Volume 41, Number 8
AMO jobs
secure on
Bobo Class
MPS ships
under MSC
charter
Military Sealift Command has awarded the operating contract for five Maritime
Prepositioning Squadron ships to Maersk
Line Limited, securing the jobs of American
Maritime Officers members working aboard
the ships under a new charter.
The five ships covered by the charter
are the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, USNS
Sgt. William R. Button, USNS 1st Lt. Jack
Lummus, USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams,
and USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez. All of
the ships are currently operated by AMSEA
and manned in all licensed positions by
American Maritime Officers.
The new contract is scheduled to commence in September and includes a 30-day
base period and four one-year options.
The contract covering the MPS ships
was awarded as Lot 4 of an MSC request for
proposals (RFP) covering a total of 11 maritime prepositioning ships. MSC originally
awarded the charters for 10 of the ships to
Maersk Line Limited.
Three ship management companies
filed protests with the Government
Accountability Office. Subsequent to a
lengthy process involving the protests, MSC
has awarded Lot 2 and Lot 3, covering the
USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham and USNS
LCPL Roy M. Wheat, to Maersk Line
Limited, as well as Lot 4 covering the five
Bobo Class MPS ships. Lot 5 of the RFP
covers three Kocak Class prepositioning
containerships currently operated by a nonAMO company. The charter award for Lot 5
has not yet been announced. The one remaining lot in the RFP covering the USNS 1st Lt.
Harry L. Martin, which was not operated
under AMO contract, was awarded to a nonAMO company as a small business set aside.
Great Lakes News
Page 5: Congressional support is
growing for a federal standard on
ballast water treatment.
August 2011
AMO and
American
Steamship
agree on
contract
extension,
New AMO jobs with commit to
Maersk Line Limited securing
on ice-class tanker
successor
Company to acquire, re-flag vessel for
agreement
new Military Sealift Command charter
Maersk Line Limited will re-flag
an ice-strengthened tanker into U.S. registry for a new time charter awarded to
the company by Military Sealift
Command, adding another ship to the
fleet manned by members of American
Maritime Officers and bringing new
jobs to the AMO membership.
Maersk plans to purchase the
Norwegian-flagged M/T Jutul to fulfill
the contract to operate a U.S.-flagged
ice-class double-hulled tanker under a
time charter that would extend to
September 2016 with all options exercised. The vessel, a shallow draft, medium range, ice-strengthened tanker built
in 2004, will be dry-docked, modified
and re-flagged later this year.
The ship will provide worldwide
bulk fuel support for the Department of
Defense, including an annual supply run
to Antarctica for the National Science
Foundation and an annual run to
Greenland for the DOD.
“AMO members for years served
with distinction aboard the T-5 tankers
servicing these U.S. bases,” said AMO
National President Tom Bethel. “I’m
pleased and proud that tradition will
continue aboard this new U.S.-flagged
ice-class tanker.”
The time charter is scheduled to
commence in November of this year
with a one-year base period, and
includes three 12-month optional
extensions and one 11-month optional
extension.
The American Maritime Officers
strike against American Steamship
Company ended Aug. 4 after four days
with an agreement to extend the current
contract through — at a minimum — the
end of the 2011 Great Lakes shipping season, and with confidence on both sides
that a successor agreement can be reached
to ensure the long-term job and benefit
security of AMO members while addressing the competitive needs of the company.
“I thank all AMO officers and stewards in the American Steamship fleet for
their patience and support,” said AMO
National President Tom Bethel. “We are
all proud of your strength and solidarity,
and your commitment to integrity, to each
other and to our union.
“The first order of business will be
for AMO members to prepare to get back
to doing what they do better than any
other maritime officers in the world —
their jobs,” Bethel said. “When the boats
See AMO Agreement ◆ Page 5
AMO Plans Fit for
Duty Program an
asset to AMO
members, families
Page 7: A program incorporating the fitness center, galley and
AMO Plans Medical Clinic on
the STAR Center campus is
assisting AMO members and
families with health and fitness.
House proposal
holds promise for
maritime industry
Page 3: The proposed six-year
transportation reauthorization
proposal unveiled in July by
the House T&I Committee
contains several provisions that
could lead to an expansion of
U.S. shipbuilding and help create jobs for American mariners.
AMO Essentials
STAR Center course
◆ schedule: Pages 8-9
STAR Center application:
◆ www.amo-union.org
◆ AMO directory: Page 10
AMO membership meeting
◆ schedule: Page 12
Copyright © 2011 American Maritime Officers ■ 2 West Dixie Highway ■ Dania Beach, FL 33004 ■ (800) 362-0513 ■ [email protected]
2 • American Maritime Officer
August 2011
AMO and American Steamship Company: a strike
our union did not want, an agreement within reach
By Tom Bethel
National President
As national
president
of
A m e r i c a n
M a r i t i m e
Officers, I am
focused almost
exclusively on
keeping
AMO
members working in deep-sea,
Great Lakes and
inland
waters
trades — and I have enough sense to
know there are no jobs when employers
cannot remain competitive and keep
their vessels operating profitably. I also
know that mutual trust, steady communication between my administration and
AMO employers and a real effort by our
union to meet the employers’ legitimate
business needs are critical to long-term
job and benefit security for AMO members everywhere.
The AMO membership’s recognized reputation for professionalism and
performance and my administration’s
commitment to building and maintaining
positive, productive collective bargaining relationships serve central and substantial roles in our union’s success.
With the hard work and dedication of us
all, it is a rare occasion when we face
seemingly insurmountable challenges in
arriving at rewarding agreements with
AMO employers — challenges requiring
our collective perseverance and every
ounce of expertise at our disposal to
overcome. Very rarely have circumstances arisen leading to the most
extreme measure and last resort in contract negotiations. In fact, 31 years have
passed since AMO’s last strike on the
Great Lakes.
That span ceased on July 31 at
midnight when AMO’s contract with
American Steamship Company expired.
The company had failed to accept our
union’s pattern agreement and had
offered only one proposal in return — a
proposal that was unacceptable to me, to
AMO National Executive Vice President
Bob Kiefer, to Great Lakes Special
Assistant to the National President Don
Cree, and to the 140 AMO members
involved, 99 percent of whom voted
against it.
Without another proposal from the
company on the table, the AMO engineers, mates and stewards working for
American Steamship Co. were forced to
strike the company’s active fleet of 14
bulk carriers. From the onset, AMO
members conducted themselves with
characteristic professionalism, ensuring
the boats were secured to iron ore, coal
and stone docks in various Great Lakes
ports, where they had been anchored in
the hours leading up to — and, in some
cases, for many hours after — the expiration of the contract. When the AMO
officers and stewards departed their vessels, many thought it might be for the
last time.
This situation developed more than
six months ago, when I offered
American Steamship Co. an early start
on negotiations leading to a successor
agreement that would set the Great
Lakes pattern (all collective bargaining
agreements between AMO and Great
Lakes bulk vessel operators were to
expire on August 1).
