Wheelhouse Weekly, Sept. 22, 2026

Volume 32… Number 37, Sept. 22, 2026

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• MLL Fleet Renewal Begins
• USTRANSCOM Awards Sealift Charter Contract to Seven Companies
• Master of Tanzania-Flag Ship Killed in Russian Drone Attack
• ILWU Pickets Cruise Line in Seattle
• MARAD Issues New Advisory on Risk of Iranian Attacks
• Join the Campaign! Tell China to Free Union Leaders Unjustly Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in Seattle Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 23
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Charleston Hall on Oct. 8
• Offshore Membership Meeting in Honolulu on Oct. 19

Job Opportunities:

• AMG Jobs

And:

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

MLL FLEET RENEWAL BEGINS

Maersk Line Ltd. has begun its fleet renewal program, which will bring down the overall age of the company’s Maritime Security Program vessels to comply with MSP requirements.

The Maersk Seneca was flagged-in on Sept. 16 in Algeciras.

The joining master on the Seneca is Mike Rausa. The joining chief mate is Ryan Zwick.

As the fleet renewal moves forward:

— Maersk Huron will replace the Maersk Detroit;

— Maersk Mead will replace the Maersk Seletar;

— Maersk Powell will replace the Maersk Denver;

— Maersk Champlain will replace the Maersk Sentosa;

— Maersk Erie will replace the Maersk Hartford;

— Maersk Tahoe will replace the Maersk Kensington.

For additional detail regarding vessel flag-in/flag-out schedules, contact your local union hall.

“The company’s billion-dollar investment in fleet upgrades is extremely significant for MM&P as historically the company has put its newbuilds under foreign flag and only cascaded older tonnage into the US fleet,” said MM&P President Don Josberger.

“To my mind, this new opportunity is a direct result of our members’ professionalism and their bravery in carrying cargo without hesitation in the midst of recent events.”
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USTRANSCOM AWARDS SEALIFT CHARTER CONTRACT TO SEVEN COMPANIES

US Transportation Command has awarded its new Joint Global Sealift Charter contract to seven shipping companies, including several that have contracts with MM&P.

The five-year contract is designed to give Military Sealift Command faster and more flexible access to commercial sealift capacity for moving military vehicles, equipment and other cargo around the world.

“The Joint Global Sealift Charter strengthens our ability to respond rapidly to the needs of the joint force by giving MSC access to ready, reliable commercial sealift capacity when and where it’s needed,” said MSC Commander Benjamin Nicholson.

“Our partnership with the US maritime industry is essential to maintaining a flexible and resilient sealift capability in peace, crisis, and conflict.”

Rather than issuing a full solicitation for each requirement, USTRANSCOM can now award short-term time and voyage charters through individual task orders, providing greater flexibility for military logisticians and more predictability for participating carriers.

The awardees include Farrell Lines, Patriot Shipping, Schuyler Line Navigation and Waterman Transport.

The contract has an estimated face value of $1.2 billion and a maximum ceiling of $2.7 billion over its five-year period.
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MASTER OF TANZANIA-FLAG SHIP KILLED IN RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACK

The captain of a cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Tanzania was killed by a Russian drone on Sept. 17 as his ship headed to a Ukrainian port to take on a load of grain.

Three other members of the crew were severely injured in the attack, which is reported to have struck the bridge.

Russian and Ukrainian forces have been exchanging drone strikes against commercial ships in the Black Sea since the beginning of the war.

Merchant ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf have also been struck this year by organized military groups as well as by the armed forces of several countries.

“We are reaching a point where these conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack merchant vessels and innocent seafarers,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in a recent address to IMO member states.

“I call on you to share these impacts with the relevant bodies in your countries so that this can be dealt with within the United Nations…”

In response to the wave of attacks against merchant ships and crews, India has called for crewing agents and ship operators in the country to stop dispatching Indian seafarers to the Strait of Hormuz.
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ILWU PICKETS CRUISE LINE IN SEATTLE

Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union are holding informational pickets to let customers and the community know that American Cruise Lines is refusing to use union labor to dock and load its vessels in Puget Sound ports, as is standard at West Coast ports.

