government has been restored, the National Maritime Center and regional examination centers are resuming service.

Full resumption of services at the RECs will be phased in to allow prioritization of the most critical services and to accommodate the mariners who have been most affected by the furlough of government employees.

Email submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active.

Walk-in and scheduled counter service at RECs will remain suspended through Nov. 21 to allow employees to prioritize the backlog in scheduling mariner examinations and screening applications.

To prioritize mariners whose exams were canceled during the government shutdown, the RECs will focus on rescheduling these examinations during the first five business days.

The earliest available date for these mariners to start testing at most RECs is Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Mariners whose exams were canceled during the furlough will be contacted by the REC to schedule new examination dates.

Starting Nov. 24, RECs are expected to return to routine operations, including availability to schedule exams for all mariners.

(Note that because of staffing shortages, some RECs may continue to have limited services.)

For updates on NMC and REC operating status, please monitor the NMC website.

For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
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PIRACY RISES IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2025

The International Maritime Bureau reports that despite an overall reduction in global piracy levels, the world is far from winning the war on pirates and other criminals seeking to profit from attacks at sea.

From January to September, the IMB recorded a total of 116 incidents, up from 79 in the same period last year.

In the first nine months of 2025, 102 vessels were boarded; nine fought off attempted boardings; four were hijacked; and one was fired upon.

In the majority of incidents (55 percent), the attackers were armed, the highest level of armed attacks reported since 2017.

The IMB said the Singapore Straits continue to be a hotspot for piracy and armed robberies, with 73 of the reported incidents occurring in that area.

(Since the July arrests of 11 members of two pirate gangs, the number of attacks reported in the Singapore Straits has seen “a marked reduction,” the IMB said.)

The Gulf of Guinea, which a few years ago had replaced the waters off Somalia as the locus of piracy, continues to record low numbers, according to the report.

In the nine-month period, 15 incidents were reported. Of these, five were pirate attacks and 10 were armed robberies. Fourteen people were kidnapped in attacks that took place in the area.

Pirates continue to demonstrate their ability to strike vessels out at sea. A case in point took place in late August, when the Danish-flag tanker HAFNIA PHOENIX with a crew of 13 was boarded off the coast of Ghana.

Last week, after the intervention of multinational counter-piracy teams, an Iranian-flag dhow used as a mother ship in the attack of the HELLAS APHRODITE was abandoned on the northwestern coast of Somalia.

The pirates used the dhow as a mother ship for a series of assaults capped by the hijacking of the tanker and the kidnapping of its crew.
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NAVY AWARDS GENERAL DYNAMICS THE CONTRACT FOR TWO MORE JOHN LEWIS CLASS VESSELS

The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics a $1.7 billion contract to build two additional fleet replenishment oilers.

The John Lewis class vessels constitute the cornerstone of the Navy’s fuel delivery system.

They are 742 feet in length with a displacement of nearly 50,000 tons when fully loaded.

They can carry 162,000 barrels of oil and significant amounts of dry cargo, and they offer aviation capability.

The first four ships in the John Lewis class have already been delivered to the Navy; another five are being built.

A total of 20 ships are planned for the program, which is operated by Military Sealift Command.

The MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group represents the licensed deck officers, pursers, and MSOs aboard MSC vessels. 
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PITTSBURGH NEWSPAPER WORKERS CELEBRATE VICTORY AFTER THREE-YEAR-LONG STRIKE

The staff of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette celebrated a decisive victory last week—after three long years of walking a picket line.

A US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling—the third court decision in their favor since they went on strike in 2022—has upheld their demands that the newspaper roll back more than five years of workers’ rights violations and compensate all who have been affected.

The members of the union have published their own “strike newspaper,” the Pittsburgh Union Progress, to serve the local community during the years they have been on strike.

“The members of the Pittsburgh News Guild-CWA stood on the picket line through the longest ongoing strike in the United States, fighting management’s union-busting as it consistently tried to deny them their health care and break the terms of their contract,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“Working people don’t back down from a fight, no matter how long it takes or how tough it gets.”

Under last week’s Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, management must meet its obligations under the collective bargaining agreement, including providing health care coverage, a short-term disability plan, a 40-hour workweek and the right to appeal disciplinary actions.

