Volume 30… Number 48, November 26, 2024
STORIES COVERED
In This Issue:
- Navy Will Take 17 MSC Ships Out of Service Because of CIVMAR Shortage
- Cal Maritime Will Merge With Another School
- Australia Bans Dutch Cargo Ship for Six Months
- Retirement Benefits Seminar for Offshore Members and Applicants
- Investigation Into August 2024 Sinking of Mega-Yacht: Nautilus Slams Attempts to Criminalize Captain and Crew
Mark Your Calendar:
Job Opportunities:
And:
NAVY WILL TAKE 17 MSC SHIPS OUT OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF CIVMAR SHORTAGE
Military Sealift Command said it is sidelining 17 vessels because it doesn’t have enough personnel to crew them.
The plan was approved on Oct. 30 by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and announced last Thursday by MSC during a phone conference with members of the press.
The Navy said in a press release that Del Toro had approved the initiative “to restore the health of the Military Sealift Command workforce and generate more logistics support for fleet operations worldwide.”
“Our civil service mariners play invaluable roles providing continuous logistics support to our deployed naval forces, and they are working overtime to sustain that mission globally,” Del Toro was quoted as saying.
“This initiative will not only address operational logistics challenges we face now, it will ensure that Military Sealift Command has policies, programs and incentives it needs to recruit and retain future generations of civil service mariners.”
Under the plan, some logistics support ships will be placed in extended maintenance and their crews will be reassigned to “higher priority vessels.”
The Navy said the plan would minimize overdue reliefs and provide a more predictable work environment for civil service mariners.
The types of ships to be sidelined include Fleet Replenishment Oilers (T-AO), Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships (T-AKE), Expeditionary Fast Transports (T-EPF), Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB), and ocean surveillance ships (T-AGOS).
USNI News reported that an MSC official declined to specify during the press call which hulls would go into extended maintenance.
“I remain hopeful that this ‘reset’ is followed by the alleviation of the ongoing burdensome administrative duties and bureaucratic procedures that MSC CIVMARS continue to be overwhelmed and tasked with,” said MM&P Government Fleet Representative Randi Ciszewski.
“This would go a long way in attracting and retaining our very relevant CIVMAR workforce.”
“It’s time we acknowledge that CIVMARS are not quitting the maritime industry but rather acting on their dissatisfaction with management decisions and thus quitting management.”
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CAL MARITIME WILL MERGE WITH ANOTHER SCHOOL
The Trustees of California State University have approved a plan to merge Cal Maritime with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, saying it is the only way to save the maritime academy from financial collapse.
The institution was faced with rising operating costs and a loss of income due to fewer cadets.
Since 2016, the program has reportedly lost a third of its enrollment, dropping from around 1,100 cadets to 761.
The Cal State chancellor’s office said in a statement that the 95-year-old maritime college’s financial challenges were such that it either had to be closed immediately or integrated with a larger and stronger school.
The merger will become effective on July 1, 2025.
Starting with the 2026-27 academic year, maritime students will be officially enrolled at Cal Poly.
The merchant marine licensing program and the training ship GOLDEN BEAR will become Cal Poly Maritime Academy.
The land-based program will become Cal Poly Solano Campus.
“This historic action will increase opportunities for current and future students and reinforces support for our critically important educational mission,” said Cal Maritime Interim President Michael J. Dumont in a statement.
The trustees said that the integration “would not only preserve but grow the critical merchant mariner license-track programs so vital to the maritime industry and to the state and nation’s economy, as well as to national security interests.”
Cal State Chancellor Mildred García seconded that goal, saying that “Cal Poly San Luis Obispo will grow the impact and influence of the Cal Poly Maritime Academy throughout the Pacific-facing states and U.S. territories, bringing new opportunities.”
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AUSTRALIA BANS DUTCH CARGO SHIP FOR SIX MONTHS
Nautilus International General Secretary Mark Dickinson has warned against attempts to criminalize the mariners working aboard the mega-yacht BAYESIAN, which sank on the night of Aug. 19 in a storm off the Sicilian fishing village of Porticello.
A week after the accident, local prosecutors announced that the captain and two members of the crew were under investigation.
Dickinson said a rush to judgment when all the facts are not in will interfere with the investigation and “is harmful to the process of uncovering the truth.”
The BAYESIAN was a 184-ft sailing superyacht with a 237-ft mast, one of the tallest in the world.
Seven people died when it sank before dawn in winds that neared hurricane strength.
“[I]n light of recent speculation and premature conclusions circulating in the media and online, Nautilus International is compelled to advocate for a measured and just approach,” Dickinson said in a statement.
