Volume 43, Number 5
May 2013
New jobs for AMO on the way as Navy
christens USNS Maury for T-AGS fleet
The Military Sealift Command TAGS fleet will return to a count of seven
oceanographic survey ships with the christening of the USNS Maury (T-AGS 66).
The T-AGS vessels are operated for
Military Sealift Command by 3PSC, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Maersk Line,
Limited, and are manned in all licensed
positions by American Maritime Officers.
The USNS Maury is expected to be delivered in 2014 and will add new jobs for the
AMO membership.
“AMO joins the Navy in welcoming
the USNS Maury to the MSC fleet,” said
AMO National President Tom Bethel.
“AMO officers have traditionally done
exceptional work in the T-AGS fleet and
we’re very pleased with the opportunity to
continue this tradition aboard the newest
ship in the class.”
Christened by the U.S. Navy March
27 at VT Halter Marine’s ship yard in Moss
Point, Miss., the USNS Maury is 24 feet
longer than its six sister ships in the T-AGS
fleet to accommodate a 300 square-foot
U.S. Navy photo: David Stoltz
Military Sealift Command’s USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) is launched at VT Halter
Marine in Moss Point, Miss. the USNS Maury is named in honor of Cmdr.
Matthew Fontaine Maury, known as the “father of modern oceanography.” The
ship — expected to be delivered in 2014 — will be the seventh vessel in the TAGS fleet, which is operated for MSC by Maersk Line, Limited subsidiary 3PSC
and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
U. S . - f l a g m a r i t i m e
industr y braced
fo r b a t t l e o v e r
p ro p o s e d c u t
t o F o o d f o r Pe a c e
Lawm a ke rs r a lly i n su p po r t o f pro gr a m
c r u c i a l t o U. S . d e f e n s e s e a l i f t c a p a b i l i t y
moon pool for easier deployment and
retrieval of unmanned underwater vehicles.
The 350-foot ship is named for Cmdr.
Matthew F. Maury, considered to be the
father of oceanography — nicknamed the
“Pathfinder of the Seas” — and the first
superintendent of the U.S. Naval
Observatory.
The USNS Maury will survey the
world’s oceans, collecting ocean data for
the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography
Command (NAVMETOCCOM), continuing the work in the 21st century that
Matthew Maury started in the 19th.
NAVMETOCCOM directs the
Navy’s meteorology, oceanography and
hydrography programs, operates the Navy’s
atomic clock for precise time and tracks the
positions of the stars for navigation. Naval
oceanography enables the safety, speed and
operational effectiveness of the fleet.
The T-AGS vessels operated by
3PSC include the USNS Bowditch, USNS
Heezen, USNS Henson, USNS Mary Sears,
USNS Pathfinder and USNS Sumner.
The Obama Administration in April released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2014. Among other things, the administration is seeking to reduce funding for PL-480 shipments
of U.S. food-aid purchased from American producers by as
much as 45 percent. The administration has proposed shifting that funding to use for the “regional” purchase of foodaid from foreign producers and expansion of the USAID’s
cash-based emergency assistance account.
Under current cargo preference requirements, 50
percent of U.S. food-aid shipments must be carried by
U.S.-flagged merchant vessels. The loss of 45 percent of
the cargo base from the Food for Peace program would
result in the permanent withdrawal of numerous vessels
from the U.S.-flag fleet and the disappearance of the job
base for U.S. merchant mariners who work in the PL-480
trades, and who are needed to man military sealift and
defense reserve vessels in times of war, conflict and crisis.
Many lawmakers from both houses of Congress —
as well as defense experts and a broad range of companies
and organizations from various sectors in the U.S. economy — strongly oppose the administration’s proposal.
Coverage is included in this edition.
Media drive could mean new AMO
jobs in unconventional trades
Congressional panel blasts plan
to eviscerate PL-480 program
Page 2: When it comes to long-term job and benefit security for the
seagoing AMO membership, it’s necessary to think in uncommon,
untraditional ways, to take advantage of emerging trends and to anticipate varied career options. This is more critical now than ever, with
key elements of U.S. maritime policy at real risk, and with severe federal budget cuts limiting jobs for American merchant mariners.
Page 6: During a hearing in April on the Obama administration’s budget
requests for the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration and Federal
Maritime Commission, members of the House Subcommittee on Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation blasted the administration’s plan to
shift as much as 45 percent of the funding away from the purchase of
U.S. food-aid from U.S. producers in order to buy from foreign interests.
Page 12: AMO-manned ships serve in MSC missions
Copyright © 2013 American Maritime Officers
■
[email protected]
2 • American Maritime Officer
May 2013
Media drive could mean new jobs
for AMO in unconventional trades
By Tom Bethel
National President
During an
April 15 interview
on FOX News
Network’s FOX
and Friends, I said
confidently that
the
U.S.-based
international
cruise industry
could minimize
the risk of underway incidents and
improve its public
image by employing U.S. merchant
marine officers in key bridge and engine
room positions. I pointed out that these
officers are trained more completely and
vetted more thoroughly than the foreign
nationals now filling these jobs, and that
a visible American presence at sea would
reassure the U.S. citizens who account
for nearly all cruise ship ticket sales
worldwide.
My remarks in this interview — a
live feed from the unique 360-degreeview ship’s bridge simulator at the
American Maritime Officers Safety and
Education Plan’s STAR Center in Dania
Beach FL — did not address the legal
status of foreign-flagged cruise ships
operating exclusively from U.S. ports,
the issue of cost and competition or the
prospects of a U.S.-flagged ocean-going
cruise fleet thriving on the U.S. East,
Gulf and West Coasts. I was focused
instead on raising the possibility of productive agreements like the groundbreaking contract under which AMO
members work in some senior billets
alongside foreign officers and crews
aboard liquefied natural gas tankers
operated worldwide by Shell Oil.
Since this three-minute FOX spot,
I’ve had many phone calls and emails
from AMO members pleased that I had
acknowledged the worldwide first-class
standing of U.S. merchant marine officers
in general and of AMO members in particular. This is, of course, one of my fundamental responsibilities as national president of American Maritime Officers, and
I have done it publicly many times. But
this was especially gratifying because my
comments were carried to a large, nationwide audience, many of whom were hearing the phrase “U.S. merchant marine officers” for the first time.
I’ve also been approached by
reporters and producers from cable and
broadcast television, radio, Internet and
print media, asking for more information
about the work that AMO members do,
why this work matters, and the difference
AMO members can make — not only in
cruise markets, but in all international dry
cargo and energy trades. If these media are
willing to give American Maritime
Officers the airtime, the bytes and the ink
to tell our story, I’m willing to take advantage of the opportunities — with three
specific goals in mind.
New jobs for AMO
When it comes to long-term job and
benefit security for the seagoing AMO
membership, it’s necessary to think in
uncommon, untraditional ways, to take
advantage of emerging trends and to anticipate varied career options. This is more
critical now than ever, with the Jones Act
and U.S.-flag cargo preference laws at real
risk, with severe federal budget cuts limiting jobs for American merchant mariners
under government contract, and with
Maritime Security Program funding in
long-haul doubt.
But there is plenty of seagoing work
to be had in this world, and media contacts
can help American Maritime Officers get
much of it. A lot of prospective employers
now understand the practical advantages
of having highly skilled U.S. citizen merchant marine officers aboard their vessels,
especially in safety-sensitive areas like
cruising and offshore energy exploration
and recovery — and news segments like
the one I participated in on FOX and
Friends can help persuade these prospec-
tive employers that AMO is a responsible
and realistic source of the skilled, licensed
seagoing professionals cruise lines and
energy companies would welcome.
Just days after the FOX segment
aired, I received serious inquiries about
the number of AMO members with
Dynamic Positioning training and experience, along with questions about the
unique DP training available at STAR
Center. I will pursue this credible lead,
and I hope to report soon on a new breakthrough agreement for AMO.
Telling the merchant marine story
Having represented American
Maritime Officers on Capitol Hill for
eight years, I know from direct experience that federal lawmakers and
Congressional staffers value the privately owned and operated U.S. merchant
fleet and American merchant mariners as
economic and defense assets when the
industry is explained clearly and concisely to them. And I believe that the
American public at large would understand and appreciate U.S.-flagged cargo
ships and U.S. citizen vessel officers and
crews as well if they knew what we do in
peacetime and in war.
The average American does not connect the U.S. merchant fleet with the mass
movement of tanks, vehicles, helicopters
and heavy defense equipment to U.S.
troops halfway around the world. Most
people assume that mobilization is just
another government function to be taken
for granted, or they believe all that hardware gets to a war zone by air.
Nor does the average American link
the consumer goods they buy with the
U.S.-flagged containerships that bring at
least some of these products to the U.S., or
with the tankers that carry gasoline, home
heating oil and other refined petroleum
products in domestic markets.