The company operates a multi-day cruise that stops at towns around Puget Sound.

The news was reported in the Sept. 17 edition of NW Labor Press by Don McIntosh.

Public port authorities on the route—including Olympia, Everett, and Anacortes—have made statements of support for the ILWU.

The Port of Anacortes said on Sept. 9 that ACL ships will no longer be permitted to use the port because the company is refusing to use union labo
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MARAD ISSUES NEW ADVISORY ON RISK OF IRANIAN ATTACKS

The Maritime Administration has issued a new advisory on the risk to commercial vessels of Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

The threats include direct attacks from missiles, armed unmanned aerial vehicles and armed unmanned surface vessels.

MARAD guidance to US-flag vessels includes:

— maintaining a minimum standoff of 30 nautical miles from US military vessels to reduce the risk of being mistaken as a threat;

— increasing reliance on traditional navigation methods—such as radar ranges, visual bearings, and cross-checking ECDIS inputs with secondary navigation systems—because the prevalence of spoofing has degraded the positional integrity environment.

The advisory is scheduled to remain in effect through March 8, 2027.

All of MARAD’s active advisories are posted online.
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TELL CHINA TO FREE UNION LEADERS UNJUSTLY SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON

The High Court of Hong Kong has sentenced two labor leaders to lengthy prison terms.

Their only “crime” was standing up for the right to join a union.

Please join the campaign to free them.

Lee Cheuk-yan was given a sentence of seven years. Chow Hang-tung was given a sentence of seven years and three months.

Lee is a founder and leader of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, the largest independent trade union confederation in the country.

Chow is a labor rights advocate and human rights lawyer.

“Lee has stood up fearlessly for the rights of working people and for democracy,” says Eric Lee of the international labor rights group Labour Start.

“His only crime was his courage.”

“Our message—the message of millions of trade unionists around the world—is simple: Free Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung now!”

Please click here to support the campaign.

And please share this message widely with your friends, family and fellow union members.

Thank you!
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Mark Your Calendar:

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE SEATTLE HALL ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23 
There will be an Offshore Membership Meeting in the Seattle Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 23, directly after the 1100 job call.

MM&P Secretary-Treasurer J. Lars Turner and Pacific Ports Vice President Melany Velleca will attend the meeting.

The Seattle Hall is located at:

15208 52nd Ave. South

Suite 100

Seattle, WA 98188

Phone: 206-441-8700.

All Offshore members and applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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Mark Your Calendar:

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN CHARLESTON HALL ON THURSDAY, OCT. 8
There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Charleston Hall on Oct. 8 at 11:00 a.m.

Please contact dispatcher John at charleston@bridgedeck.org for a head count.

The Charleston hall is located at:

1481 Tobias Gadson Blvd., Suite 2C

Charleston, SC 29407-4794

Phone: 843-766-3565

All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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Mark Your Calendar:

OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE HONOLULU HALL ON MONDAY, OCT. 19
There will be an Offshore Membership Meeting in the MM&P Honolulu Hall on Monday, Oct. 19.

The meeting will take place after the 1000 job call.

MM&P President Don Josberger and Pacific Ports Vice President Melany Velleca will attend the meeting.

The MM&P Honolulu Hall is located at:

521 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste 254

Phone: 808-523-8183

All Offshore members in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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ATLANTIC MARITIME JOBS

BUCHANAN MARINE

1) Mate – MMC with a Mate of Towing, Near Costal or Oceans

If you are interested in this position, please fill out an application on the company’s website first. Google Buchanan Marine LP, then click “careers” and scroll down to “apply online.” Then email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org.

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

2) Deckhand – MMC

If you are interested in this position, please fill out an application on the company’s website first. Google Buchanan Marine LP, then click “careers” and scroll down to “apply online.” Then email your resume and copies of your credentials to Paulina at ptrzepacz@bridgedeck.org.

