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MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

Volume 29… Number 38, September 19, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

Attention MM&P Members at Staten Island Ferry:

Attention All Mariners:

Job Opportunities:

And:

MM&P JOINS HUNDREDS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN CALLING ON CONGRESS TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT

MM&P has joined the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department and almost 700 other organizations in urging Congress to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution by Sept. 30 that will keep the government running.

The government will shut down if Congress fails to pass a continuing resolution in time.

A shutdown could affect funding for the Maritime Security Program and other vital maritime programs.

“We urge you to fulfill Congress’ most basic duty, to keep the government running,” the group wrote in a Sept. 12 letter to every member of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“Congress must pass a clean bipartisan, bicameral continuing resolution, including emergency funding that supports current services and addresses urgent needs and is free of poison pill policy riders that are harmful and irrelevant to the functions of government.”

“Such a CR will ensure that federal programs continue to serve essential needs while Congress works in good faith to finish FY 24 funding legislation needed to provide for a robust, stable economy and a secure nation by sufficiently supporting the vital services that help our communities thrive.”

The group noted that shutdowns harm our nation’s overall economy, the financial security of individuals and families, government efficiency, and the public’s access to needed services.

“For those concerned about government waste, shutdowns, especially protracted shutdowns, could cost taxpayers billions of dollars even while basic government functions that taxpayers need experience interruption,” they added.

Looking beyond the Sept. 30 deadline, they said, Congress must consider and address the nation’s urgent funding needs by reaching an agreement on final FY 24 appropriations legislation.

“In summary,” they wrote, “our country needs Congress to push past the chaos and focus on the basics: keeping the government running and passing funding bills that place the needs of Americans and the public interest first.”
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MM&P CREWING UP TANKER TO ASSIST IN REMOVING FUEL FROM RED HILL STORAGE FACILITY

Patriot Contract Services will operate a newly U.S.-flagged tanker, ALLIED PACIFIC, which has been contracted to assist in removing fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii.

Tanker chief mate, second mate, and third mates are needed!

The vessel, a medium-range tanker which can carry over 300,000 barrels, is owned by Federated Maritime LLC, which was awarded a Military Sealift Command time charter to help carry out the operation.

If all options are exercised, the contract will last nearly five years.

Besides MM&P licensed deck officers, the ALLIED PACIFIC will be crewed by members of MEBA, SUP, MFU, and SIU.

The Red Hill facility, which is operated by the U.S. Navy, connects to the fueling piers in Pearl Harbor and supports U.S. military operations from all branches of service in the Pacific.

The Navy has agreed to empty the facility, which can hold up to 250 million gallons of fuel, because a jet fuel leak contaminated the local water supply.
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CROWLEY, SEACOR TO CREATE NEW COMPANY THROUGH INTEGRATION OF JONES ACT TANK VESSEL FLEETS

Crowley and SEACOR Holdings, through its subsidiary Seabulk Tankers, have announced an agreement to form a joint venture that will integrate their liquid energy and chemical transportation vessels, operations, and related services into a new, independent Jones Act service provider, Fairwater Holdings LLC.

In a joint press release, the two said Fairwater “will leverage and scale…” their “unique operational and safety-focused capabilities to serve the U.S. domestic market with vessels and marine transportation solutions across the petroleum and chemical trades, as well as related third-party ship management services.”

The joint venture will include 20 ocean-going, articulated tug-barges, and 11 tankers, many under long-term charter.

The two said Fairwater will also provide crewing and technical management for an additional 21 third-party owned vessels.

“Fairwater marks an important milestone in meeting the evolving needs for safe, efficient and sustainable U.S. domestic maritime transportation solutions,” said Seabulk CEO Daniel Thorogood, who will head up the new company.

“Through this new joint venture, Fairwater will create more value for customers,” he added.

“Fairwater provides an exciting path for continued growth and investment benefiting our exceptional talent pool, our customers and this essential industry at large,” said SEACOR CEO Eric Fabrikant.

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with Crowley and look forward to jointly supporting this new venture ensuring seamless service during this transitional time and beyond.”

The joint venture is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2024 and begin operations after customary closing conditions have been satisfied and regulators have approved.

Fairwater will be based in Fort Lauderdale with offices in Fairfield, Conn., Houston, Jacksonville, and Seattle.

At this time, it is anticipated that six Crowley ATBs under contract with the MM&P–Pacific Maritime Region and the six MM&P Maritime Security Program vessels under contract with Waterman Steamship Corporation and Waterman Transport will be included in this transaction, with the existing collective bargaining agreements to remain in place.
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EMPIRE STATE VII ARRIVES AT SUNY MARITIME

SUNY Maritime College has welcomed EMPIRE STATE VII, the new training ship that will serve as a modern instructional platform for Maritime College cadets.