What better, easier way to get the
public’s attention than through a series of
telling news program and talk show sound
bites replayed repeatedly for 24 hours or
more? If American families understood
the political hostilities directed all too
often at the U.S. merchant fleet, they
could be inspired to contact the White
House and Congress to express legitimate
concern — and the laws that sustain the
fleet as we know it today would be far less
vulnerable.
A reliable source of information
American Maritime Officers could
through media contacts become the principal source of important, accurate information about the U.S. merchant fleet and
American merchant mariners, the U.S.
policies and international conventions that
affect these ships and mariners and the
consequences — unintended or otherwise
— of what the President and Congress do
or don’t do.
Such standing would allow for sustained outreach to prospective employers,
enhance AMO’s reputation as a peerless
advocate of U.S. merchant marine officers
and strengthen our already solid growth
position in diverse trades on the high seas,
along the U.S. coasts and on the Great
Lakes and inland waterways.
As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to
call me on my cell at (202) 251-0349.
POSTMASTER — Send Address Changes To
American Maritime Officers National Executive Board
Thomas Bethel, National President
José Leonard, National Secretary-Treasurer
Robert Kiefer, National Executive Vice President
Joseph Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea
John Clemons, National Vice President, Great Lakes
Charles Murdock, National Vice President, Inland Waters
Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations
American Maritime Officers
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May 2013
American Maritime Officer • 3
USA Maritime opposes President’s budget request
to effectively end PL-480 Food for Peace program
The following article was released by
USA Maritime — a coalition of ship owning
companies, maritime labor organizations
and maritime trade associations of which
American Maritime Officers and American
Maritime Officers Service are members.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — USA
Maritime Chairman James L. Henry issued
the following statement in response to the
release April 10 of the President’s FY 2014
budget proposal. Included in the proposal
was a recommendation that the Food for
Peace Title II humanitarian assistance program be significantly altered, with almost
half its funding diverted to another program.
“USA Maritime is severely disappointed that the Obama Administration has
moved forward with this misguided proposal to effectively eliminate the long-standing
and successful Food for Peace program,”
said James L. Henry, chairman of USA
Maritime. “Despite recent letters from
Congress to the White House that demonstrate strong, bipartisan support for this program, the Administration is still advocating
an unnecessary and harmful change to our
flagship international aid program. We continue to view this proposal as shortsighted
and seriously damaging to both national
security and merchant mariner jobs.
“Since 1954, Food for Peace alone
has benefited more than 3 billion people in
150 countries and is an important symbol of
America’s goodwill. Unlike other foreign
aid programs, this time-tested program does
more than just send aid overseas. Food for
Peace is a point of pride for the 44,000
American farmers, shippers, processors,
longshoremen, and merchant mariners
whose jobs depend upon the program. Food
for Peace leverages private and public
resources to make a meaningful difference
for millions of people in a way that
Government cash handouts simply cannot.
“Food for Peace is not only one of our
premiere diplomatic tools, but it is also an
important component of our national security. By ensuring a steady flow of American
cargo shipped by Americans on U.S.-flag
ships, PL-480 helps maintain our Merchant
Marine, which is critical for our ability to
support our troops and first responders in
time of war or national emergency. In fact,
American mariners on commercial U.S.flag vessels delivered more than 90 percent
of defense cargo to military posts in Iraq
and Afghanistan. According to the
Department of Defense, without the base of
food aid cargoes to help sustain the commercial U.S.-flag fleet, we will not be able
to sustain the national defense sealift capability our military needs without significant
additional Federal expenditures.
“The Administration’s proposals to
shift funding to a system of global food
stamp-vouchers, or to shift to purchases of
food aid from allegedly cheaper foreign
suppliers instead of donating wholesome
commodities grown by American farmers
will be harmful to our US Merchant
Marine, harmful to our national defense
sealift capability, harmful to our farmers
and millers, and bad for our economy. USA
Maritime strongly encourages Congress to
reject the Administration’s misguided proposal, maintain the current program and
sustain PL 480 Food for Peace funding.
Doing so will ensure that this program continues to focus on the reliable export of safe
and nutritious U.S.-grown commodities to
those in need overseas.
“We all agree on the importance of
reducing spending during these trying economic times, but the Food for Peace program has already been cut 35 percent since
2008 despite increased need among the
most vulnerable populations in the world.
Now is not the time to drastically alter the
most dependable tool we have to fight global hunger — a tool that has been working
for over 50 years. And in a time when
unemployment remains a major obstacle to
economic growth, shipping American jobs
overseas is the last thing any Administration
should be proposing.”
AMO aboard Liberty Eagle in PL-480 trades
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Liberty
Eagle in March, here in Houston,
Texas, included Captain Jeff
Powell, Chief Mate Jarrett Podaski
and Third Mate Jaime Barretty.
The U.S.-flagged Liberty Maritime
Corp. ship is manned in all
licensed positions by AMO.
Congressional support for sustaining PL-480 Title II
Bipartisan group of House members urges President
to maintain full funding for U.S. domestic procurement
The following article was released
April 5 by the office of Congressman
Elijah Cummings (D-MD).
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
—
Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings (DMD), ranking member of the House
Committee
on
Oversight
and
Government Reform, and Duncan
Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the House
Coast
Guard
and
Maritime
Transportation Subcommittee, led 28 of
their colleagues in sending a letter to
President Obama urging him to support
U.S. humanitarian food aid, strengthen
U.S. farm production, and preserve the
U.S.-flagged merchant fleet by maintaining level funding for the Food for Peace
program in his fiscal year 2014 budget.
“The purchase of food from U.S.
farmers and its subsequent shipment on
U.S.-flagged vessels has helped support
U.S. farm production and preserve the
U.S. merchant marine,” the members
wrote. “Reductions in funding for this
program — or changes in how it operates — would significantly reduce the
amount of U.S. farm products our
nation could provide to those in need
around the world. It would also threaten
our national security preparedness by
reducing the domestic sealift capacity
on which our U.S. military depends.”
Since 1954, the United States has
provided vital food aid to the world’s
poorest communities through the Food for
Peace program, which ships U.S. agricultural products on U.S.-flagged merchant
vessels to food-insecure nations. For six
decades, this critical program has fed millions at risk of starvation and strengthened
the capacity of local communities around
the world to respond to natural and manmade disasters.
In recent years, there have been significant cuts to the Food for Peace budget.
AMO aboard Liberty Grace in PL-480 trades
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Liberty
Grace in March, here in Corpus
Christi, Texas, included Second
Mate Andrew Gillilan, Third Mate
Phil Parisi, Chief Engineer Matt
Shea, Third Assistant Engineer
Sanfa Conteh, First A.E Todd
Hopkins, Chief Mate James Hook,
Captain Jack Cunningham and
Second A.E. James Furby.
Any additional budget cuts — or changes
in the way the program is implemented —
would reduce U.S. food aid to vulnerable
populations while putting jobs in our agricultural and maritime sectors at risk.
The complete text of the letter, as
well as the names of the congressional
representatives signing the letter, are as
follows:
We write today to affirm our strong
support for the continuation in its current
form of the “Food for Peace” program created by Public Law 480, and we ask that
you maintain level funding for this program in the budget request you present to
Congress for the Department of
Agriculture for fiscal year 2014.
Since 1954, Food for Peace has
enabled the United States to play a leading
role in responding to international food
assistance needs and ensuring global food
security. In recent years, Title II of Food
for Peace, which is administered by the
U.S.
Agency
for
International
Development, has become the largest
vehicle for U.S. international food aid
shipments. Under Title II, U.S. agricultural commodities are shipped to developing
countries to provide emergency relief to
those facing food shortages and to support
broader development objectives. In fiscal
year 2011, Food for Peace donated
See PL-480 ◆ Page 4
May 2013
4 • American Maritime Officer
Eliminating Food for Peace
would be ‘disastrous’ for
U.S. sealift capability
Food for Peace supports
two vital economic sectors,
thousands of U.S. jobs
The following letter dated April 5
was sent by Congresswoman Ileana RosLehtinen (R-FL) to President Obama. In
the letter, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen stated:
“Eliminating in-kind food assistance will
be disastrous for many U.S. jobs and the
domestic sealift capacity provided by the
U.S. Merchant Marine, on which our U.S.
military depends. The Food for Peace
Program can, and should, continue to both
benefit numerous communities throughout
the U.S. while helping meet humanitarian
food needs across the globe.”
I write today to express my concern
over your Administration’s latest proposals
to change the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Food for Peace Program, also
known as Public Law 480, away from inkind food assistance. Although I support
the United States’ role in combating famine
around the world, I am concerned that the
reported changes your Administration is
considering making to this vital program
will do more harm than good.