American Steamship Co. did not
accept this offer and did not explain why
it had decided to pass on early bargaining. AMO later presented its contract
proposal — modest but well deserved
wage increases and continued participation in the AMO benefit funds at current
levels over five years — to the remaining Great Lakes employers. Not one of
these companies found our union’s proposal to be excessive, unreasonable or
unaffordable.
When American Steamship Co.
agreed at long last to meet with AMO in
mid-July, the negotiators from American
Steamship and its parent company,
GATX Corp., said they wanted to learn
the mechanics of the AMO Plans — a
peculiar request, considering that a well
while addressing the competitive needs
of the company.
It has not drawn much notice outside of the Great Lakes region recently,
but a strike against the company by
United Steelworkers Local 5000 —
which represents unlicensed crews on
vessels acquired by American Steamship
from the defunct Oglebay Norton Co. —
entered its second year in July.
Although any strike is unfortunate,
the conclusion of our comparatively
brief action finds us, I believe, in solid
footing to move forward in the process
of securing a successor agreement with
American Steamship Co./GATX. As the
company’s active fleet again gets underway and resumes service to its customers, we will be scheduling talks and
engaging in negotiations toward a new
contract without the constraint of a
This experience has caused me to
reassess the way our union does
business on the Great Lakes.
known American Steamship executive
had at that point served for many years
as an employer trustee of the AMO benefit funds.
AMO responded by bringing AMO
Plans Executive Director Steve
Nickerson, AMO Plans Finance Director
John Macuski and representatives of the
Plans’ actuarial firm — Kevin Culp and
Stan Goldfarb of Horizon Actuarial
Services LLC — into the initial meeting
in my office in Washington DC. All
questions from GATX and American
Steamship Co. were answered completely during the daylong discussion.
A week later, as August 1
approached,
the
GATX/American
Steamship Co. negotiators met for three
days in Philadelphia with Kiefer, Cree
and Chris Holmes, our union’s contract
analyst. The GATX/American Steamship
Co. delegation submitted a contract proposal that called for the immediate elimination of 14 stewards’ jobs, the right to
operate under COI manning at the company’s discretion, and no funding of the
AMO Medical, Pension and Safety and
Education Plans.
After the company’s proposal had
been presented to and voted down by the
AMO members working for American
Steamship, AMO asked the company
time and again to submit a final proposal for consideration by the fleet’s engineers, mates and stewards. There was no
response to this routine and reasonable
request from our union before or after
the August 1 deadline.
The AMO strike lasted four days,
ending the evening of August 4 with an
agreement between our union and the
company to extend the lapsed AMO collective bargaining agreement through
— at a minimum — the close of the
2011 Great Lakes shipping season. It
also ended with confidence and commitment on both sides to reaching an
agreement that ensures the long term
job and benefit security of AMO members working for American Steamship
looming deadline.
This experience has caused me to
reassess the way our union does business
on the Great Lakes. Previous AMO
administrations failed to acknowledge the
developments that have transformed the
Great Lakes shipping industry over the
last 30 years — the rise of the “thousand
footer,” the consequent displacement of
smaller vessels, the collapse of the basic
steel industry that once sustained a fleet of
more than 125 vessels, economic downturns that hit the industrial Midwest and
the Great Lakes region especially hard.
For too long, these AMO administrations
acted as though nothing had changed in
the Great Lakes shipping industry, when
in fact conditions had changed dramatically and permanently.
While I cannot reverse poor policy
decisions made 30, 20 or 10 years ago, I
can promise everyone in our union and
every AMO employer on the Great
Lakes a new day and a new way.
I value the professional relationships American Maritime Officers has
had with these employers for many
years. They recognize the hard work and
the dedication each AMO engineer, mate
and steward brings to the job each day
on each vessel. I will be in touch with
these employers over the next several
weeks — we have much to discuss in the
wake of August’s first week.
Meanwhile, I thank the AMO engineers, mates and stewards who stood fast
in support of one another and our union
during this crisis. The channels of communication remain wide open and all
involved will be kept apprised of every
significant development in this process.
American Maritime Officer (USPS 316-920)
Official Publication of American Maritime Officers
601 S. Federal Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(954) 921-2221
Periodical Postage Paid at
Dania Beach, FL, and Additional Mailing Offices
Published Monthly
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
National Assistant Vice Presidents:
Brian Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice President
Donald Nilsson, National Assistant Vice President
Daniel Shea, National Assistant Vice President
David Weathers, National Assistant Vice President
Representatives: Stan Barnes
Editor: Matt Burke
Assistant Editor: Amber Wilkie
Contributing Editor: Paul Doell
POSTMASTER—Send Address Changes To:
American Maritime Officers
ATTN: Member Services
P.O. Box 66
Dania Beach, FL 33004
August 2011
American Maritime Officer • 3
Strong growth potential for U.S. maritime industry
in House transportation reauthorization legislation
The proposed six-year transportation reauthorization proposal, unveiled by
the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee
in
the
House
of
Representatives in July, contains several
provisions that could lead to an expansion
of domestic shipbuilding and help create
jobs for American mariners.
“Given U.S. House rules and budget constraints, this proposal maximizes
the value of our available infrastructure
funding through better leveraging,
streamlining the project approval process,
attracting private sector investment, and
cutting the federal bureaucracy,” said
Transportation
and
Infrastructure
Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL).
“Most importantly, this six-year proposal
provides the stability states need to plan
major transportation improvements and
create long-term jobs.”
The proposal marks the first time
this multi-year legislation includes a maritime title.
“I applaud the committee for recognizing the critical role the maritime industry plays in our nation’s economy, global
commerce and job creation,” said Rep.
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), chairman of the
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Subcommittee. “It is our shared goal to
improve coordination between agencies
and streamline the bureaucratic process to
increase the efficiency of our marine
transportation system.”
If enacted, the legislation would
require funds deposited into the Harbor
Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) —
Rep. John Mica (R-FL), chairman of
the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, addresses
the Maritime Industry Congressional
Sail-In in May.
funded by the Harbor Maintenance Tax
assessed on imported waterborne cargo
moving through U.S. ports — to be used
for their intended purpose: maintenance
dredging. At current underfunded appropriation levels, the HMTF will carry an
estimated balance of nearly $7 billion by
the end of fiscal year 2012.
The proposal would eliminate double taxation under the Harbor
Maintenance Tax. Currently, shippers
must pay the ad-valorem tax on cargo
when goods arrive at a U.S. port, and
again if the cargo is shipped on vessels
between U.S. domestic ports. Cargoes
shipped by trucks and rail are not subject
to the same double taxation.
“While the U.S. economy is fueled
by maritime commerce and millions of
Americans depend on jobs created by
imports, exports and the commercial shipping industry, government red tape has
stifled the flow of commerce and our ability to effectively build and maintain our
maritime infrastructure,” said Water
Resources
and
Environment
Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (ROH). “Today’s proposal cuts through the
bureaucratic red tape, streamlines project
delivery, eliminates double taxation on
shippers, enhances our ports and waterways, and strengthens our economic
See T&I Proposal ◆ Page 4
Connaughton welcomes transportation proposal
Virginia Transportation Secretary
and former Maritime Administrator
Sean Connaughton looks forward to the
proposed changes to transportation policies presented in the recent House
Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee reauthorization.
