Wheelhouse Weekly, Sept. 16, 2025

Volume 31… Number 37, September 16, 2025

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Cargo Safety Report Finds More Than One in 10 Shipments Is Mislabeled
• Ports Call on Congress to Restore Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Allocations
• India to Blacklist 86 FOC Ships and Order Immediate Repatriation of Indian Seafarers
• Dozens of Containers Fall Off Vessel in Port of Long Beach
• World Maritime Day 2025 Is Sept. 25

Mark Your Calendar:

• Membership Meeting in San Francisco/Oakland Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 21
• Membership Meeting in Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22
• Offshore Familiarization Course in Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall, Oct. 22-23
• Membership Meeting in the Houston Hall, Oct. 29
• Offshore Familiarization Course in the Houston Hall, Oct. 28-9

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs
• Great Lakes Jobs
• Offshore Jobs

And:

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

CARGO SAFETY REPORT FINDS MORE THAN ONE IN 10 SHIPMENTS IS MISLABELED

A new report published last week by the World Shipping Council (WSC) has found that more than one in ten cargoes are incorrectly identified.

A survey conducted by the International Maritime Organization using 2024 data found that 11.39 percent of shipments were misidentified or improperly prepared for transport.

The problems included dangerous goods that were wrongly declared or not declared at all, incorrect documentation, and incorrect packaging—all issues that can lead to serious safety incidents, including ship fires.

According to Lloyd’s Register, misdeclaration is the third largest cause of containership accidents.

WSC’s new report is based on data collected from 2011 to mid-2025 during port state inspections conducted by seven countries.

Port states are legally authorized to inspect containers to ensure cargo complies with international regulations and standards.

“With over one in ten shipments showing deficiencies, the message is clear: gaps in cargo safety are still far too common,” said Joe Kramek, president and CEO of the WSC.

“Cargo deficiencies put crews, ships, cargo, and the environment at risk.”

The WSC is developing a program to improve cargo screening and inspections and asking more port states to contribute data to its ongoing cargo safety surveys.
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PORTS CALL ON CONGRESS TO RESTORE HARBOR MAINTENANCE TRUST FUND ALLOCATIONS

America’s largest ports are asking Congress to restore their Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund allocations.

Proceeds from the Harbor Maintenance Fund are used to pay for dredging, jetties, breakwaters and related projects, all for the purpose of keeping federally supported harbor navigation open.

If funding is not restored to the level that was approved in a bipartisan agreement in 2020, the country’s major ports will lose $1 billion in federal investment over the course of the next three years, according to the American Association of Port Authorities.

To the degree that reduced funding affects port projects, the loss of federal investment could adversely affect private commercial dredging companies as well as the Army Corps of Engineers.

The HMTF is funded by a 0.125 percent value-added tax on goods entering US ports.

About half the tax proceeds are produced by the nation’s largest ports, which generate millions of dollars in fees each year.

Historically, however, these ports have gotten back only about two percent of the money in the fund.

In 2020, Congress agreed to allocate funds among different types of ports on a more equitable basis.

The largest ports would receive 10 percent for “expanded uses” like berth dredging, in-water repairs for wharfs, and projects to ensure slope stability at a berth.

But the funds were omitted in the FY2025 USACE Work Plan, and the administration left them zeroed out again in its FY2026 budget request Work Plan as well.

“…[Ports that] were expecting to receive nearly $330 million in funding to continue the important work projects started in 2024 ultimately received no funding for this program in the Work Plan,” the AAPA has told Congress.

The administration’s budget request for Army Corps civil works for FY2026 is $2 billion less than the budget that was enacted in the last two fiscal years.
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INDIA TO BLACKLIST 86 FOC SHIPS AND ORDER IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION OF INDIAN SEAFARERS

India has announced it will take action against 86 flag-of-convenience vessels that have been repeatedly detained by port authorities, charged with abusing seafarers or cited for abandonment.

The announcement by India’s Directorate General of Shipping follows a warning from the International Transport Workers’ Federation that abandonments have been running at record levels, increasing by 87 percent in the past two years.

MM&P is one of the 670 transport unions in 147 countries that belong to the ITF.

International law defines abandonment as leaving a seafarer stranded without wages, food or medical care for more than two months.

A majority of the 86 vessels, the DGS says, are operating without the required legal documents or insurance coverage.