As you know, the United States is the
single largest donor of food aid in the world,
providing considerable humanitarian assistance to those who are poor and hungry. Yet,
along with saving millions of lives overseas, the Food for Peace Program is also
critical to supporting employment among
U.S. farmers and merchant mariners. In
fact, when President Eisenhower signed
into law legislation authorizing the program, he explained that the purpose was to
“lay the basis for a permanent expansion of
our exports of agricultural products with
lasting benefits to ourselves and peoples of
other lands.” However, your Administration
is reportedly considering changing the Food
for Peace Program from in-kind food assistance to cash grants, or purchasing food
from foreign suppliers. While it is imperative that measures be taken to improve the
program, your Administration should
The following letter dated April
8 was sent by Congressman Brian
Higgins (D-NY) to President Obama.
I respectfully write today to add
my support for the continuation of the
Food for Peace program and ask that
you maintain level funding for this
program in your fiscal year 2014 budget request to Congress.
The United States has been a
global leader in recognizing the critical necessity of nutrition, food security, and humanitarian aid in the face of
disaster. Food for Peace has provided
food and assistance to more than 3 billion people worldwide and proven
itself to be one of our nation’s most
effective tools of diplomacy.
In addition to providing humanitarian aid worldwide, Food for Peace
instead focus on greater coordination,
transparency, and accountability among
the agencies that administer this program.
Eliminating in-kind food assistance will
be disastrous for many U.S. jobs and the
domestic sealift capacity provided by the
U.S. Merchant Marine, on which our U.S.
military depends. The Food for Peace
Program can, and should, continue to both
benefit numerous communities throughout the U.S. while helping meet humanitarian food needs across the globe.
I urge your administration to
reconsider shifting the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Food for Peace Program
away from in-kind food assistance, and
instead make proper and adequate
adjustments so that the United States can
continue to help those overseas while
also protecting jobs here at home.
PL-480
Continued from Page 3
approximately 1.5 million metric tons
of U.S.-grown Title II emergency and
development food aid to more than 46
million food-insecure people in 48
countries including Kenya, Ethiopia,
Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
Food for Peace is also critical to
supporting employment among U.S.
farmers and merchant mariners. The
purchase of food from U.S. farmers
and its subsequent shipment on U.S.flagged vessels has helped support
U.S. farm production and preserve the
U.S. merchant marine. Reductions in
funding for this program – or changes
in how it operates – would significantly reduce the amount of U.S. farm
products our nation could provide to
those in need around the world. It would
also threaten our national security preparedness by reducing the domestic
sealift capacity on which our U.S. military depends.
We look forward to working with
you to support U.S. farms, U.S. jobs, the
U.S.-flagged merchant fleet, and our
nation’s ability to provide much needed
humanitarian and emergency food assistance to the world’s least-developed
countries by maintaining the Food for
Peace Program.
Sincerely,
Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD)
Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
John Garamendi (D-CA)
Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV)
Corrine Brown (D-FL)
Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA)
supports thousands of American jobs.
By using food sourced by U.S. farmers
and shipped to every corner of the globe
by U.S. merchant mariners, Food for
Peace not only demonstrates our
American values, it supports two vital
sectors of our economy, in addition to
numerous logistical and administrative
support staff needed to effectively carry
out this humanitarian mission.
As continued U.S. leadership and
investment is vital to providing food
and assistance worldwide, maintaining
American jobs, and even leveraging
developing countries and private industry to invest their resources in this
effort, thank you for your consideration
of maintaining level funding for the
Food for Peace program in your FY14
budget request to Congress.
Janice Hahn (D-CA)
Gary G. Miller (R-CA)
Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA)
Michael M. Honda (D-CA)
Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Renee L. Ellmers (R-NC)
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
David P. Joyce (R-OH)
Tom Latham (R-IA)
Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA)
Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA)
Stephen Lee Fincher (R-TN)
Bob Gibbs (R-OH)
Michael G. Grimm (R-NY)
Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH)
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
Don Young (R-AK)
Richard M. Nolan (D-MN)
Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA)
Rick Larsen (D-WA)
Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Government Accountability Office report: U.S. national security
and military preparedness heavily depend on the Jones Act
The following article was released
by the American Maritime Partnership, an
organization of which American Maritime
Officers Service is a member, and which
American Maritime Officers supports.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter
dated April 3, 2013, to the House
Subcommittee on Seapower and
Projection Forces Chairman Randy
Forbes (R-VA) and Ranking Member
Mike McIntyre (D-NC), the American
Maritime Partnership (AMP) highlighted
a new Government Accountability Office
(GAO) report on Puerto Rico and
American shipping that says U.S. national
security and military preparedness heavily
depend on the Jones Act.
The Jones Act is a U.S. maritime
law that mandates the use of vessels that
are American-crewed, -built, and -owned
to move cargo between two U.S. ports.
“A decline in the number of U.S.-
flag vessels would result in the loss of
jobs that employ skilled mariners needed to crew the U.S. military reserve and
other deep-sea vessels in times of emergency,” the GAO said. “According to
(Department of Defense) officials, to
the extent that Jones Act markets are
unable to sustain a viable reserve fleet,
DOD would have to incur substantial
additional costs to maintain and recapitalize a reserve fleet of its own.”
AMO aboard the Maersk Virginia in MSP fleet
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Maersk
Virginia in January, here in
Houston, Texas, included First
Assistant Engineer Tody Vo,
Second A.E. Robert Norris and
Third A.E. George Schneider. The
ship is operated in the Maritime
Security Program fleet by Maersk
Line, Limited and is manned in all
licensed positions by AMO.
The GAO also said that loss of the
Jones Act could result in “significant
effects on shipyards and the shipyard
industry base needed by DOD.”
The GAO report explained the
important role of the American domestic
shipping industry for the Department of
Defense. In finding that “the original goal
of the [Jones] Act remains important to
military preparedness,” GAO made three
particular points about the American
domestic fleet:
• A strong domestic fleet is necessary to ensure an available supply of seafarers for times of national crisis.
• The American domestic fleet is a
cost-efficient way to provide military
sealift.
• A strong national shipyard base is
essential to military preparedness, particularly today.
“As you know, DOD and the U.S.
Navy heavily rely on commercial
mariners, including many from the U.S.
domestic fleet, for a variety of critical
national security roles,” AMP wrote.
“DOD has previously estimated that
replacing the commercial maritime industry with military vessels, seafarers and
shipyards would cost billions of dollars.”
May 2013
American Maritime Officer • 5
GLMTF urges House members to include RAMP Act
provisions in new Water Resources Development Act
The House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee
on Water Resources and the Environment
April 16 convened the “first of what will be
multiple hearings on the United States Army
Corps of Engineers and the next Water
Resources Development Act.”
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bob
Gibbs (R-OH) addressed the significant inefficiencies in terms of duration and expense
that have developed in the project study
process, as well as the regulatory burdens
under which the Army Corps is operating.
“It is critical to accelerate these studies,” Rep. Gibbs said. “But it is also
extremely important that we better prioritize the Corps of Engineers program to
focus the agency on those projects and
activities that protect life, promote safety,
have an economic return on the investment,
and have local support.”
In prepared testimony, and in remarks
during the hearing, the panel was urged to
incorporate full and proper use of Harbor
Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) revenues
for their intended purpose — maintenance
dredging of U.S. ports and waterways — in
the next Water Resources Development Act.
Separately, in the Senate, the Water
Resources Development Act of 2013 (S.
601) has been introduced and placed on the
Senate’s legislative calendar. S. 601
includes provisions of the Realize
America’s Maritime Promise (RAMP) Act
of 2013 and the Harbor Maintenance Act
of 2013. S. 601, as reported by the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public
Works, seeks to ensure, among other
things, that all HMTF revenues are
expended every year for port maintenance.
Chairman of the full House
Transportation
and
Infrastructure
Committee Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA)
addressed the panel, emphasizing the need
to improve efficiency in the project assessment and execution process, and the urgency
of improving the nation’s waterborne transportation infrastructure. He echoed the frustration expressed by members of the subcommittee regarding the time and cost
involved in these projects, and discussed,
among other things, the importance of a
viable and efficient waterborne transportation system for U.S. economic competitiveness and effectiveness in the marketplace.
In testimony submitted for the hearing,
the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, of
which American Maritime Officers is a
member, noted the critical need for waterborne transportation infrastructure improve-
ments in the Great Lakes Navigation System.
These include bringing an end to the dredging crisis and construction of a second Poesized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
“The Water Resources Development
Act of 2013 can end the dredging crisis without requiring one additional dollar in federal
revenue,” the task force stated.
“As noted, lack of adequate funding
for dredging has left 18 million cubic yards
of sediment clogging the Great Lakes ports
and waterways,” the task force wrote. “The
amount varies from port to port. In
Ashtabula, Ohio, near the chairman’s district,
the backlog tops 900,000 cubic yards.