The vessel arrived at Olivet Pier on Monday morning, accompanied by much fanfare and a parade of ships.

It arrived via Long Island Sound rather than the East River because of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly.

After the arrival and delivery ceremony scheduled for Friday morning, members of the press, elected officials, and industry VIPS will be able to tour the new ship.

The EMPIRE STATE is the first of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels destined for the state maritime academies.

The ships are designed to serve a dual purpose: supporting merchant mariner education and assisting with humanitarian/disaster relief during times of national emergency.

The school called the ship’s arrival “a milestone event for Maritime College and the maritime industry.”

“This is an exciting day for Maritime College as we welcome the EMPIRE STATE VII to its home port,” said Rear Adm. Michael Alfultis.

“This state-of-the-art training vessel will provide our cadets the most advanced technology in the shipping and maritime industry, and ensure they are prepared to operate and maintain vessels as licensed deck officers and engineers,” he said.

“We appreciate the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program’s bipartisan support for the state maritime academies.”

“We also appreciate the support of New York Governor Kathy Hochul and SUNY Chancellor John B. King.”

Each NSMV features a modern hospital facility and a helicopter pad and can accommodate up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need.
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IN WIN FOR U.S. FLEET, CUSTOMS AGENCY MODIFIES DECISION ON FOREIGN JACK-UP RIGS

After input from maritime unions, U.S. shipping companies and their allies, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agency has modified a decision on the use of foreign jack-up rigs in offshore wind installations.

MM&P had joined the American Maritime Partnership and allied groups in requesting that the agency “withdraw and reconsider” its original decision, which seemed to suggest that a foreign jack-up rig could transport monopiles from the U.S. to an offshore wind installation site, jack up, install the monopiles, and then continue to do the same thing again and again at other installation sites.

The original CBP decision suggested that a company that employed a foreign-flag rig in this type of repetitive installation would not be in violation of the Jones Act.

The new CBP decision makes it clear that such an operation could not be performed by a foreign rig without violating the Jones Act, which reserves coastwise trade to vessels that are owned, operated, and crewed by Americans.

The U.S.-flag coalition was also successful in getting CBP to clarify its position on the consequences of a dynamic positioning vessel dropping anchor at an installation site.

CBP clarified that dropping an anchor purely for safety reasons did not create a coastwise point, but that a violation of the Jones Act would occur if the anchoring played any part in the installation of the monopile.

In petitioning CBP to modify its original decision, which was issued on July 17, MM&P and the other unions noted that clarity is needed “because this emerging sector represents a significant new employment opportunity for our members.”

CBP responded immediately to the letter, which was also signed by the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, American Maritime Officers, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, and the Seafarers International Union.
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STATUE CITY CRUISES CONTRACT FOR STATUE OF LIBERTY AND ELLIS ISLAND RENEWED BY NPS

The National Park Service has awarded a new 10-year contract to Statue City Cruises to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

Members of the MM&P Atlantic Maritime Group operate Statue City Cruises ferries.

The new contract begins March 1, 2024.

Statue City Cruises, which is part of the Hornblower Group’s City Experiences portfolio, has operated the service for more than 15 years.

“This is great news,” said MM&P Atlantic Maritime Group Vice President Mike Riordan.

“The AMG members who work at Statue City Cruises are all pleased to know that their employment will continue under the same management team.”

Visitors traveling on Statue City Cruises ferries are now at 87 percent of pre-pandemic levels, the company says, adding that the numbers exceeded pre-pandemic levels on several days in 2023.

Historically, “visitation” has averaged more than four million people a year, including an all-time high of 4.6 million visitors in 2016.

Statue City Cruises transports passengers to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from departure points at Battery Park in lower Manhattan and Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J.
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AUTO WORKERS WILL EXPAND STRIKE IF “SERIOUS PROGRESS” ISN’T MADE BY FRIDAY

The UAW says it will expand its strike against the “Big Three” Detroit automakers if the sides don’t make “serious progress” in negotiations by Friday.

The Big Three are General Motors, Stellantis (formerly known as Fiat Chrysler) and Ford.

About 12,700 UAW members are currently striking at plants in three states.

The strike is historic in that it is the first to simultaneously hit all three companies, each of which has one plant shut down.

Today the starting wage at the Big Three is around $17 an hour—less than workers earn in some nonunion auto plants around the country.

The top wage at plants covered by UAW contracts is $32.32 an hour.

After adjusting for inflation, over the last 20 years, the average wage for American autoworkers has decreased by 30 percent.

“We’re not waiting around, and we’re not messing around,” says UAW President Shawn Fain.

“Autoworkers have waited long enough to make things right at the Big Three.”