It says that it decided which ships to ban on the basis of “the gravity of the offenses, their recurrence, and the enforcement challenges,” noting that in many cases, the respective flag states have not responded to official queries from the Indian authorities.

The DGS has ordered crewing agencies to immediately stop recruiting Indian seafarers for employment on the blacklisted vessels.

They have also been directed to arrange the sign-off at the earliest possible port for the Indian crewmembers and their safe repatriation with any outstanding wages in hand.

Agencies that fail to comply risk suspension or cancellation of their licenses.

The list of ships is varied both in type of vessel and flag.

One name that immediately stands out is that of the product tanker EAGLE S, which is at the center of a case in Finland in which prosecutors say it intentionally dragged its anchor, damaging undersea cables.

An Indian national is among the three crewmembers of the EAGLE S now on trial in the criminal case, in which the prosecution is seeking minimum prison terms of two years and six months.
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DOZENS OF CONTAINERS FALL OFF VESSEL IN PORT OF LONG BEACH

Sixty-seven containers tumbled off a containership and into the harbor at the Port of Long Beach on Sept. 9.

No one was injured in the accident, which the Coast Guard said may have been caused by a crane malfunction.

The containership, the MISSISSIPPI, had arrived two days previously from Yantian port in Shenzhen, China.

It is owned by MPC, chartered by ZIM, and flies the flag of Madeira, the largest of the two Portuguese registries.

Video of the incident and its aftermath show two stacks of containers precariously overhanging the MISSISSIPPI.

Other containers sank in the harbor or piled up, resting on top of each other, with cardboard boxes and other materials floating around them.

Some struck a clean air barge, the STAX 2, an anti-pollution vessel tethered to the side of the MISSISSIPPI to capture emissions.

The Coast Guard established a 500-yard safety zone around the ship and cargo operations at the ITS Container Terminal were temporarily suspended at responders worked to secure the containers.
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WORLD MARITIME DAY 2025 IS SEPT. 25

World Maritime Day is being celebrated this year on Thursday, Sept. 25.

This year’s theme is “Our Ocean–Our Obligation–Our Opportunity,” a reflection of the vital role that the ocean plays in the world economy, in view of the fact that 80 percent of the world’s trade transported by sea.

“Protecting and restoring the ocean is our opportunity to build a healthier planet, stronger economies and a safer future for generations to come,” says IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

The International Maritime Organization has posted information about the significance of the World Maritime Day on its website.
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND HALL ON THURSDAY, OCT. 21

There will be a membership meeting in the San Francisco/Oakland Hall on Thursday, Oct. 21, immediately after job call.

All members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The contact information for the hall is:

315 Broadway, 2nd Floor

Oakland, CA 94607

Phone: 510-808-7068

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MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL ON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22

There will be a membership meeting in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22, immediately after job call.

All members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The contact information for the hall is:

533 N. Marine Ave., Ste A

Wilmington, CA 90744-5527

Phone: 310-834-7201
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OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE IN LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH HALL, OCT. 22-23

The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 23.

The schedule for the course is 0930-1530 and you must attend both days.

There is no sea-time requirement to take the course.

All Offshore applicants, potential transferees from other membership groups and other interested Offshore members are encouraged to take the course as soon as possible.

If you are interested in participating in the course, please contact Wendy Karnes, wkarnes@bridgedeck.org.

The contact information for the hall is:

533 N. Marine Ave., Ste A

Wilmington, CA 90744-5527

Phone: 310-834-7201
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING, HOUSTON HALL, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29

An Offshore Membership Meeting will be held in the Houston Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 1100, immediately following job call.

MM&P International President Don Josberger will attend the meeting.

The address of the Houston Hall is:

13850 Gulf Freeway

Ste 250

Houston, TX 77034

All members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE, HOUSTON HALL, OCT. 28-9

The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held in the MM&P Houston Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 28-9, from 0830-1630 each day.

There is no sea-time requirement to take the course.

All Offshore applicants, potential transferees from other membership groups and other interested Offshore members are encouraged to take the course as soon as possible.

Please RSVP by calling or emailing the hall at 281-464-9650 or Houston@bridgedeck.org.

The address of the Houston Hall is:

13850 Gulf Freeway

Ste 250

Houston, TX 77034
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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 https://www.buchananmarinelp.com.

Click on “Careers” on the top right 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 with a PIC, preferably with an AB and STCW but will work with an OS.