“The Corps estimates it will cost about
$200 million to restore the Great Lakes
Navigation System to functional dimenSee WRDA ◆ Page 12
American Maritime Officers aboard ATB Ken Boothe Sr./ Lakes Contender
The American
Steamship Company
ATB Ken Boothe
Sr./Lakes Contender
unloads iron ore pellets at the TORCO
iron ore transfer facility in Toledo, Ohio in
April. The ATB
loaded its first cargo
of the season in
Marquette, Mich.
American Maritime
Officers members
working aboard the
ATB in April included
Senior Mate Michael
Tanner and Junior
Mate Scott
Tomlinson. With
them is AMO Senior
National Assistant
Vice President Brian
Krus.
March cargo float on Great Lakes down from previous year
U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighters
carried 2.2 million tons of dry-bulk cargo
in March 2013, a decrease of 7 percent
compared with March 2012.
The 2013 float was marginally
ahead of the month’s five-year average for
U.S.-flagged lakers, the Lake Carriers’
Association reported.
Iron ore shipments moved in U.S.
bottoms rose slightly by 25,000 tons compared with last year. However, in the first
quarter of 2013, iron ore cargoes were
down from the same period last year.
Loadings of coal declined more than
60 percent for the month compared with
March 2012, and more than 50 percent for
the first quarter of the year. The limestone
trade in U.S.-flagged hulls nearly doubled
for March, and the numbers were ahead by
60 percent for the quarter compared with
the previous year.
U.S.-Flag Carriage Year-to-Date (March) 2008-2013 — net tons
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Average
2008-2012
Iron Ore
4,767,858
990,849
3,952,326
4,481,865
4,952,277
4,288,997
1,942,207
Coal
1,297,077
356,295
824,012
1,116,997
775,245
368,427
850,968
Limestone
122,151
0
16,920
15,049
171,975
276,489
27,814
Cement
241,699
127,589
155,308
194,341
257,678
216,512
170,081
Salt
101,324
0
102,620
54,808
214,093
24,020
43,432
Sand
0
0
0
0
0
13,892
27,046
Grain
0
0
0
0
15,764
0
94,851
Total
6,530,109
1,474,733
5,051,186
5,899,060
6,387,032
5,188,337
2,620,550
Commodity
Source: Lake Carriers’ Association
AMO aboard
steamer Arthur
M. Anderson
American Maritime Officers members fitting out the Key Lakes
steamer Arthur M. Anderson at the
beginning of March included Chief
Engineer Steven Thompson, First
Assistant Engineer Michael Hartley,
Second A.E. David Keppard, Third
A.E. Dale Miller and Third A.E.
Andrew Morgan. With them is AMO
Senior National Assistant Vice
President Brian Krus.
The Arthur M. Anderson is prepared
for the season in Toledo, Ohio.
May 2013
6 • American Maritime Officer
House members blast administration’s 2014 budget
proposal to cut food-aid shipments by 45 percent
During a hearing held by the
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation in the House of
Representatives April 16, members of the
panel voiced powerful criticism of the
Obama administration’s proposal to cut by
up to 45 percent in-kind shipments of foodaid purchased from U.S. producers under
PL-480. Lawmakers also emphasized their
strong support for the Food for Peace program in its current form, which provides
thousands of American jobs in the farming,
agriculture and maritime transportation sectors, and sustains a job base for U.S. merchant mariners, who are vitally important to
the nation’s defense sealift capability of
manning military- and government-owned
vessels in times of war, conflict and crisis.
The hearing was convened to
address the administration’s fiscal year
2014 budget proposals for the U.S. Coast
Guard, Maritime Administration and
Federal Maritime Commission, and witnesses from all three agencies testified
before the panel.
“The budget request for the
Maritime Administration represents a 3.6
percent increase over current levels. But
the increase comes as a result of the
President’s misguided effort to effectively
eliminate the hugely successful Food for
Peace program,” said Subcommittee
Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA).
“Since 1954, the Food for Peace program
has provided agricultural commodities
grown by U.S. farmers and transported by
U.S. mariners on U.S.-flagged vessels to
those threatened by starvation throughout
the world. The President’s restructuring of
Food for Peace will eliminate a vital program for our farmers, put U.S. mariners
out of work and undermine our national
security by reducing the domestic sealift
capacity on which our military depends.”
Proposed cut to U.S. food-aid shipments
The administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2014 seeks to shift more
than $1.4 billion away from the
Department of Agriculture for PL-480
Title II and reallocate the funding to the
U.S.
Agency
for
International
Development (USAID).
In a statement posted on the USAID
website, the agency announced its intentions to spread the funding over three
assistance accounts, resulting in the use of
as much as 45 percent of the money to purchase food-aid from “regional” producers
(foreign interests) rather than U.S. farmers
and food producers, and to expand the
Food for Peace International Disaster
Assistance (IDA) cash-based account from
the fiscal year 2012 level of $300 million
to a total of $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2014.
According to USAID, “the food aid
reform proposal guarantees that in 2014 no
less than 55 percent of the requested $1.4
billion in total funding for emergency food
assistance in IDA will be used for the purchase, transport, and related costs of U.S.
commodities.”
Under current cargo preference
requirements, 50 percent of U.S. food-aid
shipments must be carried by U.S.-flagged
merchant vessels.
During the hearing, Subcommittee
Ranking Member Rep. John Garamendi
(D-CA) voiced severe skepticism regarding the administration’s proposal. “I think
that’s a mistake, having spent 40 years of
my life working on famine and food issues
around the world,” he said. “I don’t think
this is the right
way to go about
solving that problem.
“I also come
at this from a different perspective,
and that is the
availability
of
food in those parts
of the world
where there is
hunger,”
Rep.
Rep. Duncan
Garamendi said.
Hunter (R-CA)
“And the proposal
by the administration is essentially one of
purchasing food regionally, rather than
using American commodities on American
ships to be delivered to those areas.
“I’ve been at this some 40 years
and I don’t think it works,” he said. “I’m
trying to figure out where the regional
food
purchasing
is
available.
Presumably, there’s a shortage of food in
that area, so what is the region?”
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) also
presented pointed criticism of the proposal. “The administration’s decision to
restructure the Food for Peace program, I
think, is absolutely wrong,” he said.
“These are American jobs that will be lost.
This is American capacity that will be
lost.”
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
emphasized the need to do more to expand
the U.S.-flag merchant marine, rather than
to put forth policies that will drive U.S.flagged ships out of the industry and U.S.
merchant mariners out of work. During the
hearing, Rep. Cummings addressed both
the administration’s budget proposal and
the reduction in the U.S.-flag cargo preference requirement for U.S. food-aid shipments enacted last year.
“I am also deeply concerned by measures proposed in the administration’s bud-
get that would have devastating consequences for our merchant marine,” Rep.
Cummings said.
“Recent policy developments threaten only to drive more vessels away from
our flag,” he said. “As we’re all aware,
section 100124 of the MAP-21 legislation,
a provision slipped into a highway bill in
the dead of night, reduced the amount of
U.S. food aid required to be carried on
U.S.-flagged ships from 75 percent to just
50 percent.”
A Band-Aid for a bullet wound
In its FY 2014 proposal for USAID,
the administration stated: “The budget also
provides $25 million per year through the
Department of Transportation’s Maritime
Administration for additional targeted
operating subsidies for military-useful vessels and incentives to facilitate the retention of mariners. Worker adjustment assistance would be available for remaining eligible mariners.”
Rep. Hunter remarked on the proposal at the opening of the hearing: “the
President’s attempt to placate the concerns
of U.S. mariners by throwing some additional money at the Maritime Security
Program for one year will not work. I hope
my colleagues will join me in rejecting the
President’s misguided proposal.”
During the hearing, Maritime
Administrator David Matsuda said: “We
recognize that we have to do whatever we
can to retain those vessels and those crews.
Mariners are extremely valuable, both to
the commercial industry and to the U.S.
when we need them to crew up government-owned reserve vessels.”
However, as discussion of this provision progressed, no explanation was provided as to how the one-time, one-year $25
million subsidy would replace the cargo
base that would be lost in the proposed
restructuring of Food for Peace, or how it
would prevent numerous non-MSP commercial U.S.-flagged merchant vessels
from leaving the fleet, eradicating a substantial portion of the job base for U.S.
merchant mariners who work in the PL480 trades and who man military sealift
and defense reserve vessels that render
crucial mission support in times of war and
conflict, and vital assistance during
domestic and international emergencies
and natural disasters.
Questioning Matsuda during the
hearing, Rep. Cummings asked: “Why
does the administration believe it will be
sufficient to subsidize seafarers to allow
them to maintain their unlimited deepocean credentials if there is no cargo or
ship for them to sail on?”
