Wheelhouse Weekly, Sept. 26, 2023

Volume 29… Number 39, September 26, 2023

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Pending Food Aid Bills Would Prioritize American Ships and American Farmers
• ITF Negotiates Significant Pay Increase for 250,000 Seafarers
• CMA CGM and Maersk Join Forces To Speed Industry Decarbonization
• Chief Engineer of Liberian-Flag Ship Gets Jail Sentence for Dumping Oily Bilge Water
• Nautilus International and Swiss Shipowners Association Warn: “Tonnage Tax Needed To Keep the Swiss-Flag Fleet Sailing”
• News for AMG Members: MM&P and Poling and Cutler Marine Transportation To Meet on Sept. 26
• Plus: Check Out the Union-Made Oktoberfest Shopping List!

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Familiarization Course in Seattle Hall on Nov. 1–2
• MM&P Closed for Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Columbus Day)

Attention All Mariners:

• Well-Paying Jobs Offering Permanent Employment Are Available With MM&P on the Great Lakes and in Coastal Waters!

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available
• Engineering Jobs Available Offshore and on the Great Lakes

And:

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

PENDING FOOD AID BILLS WOULD PRIORITIZE AMERICAN SHIPS AND AMERICAN FARMERS

Bipartisan legislation that would preserve and strengthen the role of American ships and American farmers in the Food for Peace program was introduced in the Senate last week by Democrat Jon Tester and Republicans Mike Braun, Roger Marshall, and Pete Ricketts.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives in June by Democrats John Garamendi and Jimmy Panetta, and Republicans Tracey Mann and Rick Crawford.

The U.S.-flag fleet strongly supports the legislation—known as The American Farmers Feed the World Act—because the carriage of food aid is an important source of cargo for American ships.

The pending bills would:

— reserve half of Food for Peace dollars for purchasing commodities and shipping them overseas;

— prohibit the use of food vouchers or cash transfers instead of food; and

— increase reporting requirements for any waivers granted under the Food for Peace Program.

Legislation that would undercut the role of American ships and American farmers in the food aid program is also pending in Congress.

In the Senate, a bill has been introduced that would eliminate the requirement that at least 50 percent of international food aid cargoes be carried on U.S.-flag ships.

In the House of Representatives, pending bills would slash funding for the food aid programs that provide critical support for the American Merchant Marine.

The drastic reduction of cargoes for U.S.-flag shipping and the lowering of the food aid cargo preference level from 75 percent to 50 percent in 2012 exacerbated the drop in the number of U.S.-flagged ships and worsened the shortage of qualified American mariners needed to meet Department of Defense sealift requirements. 

“A reduction of cargo would further endanger the jobs of civilian merchant mariners and create the distinct possibility that there will not be enough mariners to meet military surge and sustainment requirements for future military conflicts,” says Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department.

“The American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023 delivers mutually beneficial results here at home and abroad by restoring accountability, transparency, and a Made-in-America focus to our international food security programs.”

MM&P is one of the 37 unions representing millions of transportation workers who belong to the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department.
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ITF NEGOTIATES SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASE FOR 250,000 SEAFARERS

The International Transport Workers’ Federation has reached an agreement with maritime employers on a new four-year contract covering 250,000 seafarers and 10,000 ships worldwide.

The agreement calls for a four percent wage increase for 2024, and another two percent raise beginning in 2025. Wages for 2026-27 will be negotiated in two years’ time.

“The pay deal locked into this agreement provides concrete financial recognition for the critical contribution that seafarers make to the global economy and also recognizes the sacrifice that seafarers have carried over the past few years and throughout the pandemic,” said ITF President Paddy Crumlin.

In addition to the wage increase, the agreement includes a joint commitment to ensure a safe workplace at sea, free of violence, discrimination, and harassment.

Negotiators for the employers also agreed to remind their members to respect national cabotage laws and to seek to expand free internet access for seafarers.

The sides agreed to establish a committee to monitor areas including: the impact of new technology and green fuels; a just transition to a climate-friendly future; hours of work and rest, fatigue, crewing levels, and duration of service on board.

“The biggest challenges we all face are the just transition and the move to alternative fuels,” said ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton.

“How the industry recruits and motivates seafarers and ensures they have the skills for the future, this is firmly on our forward-looking agenda.”

“This has been a particularly complicated set of negotiations coming out of the Covid pandemic, which has taken a great deal of effort and compromise on both sides to get this right for the times,” said ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair David Heindel.

“This is a fair deal,” he added.

“We have agreed a working group that will look at the future needs of a changing industry with an eye on the needs of seafarers, with a focus on recruiting.”
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CMA CGM AND MAERSK JOIN FORCES TO SPEED INDUSTRY DECARBONIZATION

A.P. Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM announced last week that they will work together to accelerate the industry’s transition to a lower carbon future.

Each has already set net-zero targets for its own shipping business, and both say they have identified “scalable solutions capable of having a positive impact in the next ten years.”

Maersk has been ordering vessels that can operate on bio/e-methanol.

CMA CGM has ordered vessels that can operate on bio/e-methanol, along with LNG-propelled ships that can operate on bio/e-methane, the new, “greener” equivalent of today’s LNG.

The two said last week in a joint press release that they plan to collaborate on developing:

— high standards for alternative, sustainable, green fuels;

— a framework for the mass production of green methane and green methanol;

— safety and bunkering standards for green methanol vessels, including by accelerating port readiness for the bunkering and supply of bio/e-methanol;

— new technology and new alternative fuels, such as ammonia.

Maersk and CMA-CGM said they look forward to working within the framework advanced recently by the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee.