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 Mates & Captains with a 200-ton coastwise license & TOAR.
If interested, please email your resume to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org. If you have any questions, please call at 973-495-9377.

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

If you are interested, please go to this link to fill out an application:

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

If you have questions, please contact 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 web-site. https://cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/deckhand-in-staten-island-jid-34931

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

— STATUE CITY CRUISES is looking for Mates and Captains with a 100-ton license.

If you are interested, google Statue City Cruises LLC, then click “careers” on the bottom right.

Once you fill out an application, please inform Paulina 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.

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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:

— Key Lakes – In need of Mate for 30 day or permanent rotation (Mates with Pilotage given preference) Start Date 9/1

— Weeks Marine QMED – Must have all STCW Documents (21/21 Rotation) Start Date Immediately

— Weeks Marine Cook/Steward – Must have all STCW Documents 21/21 Rotation Start Date Immediately

— 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: Not Currently Scheduled

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting: 01/26/26

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: Not Currently Scheduled

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 01/05/26, 03/09/26

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 10/06/25*, 12/08/25, 02/02/26

MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/17/25, 01/12/26

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 10/11/25, 11/16/25, 12/13/25, 01/10/26, 02/07/26

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

[STCW License & Radar Renewal Courses]

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

BT-REV (2-day): 09/22/25, 10/20/25, 11/12/25

FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 09/24/25, 10/22/25, 11/14/25

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

BT-REF (3-day): 09/22/25, 11/12/25

FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 09/18/25, 11/10/25

PSC-REF (2-day): Not Currently Scheduled

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 09/24/25, 11/11/25

[CMM – Chief Mate & Master Upgrade Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 10/13/25, 12/08/25, 02/16/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 09/29/25, 12/01/25, 02/09/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): 10/20/25, 02/23/26

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 10/20/25, 04/13/25

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: 10/06/25, 12/15/25, 02/16/25

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: Not Currently Scheduled

SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: 09/22/25

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

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: Not Currently Scheduled

[AB TO MATE Upgrade Courses]

ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/10/25, 02/09/26

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

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

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

FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day) 02/13/26

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

LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 02/12/26

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 10/13/25, 02/02/26

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

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 02/02/26

STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 01/12/26, 03/16/26

TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 10/20/25, 01/05/26

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 02/23/26, 03/30/26

WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 02/16/26

[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): 11/16/25

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

MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 11/07/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 11/09/25

MSC-SMA – Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 10/14/25, 11/10/25, 12/09/25

MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 11/08/25

MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 10/13/25, 11/09/25, 12/08/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 11/14/25

[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): 10/01/25, 10/15/25*, 02/02/26, 02/05/26

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 09/30/25*, 10/02/25*, 12/02/25*, 12/04/25* – Contact Admissions to Register

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 11/17/25, 01/26/26, 04/20/26

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 10/04/25, 11/15/26, 12/06/25

[Other MITAGS Courses]

AB – Able Seaman: 09/22/25, 02/16/26

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management: 03/23/26

BRMP-EMR – Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): 10/20/25, 10/27/25

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: 11/03/25

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): 11/05/25

Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: 09/18/25

Learn America Online Courses: Contact Admissions for Access

Breakbulk Shipping: 90 Day Online Access

Contract Management for Shipbuilding and Repairs: 90 Day Online

Corrosion and Coating Protection of Ships: 90 Day Online Access

Maritime Logistics: 90 Day Online Access

Ship Superintendent – Marine: 365 Day Online Access

Ship Superintendent – Technical: 365 Day Online Access

Ship Superintendent – General: 365 Day Online Access

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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

September 2025

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-26 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

29-1 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

29-3 Leadership & Managerial Skills

29-3 Meteorology – Operational Level

29th MSC – Security Watchstander Advanced

30-3 MSC – Small Arms

October 2025
6-9 Search & Rescue

7-10 Advanced Firefighting

9th Flashing Light

10th Leadership & Teamworking Skills

13-17 Basic Training

13-17 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

13-24 Watchkeeping – Operational Level

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation

20-22 Basic Training Refresher

20-24 Basic Cargo Handling & Stowage

22nd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

22-23 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

27-30 ARPA

27-31 Medical Care Provider

27-31 Basic Shiphandling

27-7 Medical Person-In-Charge

November 2025
3-5 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

3-7 Leadership & Managerial Skills

10-12 Search & Rescue

10-13 Advanced Firefighting

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.

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