Rep. Garamendi presented a similar
assessment. “It’s kind of like a short-term
unemployment insurance program with no
job in the future,” he said.
When questioned by Rep. Hunter
regarding the number of ships that would
be affected by the budget proposal to cut
U.S. food-aid shipments, as well as the
number of ships that could be supported
with an additional $25 million, Matsuda
said 20 U.S.-flagged ships enrolled in the
Maritime Security Program, and 30 ships
not enrolled in the MSP, carry some U.S.
food-aid cargoes.
“For comparison purposes, the
Maritime Security Program currently
apportions $3.1 million per vessel, so that
would be about eight vessels,” Matsuda
said. “However, that does rely upon available cargoes to ensure that these vessels
can stay commercially viable.”
Rep. Hunter responded: “I think you
realize — from the committee and the
feedback — that we’re going to try to save
the Food for Peace program for our basic
industrial capability and capacity, for our
shipbuilders, our operators, our mariners
and industry in general.”
AMO aboard tanker Pelican State in Jones Act trades
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Jones
Act tanker Pelican State in March,
here in Corpus Christi, Texas,
included Chief Mate Bobby Cates,
Third Mate Erik Matthews, Captain
Mike Lamb and Third Mate Pat
Dowhan. The Pelican State is
operated by Intrepid Personnel
and Provisioning and is manned in
all licensed positions by AMO.
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Jones
Act tanker Pelican State in March,
here in Corpus Christi, Texas,
included Third Assistant Engineer
Andrew McDermott, First A.E. Dan
Petrocelli and Chief Engineer John
Noyes. With them is AMO National
Assistant Vice President David
Weathers.
May 2013
American Maritime Officer • 7
Congressional support for full MSP funding FY 2014
Led by House Armed Services
Committee Chairman Howard “Buck”
McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member
Adam Smith (D-WA), a total of 46 congressional representatives urged colleagues to fully fund the Maritime
Security Program in the fiscal year 2014
appropriations bill for the Departments of
Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies.
In a letter to Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA)
— chairman of the Appropriation
Committee’s
Subcommittee
on
Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies — and
Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ), ranking member on
the subcommittee, the representatives
requested $186 million for the Maritime
Security Program (MSP) in fiscal year 2014
— the “amount necessary to ensure that the
U.S. Maritime Administration, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, has the
necessary funds available to fully implement
the MSP in FY 2014.
“The MSP was originally enacted to
ensure that the United States has the U.S.flag commercial sealift capability and
trained U.S. citizen merchant mariners available to crew the government and privatelyowned vessels needed by the Department of
Saving Essential American
Sailors (SEAS) Act introduced
Congressmen Elijah Cummings (DMD) and Scott Rigell (R-VA) April 24
announced the introduction of the Saving
Essential American Sailors (SEAS) Act in
the 113th Congress. This legislation (H.R.
1678) would repeal Section 100124 of the
MAP-21 legislation enacted last year, which
reduced from 75 percent to 50 percent the
portion of U.S. food aid required to be carried on U.S.-flagged vessels.
“The senseless cuts made to the
cargo preference program in MAP-21
dealt another blow to an already battered
U.S. merchant marine. It is essential that
these cuts be reversed and that we begin
implementing policies that will strengthen
our merchant marine by increasing the
cargoes carried on U.S.-flagged vessels,”
Rep. Cummings said.
“Our region, indeed, our national
economy, depends on a robust American
shipping industry, and we must protect those
jobs,” said Rep. Rigell, who represents part
of the Hampton Roads region and serves on
the House Armed Services Committee and
the House Committee on the Budget.
“Further, we should not have to depend on
foreign owned vessels to deliver cargo to our
troops overseas. This legislation will ensure
we keep Americans employed while defending the good men and women who are
defending our freedom around the world.”
AMO aboard Alliance Fairfax in
Maritime Security Program fleet
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Alliance Fairfax in
April, here in Beaumont, Texas, included Captain Lee Dixon and Chief Mate
Dan Lunny. The ship — operated by Argent Marine Operations, Inc. —
recently replaced the Alliance Charleston in the Maritime Security Program
fleet. The Alliance Fairfax is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.
AMO members working aboard the Alliance Fairfax in April included First
Assistant Engineer Dave Nance, Third A.E. Kenny Jordan and Chief
Engineer Matt Desmond. Not in the picture is Second A.E. Alex Armstrong.
Defense in time of war or other international emergency,” the representatives wrote.
“Most importantly, the Maritime Security
Program and the uninterrupted operation of
its maritime security fleet of 60 U.S.-flag
militarily-useful commercial vessels ensures
that America will in fact be able to support
and supply our troops overseas. It guarantees that American flag vessels and
American crews will continue to be available to transport the supplies and equipment
our troops need to do their job in behalf of
our nation.
“Without having the MSP and its maritime security fleet to rely on, the options
available to the Department of Defense and
to our country to meet America’s commercial sealift capability requirements are totally unacceptable,” they wrote.
“On the one hand, our country would
be faced with the option of giving foreign
flag shipping interests and their foreign
mariners, interests who may not share
America’s goals, objectives and values, the
responsibility for supporting and advancing
America’s security interests overseas.
These foreign flag shipping services will
have to be paid for by the United States and
it means our country will be encouraging
the outsourcing of American maritime jobs
as we spend taxpayer dollars on foreign
flag ships and their foreign crews,” the representatives noted.
“On the other hand, our country
would be faced with the option of having
the Department of Defense build, maintain
and operate the requisite vessels itself, at a
tremendous cost to the American taxpayer.
In fact, a 2006 report prepared for the
National
Defense
Transportation
Association — Military Sealift Committee
concluded that ‘the likely cost to the government to replicate just the vessel capacity provided by the MSP dry cargo vessels
would be $13 billion.’ In addition, the
United States Transportation Command
has estimated that it would cost the U.S.
Government an additional $52 billion to
replicate the ‘global intermodal system’
that is made available to the Department of
Defense by MSP participants who are continuously developing, maintaining and
upgrading their systems.”
the
letter
were
Signing
Representatives Howard “Buck” McKeon
(R-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Duncan
Hunter (R-CA), Don Young (R-AK), Rick
Larsen (D-WA), Corrine Brown (D-FL),
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Gary Miller (RCA), C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD),
Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Albio Sires (D-NJ),
Michael Grimm (R-NY), Kathy Castor (DFL), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Elijah
Cummings (D-MD), John Duncan (R-TN),
Chris Gibson (R-NY), Derek Kilmer (DWA), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Robert
Andrews (D-NJ), Michael Michaud (DME), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Lois Frankel
(D-FL), Howard Coble (R-NC), Walter
Jones (R-NC), Robert Wittman (R-VA),
Brian Higgins (D-NY), Scott Peters (DCA), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Sean Maloney
(D-NY), William Enyart (D-IL), Blake
Farenthold (R-TX), Scott Rigell (R-VA),
Marc Veasey (D-TX), Dan Maffei (D-NY),
Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Alan Lowenthal
(D-CA), Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), Tim
Bishop (R-UT), Cedric Richmond (D-LA),
David McKinley (R-WV), Carol SheaPorter (D-NH), Jim Langevin (D-RI),
Randy Forbes (R-VA), Jim McDermott (DWA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).
Rep. Cummings to receive 2013
Salute to Congress Award
The International Propeller Club of the
Unites States will honor Congressman Elijah
Cummings (D-MD) at the annual Salute to
Congress dinner, to be held on May 7 at the
Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va.
For more than a quarter century, the
Propeller Club and its members have recognized congressional representatives who
have demonstrated consistent support for the
maritime industry and the U.S.-flag merchant marine.
“The Propeller Club considers it an
honor to recognize Representative Elijah
Cummings,” said Propeller Club President
Sonny Smith. “We look forward to the
Rep. Elijah
Cummings (D-MD)
opportunity
to
thank him for his
support for the
maritime sector of
the U.S. economy
through his service
on
the
Subcommittee on
Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation and his
commitment to
the education of
the next generation of mariners.”
AMO members upgrade licenses
American Maritime Officers members Bartolome Romero and Matthew
Sanford in March successfully completed all exams to upgrade their licenses after preparing at STAR Center. Romero upgraded to second mate,
oceans/any gross tons, and Sanford upgraded to chief mate, oceans/any
gross tons.