Speaking before the Propeller
Club of Washington, D.C., in July,
Connaughton said the proposal was a
necessary “quid pro quo to deal with
problems of bureaucracy” in planning and implementing transportation projects.
Connaughton has been frustrat-
Virginia Transportation Secretary
Sean Connaughton speaks to the
Propeller Club of Washington, D.C.
ed by “federal red tape” in dealing with
transportation projects in Virginia –
much of which seems unnecessarily
detailed, costly and burdensome, he
said. The proposed reauthorization
would help remove some of these barriers and also provide better leveraging
for state and private funds.
Connaughton also applauded
T&I Chairman John Mica for including language in the reauthorization to
require funds deposited into the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund be
used for maintenance dredging – its
intended purpose.
House subcommittee voices support for Realize America’s
Maritime Promise Act, discusses need for more dredging
The House Water Resources and
Environment Subcommittee in July examined the Realize America’s Maritime
Promise (RAMP) Act and the dire need
for dredging in the country’s ports and
waterways.
The RAMP Act (H.R. 104), introduced by Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA),
would require revenue coming into the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF)
each year, including interest on the balance,
be invested in maintenance dredging of U.S.
harbors – its intended purpose. More than
100 legislators have co-sponsored the bill.
“Unless the issue of channel maintenance is addressed, the reliability and responsiveness of the entire intermodal system will
slow economic growth and threaten national
security,” said Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH),
chairman of the subcommittee. “Only if our
ports and waterways are at their authorized
depths and widths will products be able to
move to their overseas destinations in an efficient and economical manner.”
For years, funds collected by the
Harbor Maintenance Tax – an ad valorem
duty assessed on imported and domestic
cargo – have accrued due to inadequate
appropriations for dredging. Meanwhile, the
nation’s ports and waterways have gathered
silt, raising channel depths. This neglect creates inefficiencies in the system, costing time
and money and creating safety hazards.
The problem is especially acute on the
Great Lakes. James Weakley, third vice president of the Great Lakes Maritime Task
Force, testified at the hearing that based on
the current Army Corps of Engineers dredging budget for FY12, it is very likely some
ports in western Michigan may soon be
closed for business.
Rep. Boustany urged his colleagues
in subcommittee to bring the legislation to
the full House for a vote. “This bill creates the fully-funded, long-term dredging
plan necessary for realizing our economic
potential not only in Louisiana, but across
the country,” he said.
AMO aboard LNG carrier Shagra
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Q-Max LNG carrier Shagra as it made its first port call at Sabine Pass, Texas, in May were
Chief Engineer Jim Plourde and Third Mate Jared O’Hare. Plourde is the first
AMO chief engineer to work aboard a Q-Class LNG carrier calling in the U.S.
The Shagra is operated by Shell Ship Management Limited.
August 2011
4 • American Maritime Officer
New international developments in fight against piracy
The last few months have brought
several changes to international policies
and proposals in the fight against piracy in
the Somali basin as debate over the
mounting crisis of piratical attacks against
merchant vessels drones on without a uniform solution.
The U.S. State Department is working to implement new counter-piracy measures to reinforce existing recommendations – such as “best management practices” and naval patrols in the area. The
department is focusing its efforts on disrupting criminal and financial networks,
said Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary
for the bureau of political-military affairs
for the State Department, speaking in June
before the House Subcommittee on
Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.
“We intend to work with our international partners in the coming months to
go after the smaller number of criminal
conspirators who provide the leadership
and financial management of the pirate
enterprise, with the objective of bringing
them to trial,” Shapiro said at the June
subcommittee hearing.
The U.S. has also been involved in
the creation of an ad hoc group within the
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of
Somalia – designed to coordinate antipiracy efforts between the more than 70
nations – to specifically address the financial aspects of piracy. The ad hoc group,
created in March, has already met several
times this year.
The United Nations is currently
considering several proposals to strengthen anti-piracy efforts in the region. The
organization is taking steps to establish
“specialized Somali anti-piracy courts”
where suspected pirates could be tried outside of Somalia, in efforts to create
stronger disincentives to criminal activity.
The U.N. is also proposing to make
available its “blue beret” security forces to
serve as armed guards on vessels transiting the region, as an alternative to private
contractors. This proposal has been leveled amidst growing concern over the liability exposure for a ship’s master and
other officers if a private-sector shipboard
security detachment must engage attacking pirates.
Norway in July passed legislation
creating a defined legal method for vessels
to carry armed guards. The United
Kingdom’s shipping minister recently
urged his own government to adopt similar legislation.
Meanwhile, piracy in the region has
become more organized, more violent and
has expanded geographically. As of June,
400 seafarers were being held hostage and
18 ships were being held for ransom,
according to Shapiro.
American Maritime Officers maintains that it is the responsibility of the U.S.
government to provide protection for U.S.
vessels carrying U.S. cargo transiting
areas at high risk for incidents of piracy.
AMO and other U.S. seagoing unions
have repeatedly recommended limited
U.S. military detachments with one or
more high-caliber weapons be assigned to
U.S.-flagged merchant vessels transiting
high-risk areas for piracy under certain
circumstances, such as when those vessels
are carrying U.S. government impelled
cargoes.
As drought and famine spread
throughout the region encompassing
Somalia and the U.S. State Department
responds with calls for greater American
assistance, including shipments of foodaid, the magnitude of this crisis can be
expected to intensify unless an effective
solution is implemented.
Ready Reserve
Force ship Cape
Trinity delivers
patrol boats for
Iraqi Navy
The Ready Reserve Force ship Cape
Trinity departs Houston in June with
two patrol boats for the Iraqi Navy.
The ship is operated by Crowley
Liner Services and manned in all
licensed positions by AMO.
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the
Cape Trinity in June, here in Houston, Texas, included First
Assistant Engineer Red Dunahoo, Third Mate Matt Ciofani
and Second Mate Brian Enos.
AMO member Third
Assistant Engineer Gary
Stetson
AMO members working aboard the Cape Trinity in June, here
in Houston, Texas, included Second Mate Loye Antley Jr. and
Radio-Electronics Officer John Jinkins. With them is AMO
National Assistant Vice President Dave Weathers.
In memory of Michael Sampson: 1964-2011
Michael Sampson, a member of American
Maritime Officers for 22 years, has passed away. He was
47 years old.
A legendary icon of the maritime prepositioning
ship, USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams, Mike served for
22 years on ‘Dewayne’, with his last nine years as chief
engineer.
Mike was a larger than life character with a quick
wit, tremendous sense of humor, great people skills — in
addition to being a good engineer.