“We have no doubt that the master and crew of the BAYESIAN are experienced maritime professionals.”
“Any attempt to question their conduct without the full facts is not only unfair but also harmful to the process of uncovering the truth and learning lessons from this tragedy.”
“It undermines due process and denies the master and crew their right to fair treatment under the recognized IMO/ILO Guidelines.”
According to an investigation conducted by The New York Times, “the BAYESIAN’s most striking feature—its extra-tall mast and the engineering to accommodate it—made the yacht vulnerable to capsizing.”
“Experience tells us that maritime tragedies are always the result of multiple, interconnected factors,” Dickinson said.
“The truth of what happened can only be established through a thorough, unbiased investigation conducted by experienced maritime professionals.”
“This process takes time and must be allowed to unfold without external pressures or preconceived narratives.”
MM&P is one of the 22 maritime labor unions that belong to the Nautilus Federation.
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RETIREMENT BENEFITS SEMINAR FOR OFFSHORE MEMBERS AND APPLICANTS
MM&P Plans Benefit Director Ken Ryan and MM&P Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger will hold a remote education/training session for retirement options regarding benefit decisions and calculations.
The session will also include details concerning recent Co-Pay and Medicare awareness, as well as a question-and-answer session on health, vacation and other plan benefits and coverage.
The session is open to all MM&P Offshore members and applicants.
It will be held on Dec. 11, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST.
Use this link to register.
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NAUTILUS SLAMS ATTEMPTS TO CRIMINALIZE CAPTAIN AND CREW OF MEGA-YACHT
Nautilus International General Secretary Mark Dickinson has warned against attempts to criminalize the mariners working aboard the mega-yacht BAYESIAN, which sank on the night of Aug. 19 in a storm off the Sicilian fishing village of Porticello.
A week after the accident, local prosecutors announced (article requires login to NY Times) that the captain and two members of the crew were under investigation.
Dickinson said a rush to judgment when all the facts are not in will interfere with the investigation and “is harmful to the process of uncovering the truth.”
The BAYESIAN was a 184-ft sailing superyacht with a 237-ft mast, one of the tallest in the world.
Seven people died when it sank before dawn in winds that neared hurricane strength.
“[I]n light of recent speculation and premature conclusions circulating in the media and online, Nautilus International is compelled to advocate for a measured and just approach,” Dickinson said in a statement.
“We have no doubt that the master and crew of the BAYESIAN are experienced maritime professionals.”
“Any attempt to question their conduct without the full facts is not only unfair but also harmful to the process of uncovering the truth and learning lessons from this tragedy.”
“It undermines due process and denies the master and crew their right to fair treatment under the recognized IMO/ILO Guidelines.”
According to an investigation conducted by The New York Times, “the BAYESIAN’s most striking feature—its extra-tall mast and the engineering to accommodate it—made the yacht vulnerable to capsizing.”
“Experience tells us that maritime tragedies are always the result of multiple, interconnected factors,” Dickinson said.
“The truth of what happened can only be established through a thorough, unbiased investigation conducted by experienced maritime professionals.”
“This process takes time and must be allowed to unfold without external pressures or preconceived narratives.”
MM&P is one of the 22 maritime labor unions that belong to the Nautilus Federation.
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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.
Boston – Tuesday, December 10th – Boston Hall from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Houston – Wednesday, December 11th – Esteban’s Fiesta Shack, 131 League Street, League City, TX 77573 from 11 am – 3 pm
NY/NJ – Thursday, December 12th – Newark Hall from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
SF/Oakland – Friday, December 13th – Drake’s Dealership, 2325 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 at Noon
Honolulu – Monday, December 16th – Honolulu Hall from 10 am – 2 pm
Norfolk – Tuesday, December 17th – Dockside Seafood, 3311 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Charleston – Wednesday, December 18th – Kickin’ Chicken, 1179 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407 from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Miami/PEV – Friday, December 20th – Umbertos, 3051 E Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
LA/Long Beach – Friday, December 20th – (Location and time TBD)
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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. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 for Thanksgiving.
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OFFSHORE JOBS
CM needed for USNS Pililaau ASAP.
Tanker CMs needed, Tanker PICs at all levels. Did you know that three consecutive years of tanker service can earn you a B Book? See shipping rules for details.
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GREAT LAKES JOBS
There are job openings on the Great Lakes!
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 an opening for a 1st Assistant Engineer.
If you want more information about Great Lakes job listings, 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-EAST SEEKS FULL-TIME INSTRUCTORS
MITAGS-East in Linthicum Heights, MD, is recruiting in anticipation of full-time instructor openings in the new year.