May 2013
8 • American Maritime Officer
American Maritime Officers Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research Center
2 West Dixie Highway • Dania Beach, FL 33004 • (954) 920-3222
General Courses
ABS NS5 Fleet Management Software
3 days
5 June
16 October
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
13 May
10 June
15 July
19 August
Basic Safety Training — All 4 modules must be completed within 12 months:
Personal Safety Techniques (Mon/Tues — 1.5 days), Personal Safety & Social
Responsibility (Tues pm — .5 days), Elementary First Aid (Wed — 1 day), Fire Fighting &
Fire Prevention (Thurs/Fri — 2 days) — not required. if Combined Basic & Adv. Fire
Fighting completed within 12 months
5 days
3 June
8 July
9 September
28 October
Basic Safety Training — Refresher
3 days
5 June
10 July
11 September
Chemical Safety — Advanced
5 days
29 July
21 October
ECDIS
5 days
20 May
24 June
15 July
5 August
Effective Supervision
2 days
Please call
Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator)
3 days
10 June
15 July
30 September
18 November
Fast Rescue Boat
4 days
24 June
15 July
3 September
12 November
GMDSS Note: Requires after hours homework!
10 days
30 September
11 November
LNG Tankerman PIC
8 days
5 June
LNG Simulator Training — Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator course is given
to qualified member candidates for employment and/or observation opportunities with
AMO contracted LNG companies. In all cases successful completion of the LNG PNC
classroom course is prerequisite.
5 days
17 June
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
28 May
16 September
21 October
Safety Officer Course
2 days
25 July
12 September
21 November
Tankerman PIC DL — Classroom
5 days
23 September
Tankerman PIC DL — Simulator
10 days
13 May
8 July
19 August
Train the Trainer
5 days
17 June
26 August
7 October
Train the Trainer — Simulator Instructors
5 days
Please call
Vessel/Company Security Officer — Includes Anti-Piracy
3 days
3 June
22 July
12 August
5 days
15 July (P.M.)
28 Oct (P.M.)
4 November
5 days
24 June
26 August
30 Sept (PM)
Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates — 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rd Mates
10 days
13 May (P.M.)
12 August
16 September
Advanced Emergency Shiphandling — First Class Pilots, Great Lakes
5 days
Please call
16 September
14 October
18 November
16 September
23 September
11 November
28 October
18 November
28 October
9 September
Deck Courses
Advanced Bridge Resource Management
Advanced Shiphandling for Masters — (No equivalency) Must have sailed as
Chief Mate Unlimited
Bridge Resource Management Seminar
3 days
Please call
Dynamic Positioning — Basic
5 days
3 June
16 September
Dynamic Positioning — Advanced
5 days
15 July
4 November
Integrated Bridge System (IBS) / Prodded Propulsion Training
5 days
7 Oct (P.M.)
STCW Deck Officer Refresher — Great Lakes
3 days
Please call
TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) — Third Mate (Unlimited or Great
Lakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required
5 days
17 June
Tug Training — ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive)
5 days
20 May (P.M.)
Visual Communications (Flashing Light) — Test only!
1 day
Scheduled as required
26 August
11 November
30 September
9 September
Engineering Courses
Advanced Slow Speed Diesel
10 days
8 July
30 September
Basic Electricity
10 days
24 June
5 August
7 October
11 November
Diesel Crossover
4 weeks
3 June
19 August
14 October
Engine Room Resource Management
5 days
23 September
Gas Turbine Endorsement
10 days
13 May
17 June
28 October
High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom)
3 days
15 July
Ocean Ranger Program
6 days
Please call
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
5 days
8 July
Refrigeration (Operational Level)
5 days
19 August
5 days
26 August
Refrigeration (Management Level)
Steam Endorsement
4 weeks
1 July
Welding & Metallurgy Skills & Practices — Open to eligible Chief Mates and
Masters on a space available basis. Interested participants should apply and will be
confirmed 2 weeks prior to start date.
2 weeks
19 August
19 August
11 November
21 October
28 October
Deck Upgrade at the Management Level — Successful completion of this program will satisfy the training requirements for STCW certification as Master or Chief Mate on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage (ITC).
This program will complete ALL 53 Control Sheet assessments of the training requirements for STCW. Course completion certificates do not expire. Operational level officers (3/M and 2/M) interested in advancing to Chief
Mate/Master (Management) Level are encouraged to start obtaining the required courses as soon as practical after acquiring OICNW experience. Advanced Navigation and a USCG approved ECDIS course must be completed
within 12 months of each other to satisfy the Management Level upgrade course and assessment requirements.
Celestial Navigation
5 days
20 May
8 July
19 August
14 October
Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology
5 days
20 May
8 July
2 September
21 October
Cargo Operations
9 days
17 June
5 August
23 September
12 November
Marine Propulsion Plants
5 days
10 June
29 July
16 September
4 November
Upgrade: Stability
5 days
3 June
22 July
9 September
28 October
Watchkeeping 1: BRM
3 days
15 May
17 July
4 September
16 October
5 days
20 May
22 July
9 September
21 October
Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level
10 days
3 June
29 July
16 September
25 October
Shipboard Management
5 days
17 June
12 August
7 October
18 November
Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator)
5 days
24 June
19 August
30 September
11 November
5 days
13 May
1 July
26 August
7 October
Watchkeeping 2: COLREGS — Watchkeeping 1 & 2 must be completed within 12
months of each other
ECDIS — Advanced Navigation and the USCG approved ECDIS to be completed within
12 months of each other. Suggested dates follow. See also deck courses above.
Self-Study License Exam Preparation
A/R
18 November
May 2013
American Maritime Officer • 9
MSC Training Program
CMEO for Junior Engineers
5 days
22 July
7 October
22 November
Basic CBR Defense
1 day
28 June
19 July
30 August
18 October
4 November
Damage Control
1 day
27 June
18 July
29 August
17 October
21 November
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
1 day
28 May
19 August
3 September
21 October
Helicopter Fire Fighting
1 day
4 June
9 July
10 September
29 October
Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD)
1/2 day
28 June
19 July
30 August
18 October
Marine Sanitation Devices
1/2 day
13 June
18 July
3 October
21 November
Medical PIC Refresher — Note: Not MSC approved
3 days
4 September
16 October
MSC Readiness Refresher — Must have completed full CBRD & DC once in career.
5 days
3 June
8 July
9 September
28 October
MSC Watchstander — BASIC — Once in career, SST grads grandfathered
2 days
16 May
1 August
26 September
4 November
MSC Watchstander — ADVANCED — Required for all SRF members
1 day
20 May
5 August
30 September
11 November
MSC Ship Reaction Force — Required every three years for SRF members
3 days
21 May
6 August
1 October
12 November
SAMM — Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management
3 days
29 May
members & applicants eligible for employment through AMO (w/in 1 year) or MSC on
MARAD contracted vessels. Remedial shoot will be afforded on Day 4 for at least 1
weapon if passing score not attained. STCW Endorsement required.
3 days
13, 28 May
10, 24 June
15, 29 July
12, 26 August
Water Sanitation Afloat
1/2 day
13 June
18 July
3 October
21 November
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
1 day
28 May
19 August
3 September
21 October
Elementary First Aid — Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months
1 day
18 June
23 July
20 August
Medical Care Provider — Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12 months.
Please fax EFA certificate when registering
3 days
19 June
24 July
Medical PIC — Please fax MCP certificate when registering
5 days
13 May
Urinalysis Collector Training
1 day
Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) — Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only!
Small Arms — Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training — Open to
9, 23 Sept.
14, 28 October
24 September
22 October
5 November
21 August
25 September
23 October
6 November
24 June
29 July
26 August
30 September
11 November
20 May
1 July
5 August
7 October
4, 18 November
1 day
21 May
2 July
6 August
8 October
19 November
Saliva Screening Test — QEDs only!
1/2 day
22 May
3 July
7 August
9 October
20 November
Medical PIC Refresher — Note: Not MSC approved
3 days
4 September
16 October
1 day
4 June
12 August
3 September
15 October
4 November
1 day
27 June
26 September
24 October
21 November
ARPA
4 days
5 November
Radar Recertification & ARPA
5 days
4 November
Original Radar Observer Unlimited
5 days
28 October
6, 18 November
Medical Courses
Radar Courses
Radar Recertification
Radar Recertification at Toledo Maritime Academy — Non-Resident
Training, apply to Student Services, Dania Beach
Engine STCW / Original Engineer Training Routes — Engine STCW training routes are aimed
at Great Lakes members wishing to transition to deep sea. Original engineer training is available to members,
applicants and sponsored students seeking an original license.
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
10 June
14 October
Basic Safety Training
5 days
3 June
28 October
EFA/MCP
4 days
18 June
5 November
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
28 May
21 October
Basic Electricity (original engineers only)
10 days 24 June
Original 3 A/E Preparation and Exams
A/R
Self-Study CDs and Online Programs —
8 July
Original License Courses
RFPNW Assessments
1 day
12 July
Marlin Spike
1 day
27 June
40-hour Able Seaman
5 days
Please call
11 November
25 November
Available for use when attending other approved classroom courses
Afloat Environmental Protection Coordinator
CD
DoT — Hazardous Material Transportation Training
CD
Online
EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification Examination
Self-study
Crew Endurance Management
CD
Prudent Mariner’s Guide to Right Whale Protection
CD
Vessel General Permit — EPA
CD
Anti-Terrorism Level 1
Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) — Completion of this program will satisfy the training requirements for STCW certification as Officer In Charge of a Navigation Watch (3M/2M) on vessels of 500
or more gross tonnage (ITC). This program will complete ALL Control Sheet assessments.