Mike was a 1988 graduate of Massachusetts
Maritime Academy. He is survived by his daughter,
Sierra, and his young son, Ryan Michael. He joins his
wife, Dawn, who passed away in 2004. Mike is now
alongside her in the Riverview Cemetery in Essex, Ct.
The world is truly a lesser place without him. Rest
in peace, Brother Mike!
—Joe Gelhaus
T&I Proposal
Continued from Page 3
Mike Sampson (left) and Jon Behm, chief engineers of the MPF
ships USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams and USNS 1ST LT Jack
Lummus, respectively, meet and greet ashore on Saipan in 2010.
foundation to help us to compete
globally. These reforms are critical
as we work to grow our economy
and create jobs.
The proposed legislation
would also encourage U.S.
domestic shipbuilding and creation of American jobs by expanding the allowable use of taxdeferred Capital Construction
Fund accounts.
Additionally, ports that seek
to deepen shipping channels to
accommodate larger vessels would
not be penalized under the proposed new rules.
August 2011
American Maritime Officer • 5
Great Lakes
Congressional debate on ballast water regulations
Debate over ballast water standards
continues in the U.S. House of
Representatives as an unreasonable patchwork of regulatory requirements threatens
Great Lakes shipping. Meanwhile, a federal court has dealt a setback to the drive
to establish a uniform U.S. standard for
ballast water treatment and discharges
under the Vessel General Permit system.
In July, the House debated H.R.
2584, appropriations legislation for the
Department of the Interior, including an
amendment approved by the House
Appropriations Committee that would
prevent Great Lakes states from implementing different, and in many cases
extreme, ballast water standards. At press
time, the legislation remained on the
House calendar as unfinished business.
House debate over ballast water
standards centered on an amendment submitted by Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH)
that would strip Great Lakes states of
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
funding if they adopt ballast water
requirements that are more stringent than
U.S. federal or International Maritime
Organization (IMO) standards. The U.S. is
expected to enact a uniform federal standard sometime this year.
Debating his amendment with colleagues on the House floor, Rep.
LaTourette reiterated his deep concern
about invasive species on the Great Lakes,
but condemned action by the New York
Department
of
Environmental
Conservation to enact ballast water standards “that are 100 times more stringent
than the international standard and would
have gone to 1,000 times more stringent”
the year after they are enacted.
“I take a backseat to no one in this
Congress on the issue of invasive species
in the Great Lakes,” Rep. LaTourette said.
“But this particular provision by [New
York] would cripple and perhaps eliminate
commerce on the Great Lakes.”
Following a charged discussion of
the issue, Rep. LaTourette and his colleagues agreed to seek a workable solution
before the bill goes to conference.
Separately, a U.S. federal court has
rejected a challenge to the EPA’s Vessel
General Permit (VGP) system for ballast
water regulation.
The Lake Carriers’ Association,
American Waterways Operators and other
AMO aboard the
John G. Munson
The S/S John G. Munson loading
coal in Toledo, Ohio, at the CSX
coal loading facility. The Munson is
operated by Key Lakes. AMO represents the licensed officers and
stewards on the ship.
AMO members working aboard
the John G. Munson in August as
it loaded coal in Toledo, Ohio,
included Chief Engineer Andrew
McGinn and First Assistant
Engineer Albert VanNorwick. With
them here is AMO Senior
National Assistant Vice President
Brian Krus.
industry groups challenged the EPA’s regulations, which permit states to enact up to
100 of their own rules. These regulations
have created and will perpetuate a confusing and contradictory environment for
ship operators, while a uniform federal
standard would ease both compliance and
enforcement.
The court’s ruling is extremely
problematic for U.S.-flag shipping
because “first: it refuses to stop states and
tribal areas from adding ballast water
restrictions to the VGP, and second: it recommends changing the Clean Water Act,
which most consider as opening Pandora’s
Box,” said American Maritime Officers
National Vice President for Government
Relations Michael Murphy.
“Ultimately, we need to adopt uniform ballast water regulations similar to
those promoted by the IMO, or the current
patchwork of restrictive ballast water rules
will eventually strangle commerce and
possibly result in many mariners being
prosecuted for infractions,” Murphy said.
Ballast water standards have also
been debated in the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee in the House of
Representatives. Many members of
Congress have argued a federal standard
would be the most appropriate measure.
“The current overlapping and contradictory patchwork of ballast water regulations hampers the flow of commerce,
threatens international trade, unduly burdens vessel operations in U.S. waters,
undermines job creation and hurts our
economy,” said Rep. Frank LoBiondo (RNJ) in a prepared statement for a recent
hearing held by the House Subcommittees
on Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation and on Water Resources
and Environment on ballast water standards under the VGP system.
“We have to overcome this mindset
that mandating a dozen different,
unachievable standards, each more stringent than the next, somehow protects our
environment. It does not,” Rep.
LoBiondo said.
June cargo float ahead of last month, behind last year
U.S.-flagged Great Lakes vessels carried 10 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in
June, an increase of 5.2 percent compared
with May, but a decrease of 3.3 percent
compared with 2010 figures.
June totals were 3.9 percent below
the month’s five-year average.
The iron ore float increased 12.2 percent compared with a year ago and 14.1 percent compared with the five-year average.
However, coal for power generation and
steel production fell by 25.3 percent compared with 2010 totals and was down 25.8
percent compared with the five-year average. Limestone carriage fell by 7.2 percent
compared with last year.
The year-to-date float on the Great
Lakes was up 2.4 percent compared with
the same timeframe in 2010. Iron ore cargoes were up for the year by 7.6 percent,
while coal and limestone were both down.
Separately, on Aug. 2, the American
Maritime Partnership organization reported
that two more U.S.-flagged freighters had
been activated and fleet utilization had
reached more than 93 percent.
U.S.-Flag Carriage Year-to-Date 2006-2011 (June — net tons)
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Average
2006-2011
Iron Ore
19,850,334
18,985,229
20,324,072
7,146,010
17,014,105
18,315,088
16,663,950
AMO Agreement
Coal
9,355,485
9,112,297
8,583,899
7,110,091
7,277,612
7,071,531
8,287,877
Continued from Page 1
Limestone
10,566,444
9,133,056
8,434,648
5,016,257
6,922,718
6,583,584
8,014,625
are operating and service has been
restored to ASC customers, AMO will
schedule meetings with the company and
resume our work on a successor agreement.
“AMO and ASC are now confident
and committed to reaching an agreement
prior to the beginning of the 2012 operating season — an agreement that ensures
the job and benefit security of AMO members and addresses the company’s competitive needs,” Bethel said.
Cement
1,593,280
1,490,521
1,202,350
956,697
976,467
1,012,040
1,243,863
Salt
492,045
394,600
443,238
449,566
544,080
519,917
464,706
Sand
142,916
126,759
66,638
81,131
68,324
62,571
97,154
Grain
104,723
152,818
60,235
115,095
84,083
99,490
103,391
Total
42,105,227
39,395,280
39,115,080
20,874,847
32,887,389
33,664,221
34,875,565
Commodity
Source: Lake Carriers’ Association
August 2011
6 • American Maritime Officer
LMSR USNS Pomeroy earns Navy Afloat Safety Award
The USNS Pomeroy, operated by
Ocean Ships Inc. for Military Sealift
Command and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers, was
one of several vessels honored with ship
safety awards at a ceremony hosted July 7 by
the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C.