The positions are covered by the OFMG collective bargaining agreement. The minimum base salary is $73,800.
Instructors are responsible for delivering content provided by the organization, providing quality classroom instruction, and mentoring, educating and guiding attendees.
Desired qualifications include:
— USCG Officer Level License with experience sailing under his/her highest level license (may be substituted with equivalent uniformed service experience);
— degree in adult education, maritime sciences or related field;
— two years’ experience supervising subordinates in a similar environment;
— experience teaching adults, including cadets, professional subjects for one or more years.
Required qualifications include:
— experience, training and qualifications necessary to obtain USCG approval to teach courses:
— excellent computer skills, including MS Office Suite and related information systems;
— sound judgment and decision-making, strong interpersonal, writing and communications skills.
Position requires moderate physical activity and may require some travel.
If you are interested in applying, please contact Human Resources Manager Jane Sibiski, jsibiski@mitags.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): 02/10/25, 04/28/25
ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 02/03/25, 03/24/25
AZIPOD (2-Day): 01/09/25
BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled
BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): 01/06/25
BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 02/03/25, 02/24/25
BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 12/09/24, 01/20/25, 03/24/25
BT-Refresher (3-day): 01/20/25
CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): 02/17/25
[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]
ADVSTB – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 12/09/24, 01/13/25, 03/24/25, 04/28/25
ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 12/16/24, 01/06/25, 03/17/25, 06/02/25
CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 01/20/25
CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 12/09/24, 02/10/25, 05/12/25
CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 12/16/24, 02/17/25, 05/19/25
ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 03/31/25
LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (5-Day): 03/10/25
MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 03/03/25
(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)
SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 02/17/25
SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 12/02/24*, 01/13/25, 02/03/25, 03/10/25, 04/07/25, 05/05/25,
SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 12/09/24, 01/20/25, 02/10/25, 03/07/25, 04/14/25, 05/12/25
VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 04/28/25
WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 02/24/25
WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 01/11/25, 03/01/25, 04/26/25, 08/02/25
CIW-DPA/IA – Continual Improvement Workshop: Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day) ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program **
Online: 02/19/25
CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/05/25
DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): 01/27/25
ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled
ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 12/09/24, 03/17/25
FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-day): 03/03/25
FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 02/03/25
FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 12/11/24, 01/22/25, 03/26/25
FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 01/23/25
FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled
GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): 02/07/25
GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): Not currently scheduled
HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 12/02/24, 02/24/25
LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 03/10/25
LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): 02/10/25
LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross
Ton License (15-Day): 06/03/25
LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled
LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 12/16/24*, 01/13/25, 03/12/25, 05/05/25, 06/04/25
LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): 02/24/25
MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): 12/02/24, 03/24/25
MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 12/02/24*, 01/20/25, 04/07/25, 05/12/25
MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 01/06/25, 03/03/25, 04/28/25
MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 02/03/25, 04/07/25, 05/12/25
MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 12/07/24, 01/11/25, 01/25/25, 03/08/25, 04/12/25, 05/03/25, 05/17/25
[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]
MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (5-Day): 01/20/25
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): 01/09/25, 03/13/25, 05/08/25, 06/12/25
MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 01/10/25, 03/14/25, 05/09/25, 06/13/25
MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 01/12/25, 03/16/25, 05/11/25
MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 01/13/25, 02/11/25, 03/17/25, 04/15/25, 05/12/25, 06/16/25
MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 01/11/25, 03/15/25, 05/10/25, 06/14/25
MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 01/12/25, 02/10/25, 03/16/25, 04/14/24, 05/11/25, 06/15/25
MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 01/17/25, 03/31/25, 05/13/25, 06/20/25
NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 12/09/24*, 12/11/24*, 01/07/25, 01/09/25, 03/25/25, 03/27/25, 04/29/25, 05/01/25
PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 02/17/25
PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 01/16/2025
RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): 01/29/25
ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): Contact Admissions
ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 01/27/25, 03/17/25
SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 02/26/25
SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 03/07/25, 04/14/25
SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 12/16/24*, 01/27/25*, 04/21/25, 06/23/25
STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: 02/10/25
TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 01/20/25
TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not currently scheduled
TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program: Not currently scheduled
VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 12/04/24, 02/26/25
WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 01/20/25, 04/21/25
WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 03/10/25
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
October 2024
30th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation
December 2024
2-13 Advanced Cargo Operations
2-13 GMDSS
5-6 Advanced Firefighting Refresher
7-8 Basic Training Revalidation
7-9 Basic Training Refresher
9th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation
9-13 Basic Training
16-19 Advanced Firefighting
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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.
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