Celestial Navigation
10 days
3 June
Ship Construction & Stability
5 days
17 June
Emergency Procedures & SAR
4 days
1 July
Meteorology
5 days
15 July
Cargo Handling & Storage
5 days
24 June
Magnetic & Gyro Compass
3 days
24 June
Electronic Navigation
5 days
22 July
Terrestrial Navigation
10 days
29 July
Watchkeeping
10 days
12 August
Basic Shiphandling at the Operational Level
5 days
26 August
Self-Study License Exam Preparation
A/R
Available to those students who completed their courses at STAR Center. Please call to schedule.
MARAD Training Program — (11 day package comprised of courses below) Students will be nominated and assigned by their contracted company and shall attend all 11 days.
Any places not taken by the contracted
companies shall be made available to the membership on a chronological order basis.
Small Arms — Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training — Open to
members and applicants eligible for employment through AMO (within 1 year) on MSC or
MARAD contracted vessels.
3 days
12 August
Elementary First Aid
1 day
15 August
Drug Collector Training
1 day
16 August
Breath Alcohol Test Collector
1 day
17 August
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
19 August
NOTICE: AMO members planning to attend the union’s Center for Advanced Maritime Officers’ Training/STAR Center in Dania Beach, Florida—either to prepare for license upgrading or to undergo specialty training—are asked to call the
school to confirm course schedule and space availability in advance.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Center For Advanced Maritime Officers Training (CAMOT) and Simulation Training Assessment and Research Center (STAR), established under the auspices of the
American Maritime Officers Safety and Education Plan, admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin or sex to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the Center.
It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sex in administration of its educational policies, admission policies and other programs administered by the Center.
May 2013
10 • American Maritime Officer
AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
DANIA BEACH, FL 33004
601 S. Federal Highway
(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513
Thomas J. Bethel, National President
[email protected] / [email protected] / Mobile: (202) 251-0349
José E. Leonard, National Secretary-Treasurer ([email protected])
Jack Branthover, Special Assistant to the National President
([email protected])
FAX: (954) 926-5112
Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea
([email protected])
Charles A. Murdock, National Vice President, Inland Waters
([email protected])
Mobile: (954) 531-9977 / FAX: (954) 367-1025
Dispatch: (800) 345-3410
FAX: (954) 926-5126
Brendan Keller, Dispatcher ([email protected])
Robert Anderson, Dispatcher ([email protected])
Member Services: Extension 1050 ([email protected])
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024
490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW, Suite 7204
(202) 479-1166 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 7001
Thomas J. Bethel, National President
[email protected] / [email protected]
Mobile: (202) 251-0349
J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations
[email protected]
Mobile: (202) 560-6889
Paul Doell, Legislative Director
[email protected] / Mobile: (954) 882-4297
FAX: (202) 479-1188
PORTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19113
2 International Plaza, Suite 422
Robert J. Kiefer, National Executive Vice President ([email protected])
(800) 362-0513 ext. 4001 / 4002
Mobile: (215) 859-1059
FAX: (610) 521-1301
GALVESTON, TX 77551
2724 61st Street, Suite B
PMB 192
David M. Weathers, National Assistant Vice President
([email protected])
(800) 362-0513 ext. 2001
Mobile: (409) 996-7362
FAX: (409) 737-4454
TOLEDO, OH 43604
The Melvin H. Pelfrey Building
One Maritime Plaza, Third Floor
(419) 255-3940
(800) 221-9395
FAX: (419) 255-2350
John E. Clemons, National Vice President, Great Lakes
([email protected])
Brian D. Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice President
([email protected])
Donald Cree, Great Lakes Special Assistant to the National President
([email protected])
Stan Barnes, National Represe ntative ([email protected])
Bruce DeWerth, Dispatcher ([email protected])
SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND, CA 94607
1121 7th Street, Second Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 444-5301
(800) 362-0513 ext. 5001
Daniel E. Shea, National Assistant Vice President
([email protected])
FAX: (954) 367-1064
STAR CENTER
STUDENT SERVICES/LODGING AND COURSE INFORMATION
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(954) 920-3222 ext. 201 / (800) 942-3220 ext. 201
Course Attendance Confirmation: (800) 942-3220 ext. 200
FAX: (954) 920-3140
24 Hours: (954) 920-3222 ext.7999
TRAINING RECORDS SYSTEM
Lisa Marra
(954) 920-3222 ext. 7118
FAX: (954) 925-5681
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
MEDICAL CLINIC
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(954) 927-5213
FAX: (954) 929-1415
AMO PLANS
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(800) 348-6515
FAX: (954) 922-7539
LEGAL
AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid Program
Michael Reny
Mobile: (419) 346-1485
(419) 243-1105 / (888) 853-4662
[email protected]
Joel Glanstein, General Counsel
437 Madison Ave.
35th Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 370-5100
FAX: (212) 697-6299
American Maritime Officers members train at STAR Center
American Maritime Officers members completing the Senior Deck Officers’
Advanced Shiphandling Course for Maersk Line, Limited at STAR Center in April
included Shaun Hughes, Vince Radkins, Horatiu Vintila and Philip Solito.
New EPA vessel general
permit will take effect in
December 2013
American Maritime Officers members completing Engine Room Resource
Management training at STAR Center in April included Wendell Sprague, Steven
Thatcher, Brian Kelly and Gary Gilbert.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final vessel general permit (VGP) regulating
discharges from commercial vessels, including ballast water. The final VGP covers commercial vessels
greater than 79 feet in length, excluding military and recreational vessels, and will replace the 2008 vessel
general permit due to expire on Dec. 19, 2013.
More information is available on the EPA website (www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels). An overview of the
final 2013 VGP is available online (www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/vgp_overview2013.pdf).
May 2013
American Maritime Officer • 11
AMO ocean rangers prepare for Alaska’s 2013 cruise season
American Maritime Officers members completing Ocean Ranger training at
STAR Center in April in preparation for the 2013 Alaska cruise season included
(in no particular order) Tim Nelick, James Ham, Richard Fowler, Steve
Chouinard, Peter Gorman, Casey Cooper, Tom Guiney, Todd Stafford, Jesse
Roberts, Roman Jarmula, Terry Gerth and Chris Schneider.
AMO members completing Ocean Ranger training at STAR Center in April in
preparation for the 2013 Alaska cruise season included (in no particular order)
Mark Farley, Nicholas Bruen, Paul Maitoza, Richard Ekstrom, Bob Layko, David
Fournier, Jonathan Driggers, Matthew Sunderland, John Webb, Robert Glenn,
Mark Frechette, Jimmy Brackett and Steve Rochester.
STAR Center schedules additional Vessel Security Officer courses
to assist AMO members in meeting new STCW requirement
As a reminder to all individuals sailing on a Merchant Mariner Credential
(MMC) in trades for which STCW applies,
the 2010 amendments to the STCW code
now require a specific security endorsement
for the MMC prior to Jan. 1, 2014.
The three STCW ‘95 vessel security
endorsements are: VSO — VI/5 — Vessel
Security Officer, VPDSD — VI/6 —
Vessel Personnel with Designated
Security Duties, and SA — VI/6 —
Security Awareness. These endorsements
are hierarchal, meaning VSO covers and
includes VPDSD and SA, and VPDSD
covers and includes SA. These endorsements must actually appear on your
STCW/MMC, and you must apply to the
U.S. Coast Guard to obtain the required
endorsement unless VSO has already been
placed on your STCW/MMC.
Most officers will require the new
VPDSD endorsement, which can be
obtained if an individual can submit appropriate documentation showing six months
of security duties in the previous three
years. STAR Center has provided specific
instructions, a sample service letter and a
sample U.S. Coast Guard application to
obtain the endorsement on the STAR Center
website at http://www.star-center.com/
stcw2010guidance.html. Under the 12-06
policy letter information, there are links
directly to the USCG policy letter, directions, sample letter and sample USCG
application.
It is recommended all affected AMO
members apply to the USCG to obtain the
endorsement as soon as possible and have
the endorsement placed on their MMCs
well in advance of the implementation date
of Jan. 1, 2014. Without the security
endorsement, your MMC will become
invalid as of the implementation date and
you will be unable to sail on it.
Aware of the impact of the new regulations, STAR Center is adding three-day
Vessel Security Officer (VSO) classes to
those previously scheduled as follows:
April 29, June 3 (new), July 22, Aug. 12
(new), Sept. 9, Oct. 28 (new), Nov. 18, and
Dec. 16.