The large medium-speed roll-on/rolloff vessel USNS Pomeroy earned the Chief
of Naval Operations Afloat Safety Award,
which recognizes outstanding contributions
to fleet readiness, increased morale, efficiency and economical use of resources through
safety. The Emory S. Land and USNS Flint
also received safety awards.
“The way crew members from Flint
Letter from Department of
Labor dismissing protest
of 2010 AMO election
The following letter, dated July 22,
2011, was sent to John N. Hearn — and by
copy to American Maritime Officers
National President Thomas Bethel — by
Chief Patricia Fox, Division of
Enforcement,
Office
of
LaborManagement Standards, U.S. Department
of Labor.
Dear Mr. Hearn:
Your complaint to the Department
of Labor protesting the December 6, 2010
election of officers in American Maritime
Officers in Dania Beach, Florida has been
investigated pursuant to Sections 402 and
601 of the Labor-Management Reporting
and Disclosure Act of 1959.
Following a review of the investigative findings by this office and the Office
of the Solicitor, Division for Civil Rights
and Labor-Management, a decision has
been made that those findings do not provide a basis for action by the Department
to set aside the protested election.
A statement of reasons setting forth
the basis for this decision will be mailed to
you at a future date
and Pomeroy took the initiative toward safety and developed their own programs aboard
these ships truly made them stand out,” said
Military Sealift Command Safety Officer
Kevin Kohlmann. “These awards promote
safety and motivate other crews on other
MSC ships to earn the same recognition.”
The USNS Pomeroy was recognized,
in part, because of its implementation of
“Safety Sunday,” a weekly program to
enhance training and perform equipment
checks.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus presented the awards. Rear Adm. Mark Buzby,
commander of Military Sealift Command,
also participated in the ceremony.
NMC applies new format for
Coast Guard Deck/Engine
Examination Guide
The U.S. Coast Guard Deck &
Engine Examination Guide has been
rewritten and is available in a new format on the National Maritime Center
Web site, the Coast Guard announced.
Effective July 20, 2011, the document referred to as Guide for
Mariners — Merchant Marine
Examinations replaced the previous
Deck & Engine Examination Guide.
The new guide contains examination
information in the following format:
•Chapter One: Introduction
•Chapter Two: General
Information
•Chapter Three: Engine Guidance
•Chapter Four: Deck Guidance
•Chapter Five: CFR Quick Guide
More information is available by
contacting the NMC via e-mail to
[email protected] or by phone at
(888) 427-5662, or via the links below:
•uscg.mil/nmc
•uscg.mil/nmc/engine_exams.asp
•uscg.mil/nmc/deck_exams.asp
AMO-contracted vessels, operating companies recognized
for remarkable safety records
The Chamber of Shipping of America
(CSA) in June awarded Jones F. Devlin
Awards for 2010 to 16 companies that own
and/or operate vessels manned under contract by members of American Maritime
Officers. Devlin awards are presented to
companies with vessels that have operated
for at least two years without a lost-time
injury. The CSA also recognized vessels that
performed feats to save a life, a ship or other
property in 2010 with the Ship Safety
Achievement Awards.
The awards were presented June 2,
2011, during the CSA Safety Awards
Luncheon in New Orleans, La. More than
180 people representing more than 70 companies and organizations, including
American Maritime Officers, attended the
annual industry-sponsored event, now in its
fifty-third year.
The AMO-contracted vessel S/S Cape
May, operated by Ocean Duchess Inc. in the
Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve
Force, received a Ship Safety Achievement
Letter of Commendation.
“This year, we gave awards to 1,288
vessels that operated 7,284 years without a
lost-time incident,” said CSA President
Joseph Cox. “This extraordinary record is
directly attributable to the professionalism of
our seafarers and the dedication of shorebased company personnel to safe operation.”
Among the companies that own and/or
operate vessels manned by AMO receiving
2010 Devlin Awards for the performance of
AMO-contracted vessels were Crescent
Towing, Crowley Petroleum Services,
Crowley Technical Services, General
Dynamics - AMSEA, Interocean American
Shipping Corporation, Keystone Shipping
Co. (Key Lakes), Maersk Line Limited,
Ocean Duchess Inc., Ocean Shipholdings
Inc., OSG Ship Management Inc., Seabulk
Tankers Inc., Seabulk Towing Inc., Sea Star
Line LLC, Teekay Corporation, Totem
Ocean Trailer Express and USS Vessel
Management LLC. The U.S. Maritime
Administration was also presented with a
2010 Devlin Award.
The Chamber of Shipping of America
represents 33 U.S.-based companies that
own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers,
containerships and other merchant vessels
engaged in both the domestic and international trades, as well as entities that maintain
a commercial interest in the operation of
such vessels.
AMO members accepting Devlin Awards on behalf of vessels in the Seabulk Towing
fleet included (standing: left) Capt. Mark Featherston for the tug Hawk and (standing: right) Capt. Scott Allen for the ship docking module New River. Featherston also
accepted the award for the SDM Suwannee River, aboard which he is captain.
Above: AMO members accepting
Devlin Awards on behalf of their vessels included (seated) John Coleman,
master of the Maersk Missouri; Tom
Liebsch, master of the Seabulk Trader;
Kent Howell, master of the Observation
Island; Robert Nichol, chief engineer of
the Edgar Speer; John David Barnett,
master of the USNS Effective; (standing) Scott Pendleton, master of the
Maersk Virginia; Andy Brown, chief
engineer of the Seabulk Arctic; Stewart
Potter, master of the Seabulk
Challenge; George Hutchins, chief
engineer of the Seabulk Trader; Steve
Dinnes, chief engineer of the Seabulk
Challenge; Kurt Yost, master of the
Seabulk Arctic; and American Maritime
Officers National Assistant Vice
President David Weathers.
August 2011
In addition to a complete curriculum
of U.S. Coast Guard certified maritime training and upgrading programs, the STAR
Center campus in Dania Beach, Fla., is
home to a daily routine of health and fitness
for members of American Maritime Officers
and their families.
Health and fitness have become staples of standard operating procedure at the
AMO Plans complex and comprise an
accessible lifestyle choice for AMO members training and upgrading at the AMO
Safety and Education Plan’s Simulation,
Training, Assessment & Research Center.
Individually tailored fitness programs are
also available to AMO members and families, both while officers attend courses at
STAR Center and on an as-needed basis.