Detroit automakers made a combined $23 billion in profits during the first half of 2023, up 80 percent from the same period last year, according to Sen. Bernie Sanders, who headlined a UAW rally last week in Detroit.

“It is the totally reasonable demand that autoworkers, who have made enormous financial sacrifices over the past 40 years, finally receive a fair share of the record-breaking profits their labor has generated,” he said.

Last year, the CEO of General Motors was paid about $29 million in total compensation, the CEO of Ford made approximately $21 million, and the CEO of Stellantis was paid over $25 million.

Sanders has called on Americans to “stand in solidarity with the UAW and create an economy that works for all, not just the privileged few.”
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RUSSIAN SUB SUFFERED EXTREME DAMAGE IN UKRAINIAN MISSILE STRIKE

Maritime Executive has published photos showing that a Ukrainian missile attack last week on vessels in the graving dock in Sevastopol’s Pivdenna Bay destroyed a Russian Kilo-class submarine.

A UK military intelligence satellite photo analysis released Friday shows what appears to be a large hole in the top of the sub’s bow section.

The British assessment described it as “extensive” damage, consistent with Ukrainian accounts of a successful strike.

Photos released Monday by the Conflict Intelligence Team, which like the International Transport Workers’ Federation and Amnesty International has been labeled “an undesirable organization” in Russia, show a second hole in the sub’s starboard side, leading one analyst to refer to the damaged vessel as “an ex-submarine.”

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BENEFITS COVERAGE PLAN OVERVIEW THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Attention MM&P members who work at the Staten Island Ferry.

The insurance broker will be at St. George Terminal (slip#1 breakroom) on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 21 and 22, from 1:00 p.m. through 4:00 p.m., to go over benefits with Staten Island Ferry members who have questions about dental or vision coverage, short/long-term disability coverage, or death benefits.

In addition, there will be various Aflac insurance policies available for purchase.

These meetings will be held on a walk-in basis only, so please feel free to come as your schedule permits.

If you are not able to attend, you can call Heather at Creative Benefit Plans or Anthony Turzio anytime to review your benefits plan.
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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.

GRN now offers a signing/retention bonus of $3,000 to all mates and assistant engineers who complete the 2023 sailing season and return for the 2024 sailing season.

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.

WMI is offering a $3,000 new hire sign-on bonus. It is payable in three payments of $1,000 each, the first $1,000 after the successful completion of the second hitch, the second $1,000 upon successful completion of the third hitch, and $1,000 upon successful completion of the fourth hitch.

Cross-shipping rights for Offshore applicants/members are available for licensed personnel, with sea time and points counting towards upgrading Offshore membership.

Key Lakes is looking for a mate with Great Lakes pilotage and an open-water mate.

The regular relief is for 30 days but could be modified if mutually agreed on.

These are long-term, permanent jobs.

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

Tanker CM, 2M and 3M’s needed, including for new tanker ALLIED PACIFIC.

Positions available aboard Patriot LMSR’s at all levels including new vessels SEAY and PILILAAU.

Members and applicants who are interested in MSC training, please sign up with MITAGS and for those who do not qualify for training benefits yet, please email Jeremy Hope, VP Gulf and Gov’t Contracts at jhope@bridgedeck.org with the subject line MSC TRAINING.

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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, tlarkin@bridgedeck.org, or 201-963-1900.

For engineering jobs on the Lakes, contact MM&P Great Lakes & Gulf Region Vice President Tom Bell, tbell@bridgedeck.org, or (216) 776-1667.
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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): Not currently scheduled

AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/13/23

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): 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): 12/18/23

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 09/26/23*, 10/16/23, 11/13/23

BT-Refresher (3-day): 09/26/23*

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

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 10/09/23, 12/18/23

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 12/11/23

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/16/23

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 11/27/23

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 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): 12/11/23

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 11/13/23

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): *10/02/23, *10/30/23, 12/04/23

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 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): Not Currently Scheduled

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) –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: Not Currently Scheduled

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): Not currently scheduled

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 09/27/23, 10/18/23, 11/15/23

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 09/29/23

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): 11/16/23

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 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): Not currently scheduled

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

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): *09/25/23, 10/09/23, *10/16/23, *11/13/23

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): *10/02/23, 12/04/23

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/27/23

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): *10/02/23

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 09/24/23, 10/07/23, 10/15/23, 11/16/23, 12/09/23

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 10/26/23

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 10/27/23

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 10/28/23

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

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 10/30/23

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 10/28/23

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 10/29/23

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day11/03/23

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): 11/06/23*, 11/08/23*

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 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): 09/27/23

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 11/16/23

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 10/23/23

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

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 10/16/23, 11/13/23

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: 11/13/23

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): 10/11/23

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 12/04/23

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): Not Currently Scheduled
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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

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.