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

STATEN ISLAND FERRY

1) Provisional Marine Oilers with their QMED

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

https://avanan.url-protection.com/v1/r01/url?o=https%3A//cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/marine-oiler-in-staten-island-jid-36530&g=NDQxMDIxNTA3NTQ5Mjc5Zg==&h=Nzc0MTM5MmQ0ZjVjOTYzYWI0MzYyYzc2ZDQ3ZGU5OThjZWQyMmMyZjAyMTM5ZTIyYTVjYTJkZGVjNjU3NDEzNA==&p=YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOmI0MDNkNTJjZGYxNzEwZjVhM2ZlMTk1NGY0OWJjZmM4Ojc6dDpU

Any questions, please email Anthony: aturzio@bridgedeck.org

2) Deckhand with an AB

If you are interested, please fill out an application on the city’s website. https://avanan.url-protection.com/v1/r01/url?o=https%3A//cityjobs.nyc.gov/job/deckhand-in-staten-island-jid-36197&g=YTg1MTA5NzA1MGE0MjY4Yg==&h=NTc0OTYwYjE1OTY4NjlkZDgyNWM0NzNmMTkxODlkZjc4MDQzZGI4MmI1NzEwMjE2MjY3MmFkM2VlZWU3NWQxOQ==&p=YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOmI0MDNkNTJjZGYxNzEwZjVhM2ZlMTk1NGY0OWJjZmM4Ojc6dDpU

Any questions, please email Anthony: aturzio@bridgedeck.org

MARINE OIL SERVICE

1) Tankerman PIC – MMC tankerman (PIC) with DL (required)

If you are interested, please fill out an application online https://avanan.url-protection.com/v1/r01/url?o=https%3A//marineoilservice.com/careers/&g=ZDZmNTk3ZWNiOTU1MTliMA==&h=ZjZlODBjOTE4NzJkN2M4MmZmMDkxNGNlOGNlNDQ1MzI0ZTNjMWY0OGMzZTg3YmM4MzNlOGI0ZTk2ZjBjYjM2Nw==&p=YXAzOmJyaWRnZWRlY2s6YTpvOmI0MDNkNTJjZGYxNzEwZjVhM2ZlMTk1NGY0OWJjZmM4Ojc6dDpU or email the company at careers@marineoilservice.com

Any questions, please email Anthony: aturzio@bridgedeck.org

REINAUER

1) Mate with a 500-ton masters or mate near coastal but will accept 200-ton masters or mate near coastal

If you are interested in this position, please email your resume and copies of your credentials to Keith: kpoissant@bridgedeck.org.

If you have any questions, please call Keith at 973-420-0492.
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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: 11/30/26, 03/08/27, 04/12/27

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-Day): 09/28/26, 01/25/27, 05/17/27

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced: 11/30/26

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 11/02/26, 03/15/27

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 10/12/26*, 11/30/26, 01/18/27, 02/22/27, 04/19/27

MED-PIC-REF – Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/09/26, 11/16/26, 01/04/27, 02/11/27, 05/06/27

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

10/17/26, 11/15/26, 12/05/26, 01/06/27, 01/23/27, 02/13/27, 02/27/27, 04/24/27, 05/09/27

[STCW LICENSE & RADAR RENEWAL Courses]



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

BT-REV (2-day): 10/26/26*, 12/07/26, 02/08/27, 03/22/27, 05/03/27

FF-ADV-REV (1-day): 10/28/26*, 12/09/26, 02/10/27, 03/24/27, 05/05/27

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

BT-REF (3-day): 10/26/26*, 12/07/26, 02/08/27

FF-ADV-REF (2-day): 10/29/26, 12/10/26, 02/11/27

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 10/28/26, 12/09/26, 02/10/27

[CMM – CHIEF MATE & MASTER UPGRADE Courses]

ADVSTB – Advanced Stability: 10/05/26, 12/07/26

ADVWX – Advanced Meteorology: 09/28/26, 11/30/26

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 04/12/27

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: 09/21/26, 12/14/26, 02/01/27

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants: Not Currently Scheduled

SHMGT-CMM – Ship Management: Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-ADV-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (10-Day): 10/12/26*, 11/02/26, 11/30/26, 01/18/27, 03/08/27, 03/29/27, 05/03/27, 06/07/27

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping: Not Currently Scheduled

[AB TO MATE UPGRADE Courses]