Depending on the particular needs of
the individual, several options — along with
the corresponding professional personnel
and facilities — are available to assist AMO
members. The gym on campus features a
full range cardiovascular, free weights and
Body-Solid and Nautilus training equipment, in addition to a complete exercise studio that provides managed functional, balance development and core-strengthening
workouts, in addition to one-on-one private
fitness planning and coaching. The STAR
Center galley has enhanced its entire menu
to focus on healthy, nutritious and balanced
meal choices for AMO members and families. The AMO Plans Medical Clinic and its
staff on campus work individually and privately with AMO members to address individual health concerns and needs relating to
employment, in addition to providing routine physicals and other medical services
and counseling.
Under the general moniker of the “Fit
for Duty Program,” the professionals
staffing these facilities on the AMO Plans
campus work directly with AMO members
and with one another to ensure the health
and fitness needs of AMO members are met,
addressed, and if needed, advanced to resolution.
This program and the resources available through it to AMO members, have
taken on particular importance with the
implementation of the new Coast Guard
Medical NVIC, which sets rigorous health
and medical standards for merchant marine
officers.
“This program is a tremendous asset
for our members — not only in developing
and maintaining healthy lifestyles, but for
addressing the particular needs of members
who may have issues under the Medical
NVIC,” said AMO National Vice President
for Government Relations Michael Murphy,
who works one-on-one with AMO members
going through the documentation and
renewal processes. “The Coast Guard standards are very stringent and the agency itself
can be unyielding at times. Not only are we
providing and promoting a good thing for
our membership, we have the tools to help
officers who may need it.”
On the menu
Shannon Agor, food and beverage
manager and executive chef for AMO Plans,
steered the galley into the Fit for Duty
Program beginning in February 2009, in
conjunction with the work of the AMO
Plans Health and Wellness Team.
She noted body-mass index (BMI)
ratios are tied directly to the foods a person
consumes, and poor meal choices and excessive portions will increase an individual’s
BMI and lead to a decline in optimum
health.
Remaining within a margin considered to be healthy on the BMI scale is a key
element of meeting U.S. Coast Guard medical requirements. To that end, the galley
provides a healthy alternative entrée at every
meal, and works to “accommodate all mem-
American Maritime Officer • 7
Fit for duty with AMO
AMO members Ryan Merritt (left) and Erick Amiscosa (right), as
well as U.S. Coast Guard officer Randal Ogrydziak (second from
right) and his son Noah, work out at stations in the circuit training
course provided daily by Health and Wellness Coach Heidi Marer
at the fitness center on the STAR Center campus. The circuit training course is available to AMO members and families, AMO and
Plans employees, and others attending courses or staying at the
AMO Plans complex in Dania Beach, Fla.
Shannon Agor,
food and beverage
manager and executive chef for AMO
Plans, pauses in
her discussion of
the Fit for Duty
Program to prepare
and serve a meal
during dinner at the
STAR Center galley. The galley provides a healthy
alternative entrée
on every menu at
every meal, as well
as healthy snacks
24 hours per day.
Licensed Practical Nurse Mary Holzinger, Medical Assistant Aimee
Espinosa and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Maggie
Macfarlane work with AMO members at the AMO Plans Medical Clinic
on campus. The clinic serves an important role in the Fit for Duty
Program, identifying and assisting in treatment of any prohibitive medical conditions.
bers’ food desires” by providing fresh
fruits, vegetables, salads, lean cuts of
meat and lean protein sources, as well as
healthy snacks 24 hours per day.
“The galley chefs prepare pre-portioned entrée proteins, and we try not to
overload our members on the carb portions,” Agor said. “We have also
decreased our entrée plate size to 9.75
inches.
“Our servers know to offer our
guests as much food as they would like,
but we serve modest portions, allowing
the guests to come back for more if they
desire,” she said. “We want our members
to enjoy themselves while they are here
and stay healthy at the same time.”
The ingredients make the meals at
the galley, and selection is key to providing healthy choices.
“It is the galley’s responsibility, I
believe, to offer ‘smart choices’,” Agor
See Fit For Duty ◆ Page 11
8 • American Maritime Officer
August 2011
American Maritime Officers Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research Center
2 West Dixie Highway • Dania Beach, FL 33004 • (954) 920-3222
General Courses
ABS NS5 Fleet Mgmt Software
3 days
12 October
19 December
20 March
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
19 September
3 October
7 November
5 December
16 January
5 days
26 September
12 December
9 January
6 February
5 March
Basic Safety Training - Refresher
3 days
28 September
14 December
11 January
8 February
7 March
Crowd Management
1 day
Please call
Crisis Mgmt & Human Behavior
1 day
Please call
ECDIS
5 days
22 August
12, 19 Sept.
24, 31 October
Effective Supervision
2 days
6 February
Fast Rescue Boat
4 days
22 August
19 September
11, 31 October
GMDSS
10 days
10 October
28 November
23 January
LNG Tankerman PIC
8 days
30 November
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
12 December
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
12 Sept - NEW
24 October
19 December
17 January
Safety Officer Course
2 days
26 September
9 November
9 January
13 February
Tankerman PIC DL - Classroom
5 days
14 November
13 February
Tankerman PIC DL - Simulator
10 days
22 August
24 October
Train the Trainer
5 days
15 August
17 October
12 December
30 January
27 February
Train the Trainer - Simulator Inst.
5 days
Please call
Vessel/Company Security Officer
2 days
7 Sept - NEW
7 November
19 December
11 January
8 February
VSO - Anti-Piracy Module
1 day
9 Sept - NEW
9 November
21 December
13 January
10 February
5 days
Please call
5 days
15 August
26 September
12 December
27 February
12, 26 March
10 October
5 December
9 January
23 January
12 March PM
13 February
12 March
7, 28 November 5 December
9, 23 January
13, 27 February
14 November
30 January
21 February
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 req. if Combined Basic & Adv. Fire Fighting
completed within 12 months
5 December
12 March
Deck Courses
Advanced Bridge Resource Management
Advanced Shiphandling for Masters - (No equivalency) Must have sailed as
Chief Mate Unlimited
Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates - 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rd Mates
10 days
19 September
Adv. / Emerg. Shiphandling - First Class Pilots, Great Lakes
5 days
30 January
Bridge Resource Management Seminar
3 days
15 November
Integrated Bridge System (IBS) / Prodded Propulsion Trg
5 days
14 November
Locking & Docking for First Class Pilots - Great Lakes
5 days
Please call
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
15 August PM
29 November
Tug Training - ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive)
5 days
24 October
14 November
Visual Communications (Flashing Light) - Test only!
1 day
Scheduled as required
Engineering Courses
Advanced Slow Speed Diesel
10 days
28 November
19 March
Basic Electricity
10 days
10 October
20 February
Diesel Crossover
4 weeks
3 October
13 February
Engine Room Resource Management
5 days
12 December
5 March
Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator)
3 days
6 September
7 November
19 December
17 January
19 March
Gas Turbine Endorsement
10 days
15 August
31 October
5 December
9 January
12 March
High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom)
3 days
15 August
31 October
12 March
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
5 days
24 October
5 March
Refrigeration (Operational Level)
5 days
23 January
Refrigeration (Management Level)
5 days
30 January
4 weeks
9 January
2 weeks
26 September
Steam Crossover
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.