The two said they will also advocate on the international stage for ambitious measures in pursuit of “the highest attainable goals.”

They are encouraging other shipping companies to join them in their efforts.

“This partnership is a milestone for the decarbonization of our industry,” said CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé.

“By combining the know-how and the expertise of two shipping leaders, we will accelerate the development of new solutions and technologies, enabling our industry to reach its CO2 reduction targets.”

“We are looking forward to being joined by other companies.”

“A.P. Moller-Maersk wants to accelerate the green transition in shipping and logistics and to do so, we need strong involvement from partners across the industry,” said A.P. Moller-Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc.

“We are pleased to have an ally in CMA CGM… When we unite through determined efforts and partnerships, a tangible and optimistic path toward a sustainable future emerges.”
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CHIEF ENGINEER OF LIBERIAN-FLAG SHIP GETS JAIL SENTENCE FOR DUMPING OILY BILGE WATER

The chief engineer of the MV DONALD, a Liberian-flag cargo ship, has been sentenced to a year in jail for violating the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

The sentence was handed down on Sept. 19 by a federal district court in California.

The incident began when the Coast Guard received an email from the second engineer, who wrote that the chief engineer, Denis Korotkiy, had ordered that oily bilge water be pumped directly from the bilge to the sewage tanks and then discharged into the ocean.

The second engineer had a video to back up his claims.

Coast Guard inspectors who boarded the vessel on its arrival in San Diego found no entries in the oil record book between March 2 and May 24, 2022, although records showed that the bilge alarms had sounded multiple times in that period.

The inspectors also uncovered emails between senior crewmembers and shoreside managers, with instructions on how to cover up evidence of the discharges, including telling the crew to throw away any handwritten notes after changing the oil record book.

They were also instructed that the sewage tank should be emptied and cleaned, and the activity recorded in the log as “routine cleaning.”

Korotkiy was indicted in November of last year for making false and fictitious entries in the oil record book, as well as for conspiring to obstruct the investigation.

Interunity Management (Deutschland) pleaded guilty to charges of maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and was ordered to pay a total of $1.25 million, including a $937,500 fine and $312,500 to the National Fish and Wildlife Fund.

The company was also placed on four years of probation and required to implement an environmental compliance plan.

Five Filipino crewmembers and the Ukrainian captain of the ship, who had been forced to remain in San Diego for over a year because they were potential witnesses, were allowed by the judge to fly home on Sept. 19.

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“TONNAGE TAX NEEDED TO KEEP THE SWISS-FLAG FLEET SAILING”

Nautilus International and the Swiss Shipowners Association are urging the Swiss government to put the Swiss-flag fleet on a more equal footing with international competitors by introducing a tonnage tax “as quickly as the democratic process allows.”

The number of ocean-going vessels that fly the Swiss flag has been dwindling for years: only 14 ships remain in the domestic fleet.

Nautilus and the Swiss Shipowners Association warn that unless the government acts, those 14 will also leave the Swiss registry in the next two to five years.

“Offering the Swiss maritime sector the ability to compete with the commercial fleets of other major maritime nations, including those in Europe, would benefit the Swiss economy and ensure that the Swiss maritime sector, which today employs more than 2,000 workers, can grow,” they said in a statement that was issued on Sept. 18.

The two said maritime law should be changed in such a way as to make the registry attractive to new entrants.

The government is currently circulating a draft tonnage tax proposal that does not impose any obligation on shipping companies that take advantage of it to operate under the Swiss flag.

Nautilus and the Swiss Shipowners Association are calling on the government to “define a linkage between the tonnage tax and operating under the Swiss flag.”
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MM&P AND POLING AND CUTLER MARINE TRANSPORTATION TO MEET ON SEPT. 26

MM&P Atlantic Maritime Group Vice President Mike Riordan has confirmed that he has been contacted by Poling and Cutler Managing Partner Ed Poling.

Riordan and Poling are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to discuss the memorandum of agreement between the union and the company.

“It’s very good to hear from the principals at Poling and Cutler,” Riordan said.

“All of us are hoping to reach an agreement as soon as possible, so we can put it to the members who work at the company for a vote.”

Poling & Cutler Marine Transportation, LLC specializes in the transportation of petroleum products.

The company currently provides services to the Northeast, East Coast, and the Gulf petroleum markets.

It operates a fleet of four barges and four tugboats, which are crewed by members of the MM&P Atlantic Maritime Group.
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CHECK OUT THE UNION-MADE OKTOBERFEST SHOPPING LIST!

Oktoberfest ends on Oct. 3: there’s still time to make your Oktoberfest a union-made one with the exclusive Labor 411 shopping list.

Each purchase that you make from companies listed on Labor 411 goes to support good union jobs.

And remember, you can find a listing by region of union-made consumer products—including over 200 kinds of beer—on the Labor 411 website.

Happy Oktoberfest from Labor 411!
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OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE IN SEATTLE HALL ON NOV. 1–2

The Offshore Familiarization Course will be held over a two-day period in the MM&P Seattle Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and Thursday, Nov. 2.

The schedule on both days that the course is held will be from 0930 to 1500.

The Seattle Hall is located at:

15208 52nd Ave. S., Ste 100

Tukwila, WA 98188

The phone number is: 206-441-8700

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 Kirsten Wilhelm at kwilhelm@bridgedeck.org.
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MM&P CLOSED FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY (COLUMBUS DAY)

All MM&P union halls, the MM&P Plan Office, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, and MM&P headquarters will be closed on Monday, Oct. 9, for Indigenous People’s Day (Columbus Day).
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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.

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