ARPA-OIC – Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/09/26, 02/08/27, 05/03/27

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling & Stowage: 11/09/26, 02/08/27, 03/08/27, 05/10/27

CNAV-OIC – Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 11/30/26, 02/22/27, 05/24/27

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems: 11/16/26, 02/15/27, 05/10/27

FL – Visual Communications / Flashing Light (1 Day): 10/08/26

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (10-Day): 10/12/26, 03/01/27,04/19/27

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Prep (15-Day): 01/04/27, 03/15/27

LTS – Leadership and Teamworking Skills (1-Day): 10/02/26, 11/13/26

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 10/26/26, 02/01/27, 04/26/27

SAR – Search and Rescue (3-Day): 10/05/26, 01/11/27, 02/22/27, 04/26/27

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 11/30/26, 01/04/27

STB-OIC – Stability and Cargo Handling: 10/26/26, 02/01/27, 03/01/27, 05/03/27

TNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 10/05/26, 01/04/27, 04/05/27

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (10-Day): 02/15/27, 03/29/27

WX-OIC – Basic Meteorology: 11/16/26, 01/18/27, 04/12/27, 06/28/27

[MSC – MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND Courses]

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

MSC-ATO-II – Anti-Terrorism Officer: Level 2: 03/22/27

MSC-CBRD-1 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Orientation (Basic) Indoctrination (1-Day): 11/05/26, 01/07/27, 03/11/27,05/06/27,06/10/27

MSC-DC – Damage Control (1-Day): 11/06/26, 01/08/27, 03/12/27, 05/07/27, 06/11/27

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day): 11/06/26, 01/08/27, 03/12/27, 05/07/27, 06/11/27

MSC-SMA – Small Arms (4-Day): 10/12/26, 11/09/26, 12/07/26, 01/11/27, 02/08/27, 03/15/27, 04/12/27, 05/10/27, 06/14/27

MSC-SWB – Security Watch Basic (1-Day): 11/07/26, 01/09/27, 03/13/27, 05/08/27, 06/12/27

MSC-SW-ADV – Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 11/08/26, 12/06/26, 01/10/27, 02/07/27, 03/14/27, 04/11/27, 05/09/27, 05/12/27, 06/13/27

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 11/13/26, 01/15/27, 03/19/27, 05/14/27, 06/18/27

[MM&P COMPANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Courses]

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations: Not Currently Scheduled

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – CM Operations II Maersk Specific: Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3-Day): 10/26/26*, 10/29/26*

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 02/02/27*, 02/04/27 Contact Admissions@MITAGS.org to Register

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling: 10/26/26*

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-Day): 10/03/26, 12/05/26

[OTHER MITAGS Courses]

AB – Able Seaman: 12/07/26

BRM – Bridge Resource Management: Not Currently Scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials: 12/14/26

Qualified Assessor (Online): Contact Admissions

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

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 11/30/26

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 11/09/26

[CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOPS – NOT covered by the MATES Program]

Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day): Online: 10/07/26

Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2-Day): Online: Not Currently Scheduled

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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

FOR REGISTRATION CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT 866.656.5568 OR admissions@mitags.org

September 2026

28-30 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

28-9 GMDSS

October 2026

5-8 Advanced Firefighting

5-9 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

12-16 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

12-16 Basic Training

12-16 Ship Construction & Basic Stability

16th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

17-18 Basic Training Revalidation

19-23 Basic Training

19-23 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

19-23 Cargo Handling & Stowage

26-30 Medical Care Provider

26-30 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

27-30 ARPA

November 2026

2-4 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

2-5 Advanced Firefighting

2-6 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

2-6 Leadership & Managerial Skills

9-11 Search & Rescue

12-13 Basic Training Revalidation

14th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

16-20 Basic Training

16-20 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

16-20 Basic Shiphandling

December 2026

30-4 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

30-11 Medical Person-In-Charge

30-18 Celestial Navigation

1-4 Advanced Firefighting

7-8 Basic Training Revalidation

7-9 Basic Training Refresher

7-18 GMDSS

9th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

10-11 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

14-18 Self-Study LAP (Original Mate Level)*

14-18 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.