28 November
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 original license.
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
30 January
Galley Courses & Original License Courses
19 September 5 Dec, 13 Feb RFPNW Assessments
Basic Safety Training
5 days
26 September 12 Dec, 9 Jan
Marlin Spike
EFA/MCP
4 days
4 October
40-hour Able Seaman
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
12 September 19 Dec, 16 Ja
Basic Electricity (for Original Engineers only)
10 days 10 October
Original 3A/E Preparation and Exams
Self-Study CDs and Online Programs
Afloat Environmental Protection Coordinator
Anti-Terrorism Level 1
A/R
24 October
29 Nov, 24
Original License (Great Lakes) Courses - Deck & Engine
1 day
Please call
1 day
Please call
5 days
Please call
A/R
Please Call
20 February
Food Safety, Sanitation & Nutrition (ServSafe)
5 days
30 January
5 March
Culinary Fundamentals
10 days
6 February
- Available for use when attending other approved classroom courses
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
August 2011
American Maritime Officer • 9
MSC Training Program
Basic CBR Defense
1 day
2 September
28 October
18 November
2 December
27 January
Damage Control
1 day
1 September
27 October
17 November
1 December
26 January
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
1 day
17 October
21 February
Helicopter Fire Fighting
1 day
26 September
12 December
10 January
7 February
Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD)
1/2 day
2 September
28 October
18 November
2 December
Marine Sanitation Devices
1/2 day
9 September
10 November
20 January
22 March
Medical PIC Refresher - Note: Not MSC approved
3 days
29 August
12 October
8 November
22 February
MSC Readiness Refresher - Must have completed full CBRD & DC once in career.
5 days
26 September
12 December
9 January
6 February
MSC Watchstander - BASIC - Once in career, SST grads grandfathered
2 days
16 February
MSC Watchstander - ADVANCED - Required for all SRF members
1 day
20 February
MSC Ship Reaction Force - Required every three years for SRF members
3 days
21 February
SAMM - Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management
3 days
Please call
and applicants eligible for employment through AMO (within 1 year) or MSC on MARAD
contracted vessels
3 days
15, 29 August
12, 26 Sept.
11, 24 October
14, 28 Nov.
Water Sanitation Afloat
1/2 day
9 September
10 November
20 January
22 March
Small Arms - Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training - Open to members
27 January
2, 27 March
12 December
9, 23 January
13, 27 February 12, 26 March
Medical Courses
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
1 day
17 October
21 February
Elementary First Aid - Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months
1 day
13 September
4, 18 October
14, 29 Nov.
24 January
28 February
Medical Care Provider - Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12 months. Please
fax EFA certificate when registering
3 days
14 September
5, 19 October
15, 30 Nov.
25 January
29 February
Medical PIC - Please fax MCP certificate when registering
5 days
19 September
24 October
5 December
30 January
5 March
Urinalysis Collector Training
1 day
15 August
26 September
12 December
18 January
12 March
Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) - Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only!
1 day
16 August
27 September
13 December
19 January
13 March
Saliva Screening Test - QEDs only!
1/2 day
17 August
28 September
14 December
20 January
14 March
Medical PIC Refresher - Note: Not MSC approved
3 days
29 August
12 October
8 November
22 February
1 day
6, 19 Sept.
3 October
14 November
12 December
19, 20 January
21, 27 February 19 March
1 day
15 September
17 November
15 December
26 January
23 February
22 March
ARPA
4 days
Please call
20 Sept - CANX
Radar Recertification & ARPA
5 days
19 September
Western Rivers Recertification
1 day
Please call
Original Radar Observer Unlimited
5 days
Please call
Radar Courses
Radar Recertification
Radar Recertification at Toledo Maritime Academy - Non-Resident Training,
apply to Student Services, Dania Beach
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.
All 9 courses booked simultaneously (excluding Celestial Navigation) - 25% discount applied to individual rate. 5 courses booked simultaneously - 10% discount (group rate) will apply. Discount will apply on 8th and/or 9th course
as appropriate, after paying for and completing the first 5 courses. All 9 courses MUST be booked at STAR Center.
Celestial Navigation
5 days
17 October
5 December
6 February
Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology
5 days
15 August
24 October
28 November
20 February
Cargo Operations
9 days
22 August
3 October
12 December
9 January
27 February
Marine Propulsion Plants
5 days
12 September
31 October
12 December
23 January
12 March
Upgrade: Stability
5 days
19 September
7 November
12 December
13 February
19 March
Watchkeeping 1: BRM
3 days
5 October PM
30 November
11 January
29 February
5 days
10 October
5 December
16 January
5 March
Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level
10 days
22 August
17 October
13 February
19 March PM
Shipboard Management
5 days
12 September
31 October
23 January
12 March
Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator)
5 days
19 September
7 November
30 January
19 March
5 days
15 August
26 September
14 November
6 February
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
26 March
Available to those students who completed their courses at STAR Center. Please call to schedule.
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
23 January
Ship Construction & Stability
5 days
20 February
Emergency Procedures & SAR
4 days
13 February
Meteorology
5 days
27 February
Cargo Handling & Storage
5 days
6 February
Magnetic & Gyro Compass
3 days
5 March
Electronic Navigation
5 days
12 March
Terrestrial Navigation
10 days
19 March
Watchkeeping
10 days
Please call
Basic Shiphandling at the Operational Level
5 days
Please call
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
26 September
12 December
9 January
26 March
Elementary First Aid
1 day
29 September
15 December
12 January
29 March
Drug Collector Training
1 day
30 September
16 December
13 January
30 March
Breath Alcohol Test Collector
1 day
1 October
17 December
14 January
31 March
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
3 October
5 December
16 January
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.
August 2011
10 • American Maritime Officer
HEADQUARTERS
DANIA BEACH, FL 33004
601 S. Federal Highway
(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513
Thomas J. Bethel, National President
([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])
FAX: (954) 920-3257
Dispatch: (800) 345-3410
FAX: (954) 926-5126
Brendan Keller, Dispatcher ([email protected])
Robert Anderson, Dispatcher ([email protected])
Member Services: Extension 1050 ([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: (510) 444-5165
NORWOOD, NJ 07648
463 Livingston Street, Suite 102
PMB 60
Donald R. Nilsson, National Assistant Vice President
([email protected])
(800) 362-0513 ext. 3004
Mobile: (201) 913-2209
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]) / Mobile: (202) 251-0349
J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations
([email protected]) / Mobile: (202) 560-6889
Paul Doell, Legislative Director ([email protected])
Phree Baker, Assistant Legislative Director ([email protected])
FAX: (202) 479-1188
PORTS
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 Representative ([email protected])
Bruce DeWerth, Dispa tcher ([email protected])
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
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
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
Joel Glanstein, General Counsel
437 Madison Ave.
35th Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 370-5100
FAX: (212) 697-6299
Michael Reny
AMO Coast Guard Legal
Aid Program
(419) 243-1105 / (888) 853-4662
Mobile: (419) 346-1485
[email protected]
AMO members prepare at STAR Center, upgrade to chief mate
AMO member Jason Mavra in June successfully completed all U.S. Coast Guard
exams to upgrade to an unlimited chief mate’s license after preparing through
the STCW upgrade program for chief mates and masters at STAR Center. With
him here is STAR Center Instructor Dave Greenhouse.