Any questions regarding this training
should be directed to Director of Member
Training and Officer Development Jerry
Pannell at (800) 942-3220 ext. 7507 or via
e-mail: [email protected].
Enrollment questions or applications should be directed to Student
Services at (800) 942-3220 ext. 201 or via
e-mail: [email protected].
Monthly Membership Meetings
Regular monthly membership meetings for AMO will be held during the
week following the first Sunday of every month at 1 p.m. local time.
Meetings will be held on Monday at AMO National Headquarters (on
Tuesday when Monday is a contract holiday). The next meetings will take
place on the following dates:
AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: June 3, July 8
May 2013
12 • American Maritime Officer
AMO-manned ships serve in exercises
‘Balikatan’ and ‘Freedom Banner’ 2013
The USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus and
the M/V Capt. Steven L. Bennett were
among the ships transporting Marine
Corps combat equipment and supplies in
support of exercises Freedom Banner and
Balikatan in late March, Military Sealift
Command reported.
The USNS Lummus is operated for
MSC by Maersk Line, Limited and the
M/V Bennett is operated for MSC by
Sealift, Inc. Both ships are manned in all
licensed positions by American Maritime
Officers.
Freedom Banner is an annual exer-
cise held in conjunction with a large-scale
exercise in the Pacific. Balikatan, conducted in April, was this year’s primary
exercise. A Marine Corps operation,
Balikatan provided humanitarian civic
assistance and live-fire field training in the
Philippines.
Designed to deliver military cargo
and supplies in response to a contingency,
the Marine Prepositioning Force ship
USNS Lummus and its crew transported
hundreds of tactical vehicles and amphibious assault vehicles, culminating in a pierside offload during Freedom Banner 2013,
MSC reported.
The M/V Bennett delivered additional Marine Corps cargo from Okinawa,
MSC reported. The 687-foot containership offloaded 430 pieces of equipment,
including vehicles, containerized equipment and break-bulk cargo.
The dry cargo and ammunition ship
USNS Sacagawea also provided support
by remaining offshore during the exercise,
testing ship-to-shore sustainment of
troops and equipment, MSC reported.
MSC Reservists played an important role during the exercise, MSC report-
ed. Sailors from Expeditionary Port Units
102 and 105, along with reservists
assigned to the Navy’s Strategic Sealift
Officer program, crewed a mobile sealift
operations command center. They also
crewed a portable communications facility designed to operate and manage port
operations even if port infrastructure is
damaged or destroyed. Sailors assigned to
MSC Office Korea deployed to Subic Bay
in support of the exercises.
“We gained critical real-world mission experience which will contribute
directly to our unit’s overall readiness,” said
Lt. Cmdr. William Hartman, EPU 102.
At the conclusion of the Balikatan
exercise, cargo was reconstituted
aboard the USNS Lummus and USNS
Sacagawea. The reconstitution of cargo
also concluded Freedom Banner 2013,
MSC reported.
M/V Bennett delivers for exercise ‘Cobra Gold’ 2013
The M/V Capt. Steven L. Bennett —
operated under charter to Military Sealift
Command by Sealift, Inc. and manned in all
licensed positions by American Maritime
Officers — recently completed cargo operations in support of exercise Cobra Gold
2013 at the port of Chuk Sa Met, Thailand,
Edward Baxter of MSCFE Public Affairs
reported in the March edition of Sealift.
The M/V Bennett delivered more than
520 pieces of 3rd Marine Expeditionary
Force cargo for the exercise Feb. 8, Baxter
reported in MSC’s official publication.
The cargo was transported to Thailand
for the exercise — a large-scale multinational exercise held each year throughout the
Kingdom of Thailand — from ports on the
Japanese island of Okinawa, Baxter wrote.
“MSC is often the first in and last
out,” said MSC Expeditionary Port Unit 115
Executive Officer Cmdr. Ross Lee,
deployed to Okinawa for the exercise. “We
bring in cargo and supplies which enables
our forces to operate at their peak capacity.”
EPUs are MSC’s highly-mobile units
which can quickly deploy to a contingency
operation, establish port operations and
manage the arrivals and departures of cargo
ships in port, MSC reported.
Starting Feb. 11, more than 13,000
military personnel from Thailand,
Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Indonesia, Malaysia and the U.S. fanned out
across Thailand to participate in the 10-day
Cobra Gold exercise, which included livefire training, computer-simulated scenarios,
and humanitarian and civic assistance programs. This year, military members from
Burma observed the exercise for the first
time, Baxter noted.
At Okinawa, reserve Sailors from
Honolulu, Hawaii-based Expeditionary Port
Unit 115, along with Sailors and civil service personnel from MSC’s permanent
WRDA
Continued from Page 5
sions,” the task force noted. “That’s a lot of
money, especially in this difficult financial
climate. The good news is that the Congress
and the administration don’t need to divert
funds or pass a new tax to restore our ‘Fourth
Sea Coast.’ The money is there. It has been
available for many years.
“In a typical year, the HMTF takes in
about $1.6 billion, but spends only about
$800 million. This policy of spending only
one out of every two dollars collected for
dredging on dredging is the reason we have a
dredging crisis on the Great Lakes and significant dredging needs elsewhere.”
The task force pointed out the
U.S. Navy photo: Brian Tully
A U.S. Marine Corps utility vehicle is offloaded from the M/V Capt. Steven L.
Bennett at Chuk Sa Met, Thailand. The M/V Bennett is operated under charter
to MSC by Sealift, Inc. and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.
office on Okinawa, boarded the Bennett Jan.
20 at Okinawa’s Naha Military port, meeting with the ship’s captain, ship’s agent, port
authorities and customs officials, MSC
reported.
The Bennett loaded 495 pieces of
cargo, including Humvees, heavy trucks,
crane trucks, trailers and tracked vehicles.
After a short sail to Tengan pier, the remaining cargo — including shipping containers
and some break-bulk cargo — was loaded
aboard. All cargo was loaded by the ship’s
three heavy-lift cranes, MSC reported. With
all cargo safely stowed, the Bennett began
the 1,700-nautical mile journey to the Gulf
of Thailand Jan. 23.
Throughout the cargo deployment
mission, MSC personnel worked closely
with U.S. Army personnel from Okinawa-
HMTF currently has a greater than $7 billion surplus.
“We cannot overestimate the debilitating effects of the dredging crisis on the
American economy and the environment. As
noted earlier, we just had a ship depart
Duluth 10,000 tons short of its capacity. This
is what the industry calls ‘lightloading.’
“It is critical that the provisions of the
RAMP Act be incorporated into a WRDA,”
the task force stated. “The very future of
Great Lakes shipping hangs in the balance.”
During the hearing, Rep. Gibbs voiced
frustration with the Obama administration’s
budget proposal, in which the amount
requested from the HMTF for the “operation
and maintenance of these navigation channels” will leave “an estimated balance of $9
billion at the end of fiscal year 2014.”
based U.S. Army 835th Transportation
Battalion and with 3rd MEF logistics specialists, Baxter noted.
“Building relationships is a key goal
of our Reserve personnel,” said
Operational Support Officer Charlie
Brown, based at MSC Far East headquarters in Singapore. “We must work closely
with our partners and host nation personnel
in order to be successful.”
In Thailand, Sailors from Bronx, N.Y.based EPU 102 manned a highly-specialized
mobile sealift operation command center, a
portable facility that provides critical communications equipment for managing port
operations even when a port infrastructure is
damaged or destroyed, MSC reported.
The Bennett arrived at Thailand’s
Laem Chabang International Terminal Feb.
5, and shipping containers were offloaded.
The ship departed later that afternoon for the
short transit to Chuk Sa Met, MSC reported.
From Chuk Sa Met, Marines deployed cargo
to the field for the live portion of Cobra Gold.
MSC highlights roles of
Maersk Peary, Ocean Giant
in ‘Operation Deep Freeze’
The roles of the tanker Maersk
Peary and the dry-cargo ship M/V Ocean
Giant in Operation Deep Freeze 2013
were highlighted by Military Sealift
Command in articles published in the
March and April editions of Sealift, and
on MSC’s blog, which is available online
(mscsealift.dodlive.mil/2013/04/03/).
“Operation Deep Freeze is a mission of teamwork — teamwork between
the personnel and the climate,” said
MSC Military Transportation Specialist
Larry Larsson, who took this photo of the
Ocean Giant. “This season we achieved
uncommon results, in a very challenging
location. It was a fantastic effort by all
that supported ODF and a true example
of our motto: MSC delivers.”
The Ocean Giant is operated by
Crowley Liner Services, Inc. and the
Maersk Peary is operated by Maersk
Line, Limited. Both ships are manned
in all licensed positions by American
Maritime Officers.