“The Post-Gazette workers’ persistence shows what we can achieve when we come together in a union,” Shuler said. “When we fight, we win.”
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BARISTAS STRIKE OVER STARBUCKS’ FAILURE TO BARGAIN A CONTRACT

Hundreds of Starbucks workers are on strike in cities across the country, protesting the company’s refusal to come to the table and bargain a fair contract.

The strike began on Red Cup Day, the busiest sales day of the year for Starbucks, when it gives reusable cups to people who purchase holiday drinks.

According to the baristas’ union, Starbucks Workers United, more than 65 cafes in over 40 cities are part of the first phase of the strike, which the union said could expand to more than 550 locations representing over 10,000 employees if Starbucks fails to deliver a fair contract and resolve unfair labor practice charges.

The baristas are demanding better wages, better working conditions, and a stable and adequate schedule which would allow them to work 20 hours, the amount needed to get health care.

They also want the company to resolve hundreds of unfair labor practice charges filed by workers who say they were fired in retaliation for unionizing.

Talks between the union and the company have been deadlocked since April.

“Starbucks isn’t a poor company,” says Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.-I).

“Last year, it made more than $3.6 billion in profits, while denying workers a living wage and decent benefits.”

“Let’s stand in solidarity with striking Starbucks workers. Don’t cross the picket line.”

The AFL-CIO said in a statement that the company’s CEO-to-worker pay ratio is the worst of any S&P 500 company.

Last year, the average Starbucks worker made less than $15,000, while the CEO took home a compensation package worth nearly $98 million.
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NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER OFFERS EXPERIMENTAL GRAPHIC MARINE WIND WARNINGS

The National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch has announced the availability of its experimental Graphical Marine Wind Warnings. Here are the details.

“Experimental Graphical Marine Wind Warnings are a graphical depiction of official marine warnings, based on cumulative wind speed (gridded) forecasts where the resultant warning reflects specific wind speed thresholds.

“The service will offer shapefiles of graphical marine wind warnings for the following 48 hours, encompassing all the National Hurricane Center/Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch’s tropical oceanic domains (tropical North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of America, and tropical Northeast Pacific Ocean).

“The proposal enables the display of wind-based warnings in the high seas (areas of 34-47 kt, 48-63 kt, and 64 kt or greater) for both the 0-24 hour and 24-48 hour forecast periods, a capability beyond the previous wind speed-based warnings which were only available previously via text products and broad brush graphics.

“The experimental phase will involve providing this information live, updated four times daily with each forecast cycle.

“The intent is for these experimental warning graphics to be displayed in a user-friendly format for integration into various navigational ship software and displays, such as Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).

“By accessing these products that indicate active Tropical Storm, Hurricane and Hurricane Force, Gale, or Storm Warnings, captains and mates can make better hazardous weather avoidance decisions for their vessels, crew, and cargo.

“The Experimental Graphical Marine Wind Warning will be available at the following link: https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gis/marine/warnings/___.YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOjRmNjhmNTFmN2Y3ODVhNGY2NDQ0Y2UzNDRjZGNhYWVkOjc6YmY5MDo2MWRhY2YwZjQwY2U1NmJmZTRmYjA4OWRjYjNkMDk2MzM4M2IxMTcyMTA0NGU4NDc1MTI3Nzc1MTFkNzc3OWE3OnQ6VDpO

The files need to be opened with a .kml reader. It is suggested that you download the files onto your computer’s desktop, open Google Earth in a browser, then open the file within Google Earth.

If there are no gales, the file will show a blank map.

The Experimental Graphical Marine Wind Warnings are scheduled to be available daily by 0445 UTC, 1045 UTC, 1645 UTC, and 2245 UTC.

Because these are experimental, there may be times when they are not available or delayed.

The Graphical Marine Wind Warnings are valid for tropical cyclones (tropical storms and hurricanes) as well as extratropical cyclones (gale, storm, and hurricane force).

For an explanation of the KML format, please visit: https://www.weather.gov/media/cio/Keyhole Markup Language.pdf which is provided by NOAA’s National Weather Service.

Input on the Experimental Graphical Marine Wind Warnings is being sought from users.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ExpGraphicalMarineWindWarnings_2025
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MM&P CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

All MM&P union halls, the MM&P Plan Office, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, and MM&P headquarters will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 for Thanksgiving. 
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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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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: 01/05/26

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

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): 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): 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): 01/19/26, 03/30/26, 10/26/26

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

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

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 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

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.

For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.