AMO member Erick Amiscosa in July successfully completed all U.S. Coast
Guard exams to upgrade to an unlimited chief mate’s license after preparing
through the STCW upgrade program for chief mates and masters at STAR
Center. With him here is Deck Instructor Jeffrey Jones.
August 2011
Fit For Duty
Continued from Page 7
said. “For example, at breakfast we offer
turkey-based meats and egg whites for a
healthy/lower-in-fat alternative. We offer
comfort foods, but we try to add in more
fresh herbs and alternative flavoring agents,
like vegetable and fruit purees, instead of
relying on fuller fat ingredients, such as butters and heavy creams.
“We have the luxury of having multiple food vendors at our disposal, so we are
able to utilize the freshest products in every
season,” she said. “I believe in using natural
products, such as olive oils and herbs,
instead of using margarines and artificial flavoring agents or enhancers like MSG.
“Our critiques come back great 95
percent of the time,” Agor said. “You can’t
please everyone, but it is our job to keep
improving and evolving. We try to come up
with new and different ideas all of the time
to keep the food interesting and different.
We are really good about making healthy
taste good.”
At the gym
A personal trainer since 2004, Health
and Wellness Coach Heidi Marer started
with AMO Plans in January of 2009. She
now works with between 20 to 30 people per
week on average, and separately, has had
more than 2,800 people sign in for circuit
training classes, which are scheduled each
weekday afternoon after the conclusion of
courses at STAR Center.
The classes themselves are not a formal part of the Fit for Duty Program, but are
excellent opportunities for exercise — open
to AMO members and families, AMO and
Plans staff and others on the STAR Center
campus, and providing four sessions of
functional circuit training and one day of
weight circuit training per week.
Marer’s work with individual AMO
members and families participating in the
AMO Plans is performed on a one-on-one,
confidential basis. “It’s not a boot camp; the
work we do here is private,” she said.
The fitness training provided is comprehensive, encompassing nutrition and
lifestyle, as well as exercise, includes interaction with the clinic and galley, and is tailored to the needs of individual AMO members. A typical fitness session lasts two
weeks initially, and can be continued by
phone and e-mail as needed, said Marer,
who is certified in nutrition, as well as a certified personal training specialist (CPTS)
with certifications from the National
Strength Conditioning Association and
Aerobics and Fitness Association of
America.
“Two flags are BMI and the blood
AMO co-hosts
fundraiser for
Rep. Sanchez
AMO in August organized and cohosted a fundraiser for Rep. Loretta
Sanchez (D-CA), who serves on the
House Armed Services Committee
and on the Subcommittee on Border
and Maritime Security. With Rep.
Sanchez here are AMO National Vice
President for Government Relations
Michael Murphy, AMO Assistant
Legislative Director Phree Baker and
AMO Administrative Assistant,
Legislative, Paulette Brown.
American Maritime Officer • 11
sugar level,” she said. “These aren’t the only
considerations but they are important. Other
health conditions and injuries can be factors
and they either need to be treated or
rehabbed in order to be fit for duty.
“One reason the program exists is to
provide people a fitness template and exercise guidelines that can be applied at home
or at work on a ship,” Marer said. “There are
some really small tweaks that can be made
to their routines on a daily basis that, over a
couple of months, will reverse problems.”
The individual fitness sessions
include: planning daily schedules for meals
and exercise; developing a healthy routine
into a challenging lifestyle, such as shipboard work; exercise and workout guidelines; counseling on nutritional needs (but
not prescribing diets), such as label reading,
caloric intake and portion control; and target
heart rates, body-mass indexes and other
considerations related to health and fitness.
The Fit for Duty Program incorporates the daily circuit-training course just to
provide a workout. It also includes shopping
trips to the grocery store to improve nutri-
AMO Plans Health and Wellness Coach Heidi Marer talks with AMO member
Ryan Merritt during the weight-training course provided one day per week with the
daily circuit-training course available to AMO members and families on campus.
tional awareness. Additional focus is given
to functional training — “sort of an exten-
Alex Perry, a graphic and visual database designer for STAR Center’s Modeling
and Research Department, and AMO member Erick Amiscosa work out at exercise stations in the daily circuit-training course offered at the fitness center on
the STAR Center campus. The course provides four days of functional circuit
training per week and one day of weight training.
Dr. Alvaro Ocampo is
the physician on duty
at the AMO Plans
Medical Clinic, where
a variety of medical
services are available,
including Coast Guard
physicals and evaluations. The clinic staff
participates in the Fit
for Duty Program,
assisting AMO members on an individual
basis as needed.
sion of physical therapy techniques that help
train and strengthen your body in movements for everyday activity,” Marer said.
Other general resources available to
AMO members and families include the
weekly wellness meeting on Tuesdays at
noon, pre- and post-pregnancy fitness counseling, and cooking classes focusing on
healthy meals and preparation. “A lot of this
I couldn’t do without Shannon,” Marer said.
In the clinic
AMO members can use the AMO
Plans Medical Clinic on campus for U.S.
Coast Guard physicals, as well as other routine or specific medical needs. Members taking their physicals at the clinic for purposes
of license renewals and upgrades are evaluated in accordance with Coast Guard regulations.
The evaluations sometimes uncover
conditions and underlying lifestyle choices
that may require attention to successfully
complete the Coast Guard documentation
process, as well as to restore or maintain
overall health.
“The Fit for Duty program allows
the clinic practitioners to address these
concerns with real time interventions and
solutions,” said Maggie Macfarlane, an
advanced registered nurse practitioner.
“Partnering with the galley and the fitness
center provides the members with tangible
resources that offer hands-on support and
guidance. The outcome of this partnership
has been to effect long lasting and positive
changes.”
Mariners, due to the unusual and
unique schedule and life pattern required for
shipboard work, can be prone to irregular or
sedentary exercise routines, becoming overweight and engaging in addictive behaviors,
such as smoking and compulsive eating,
Macfarlane noted. These conditions may
lead to primary diagnoses including hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea and nicotine
abuse. Secondary conditions, such as skeletal-muscular limitations and atrophy, fatigue
and depression can co-exist with the primary diagnoses.
“The Fit for Duty Program has been
extremely successful — 99 percent — in
helping those who have participated in
developing new and healthy habits,” she
said. “This has resulted in weight loss, diet
maintenance, improvement in glucose tolerance, lowering of blood pressure and success in curbing addictive behaviors.
“We find the majority of medical conditions stem from or are directly affected by
lifestyle choices,” Macfarlane said. “While
heredity plays its part, the choices that we
make on a day-to-day basis shape the medical/clinical condition. Improvement in
lifestyle often is accompanied by diminishing medical concerns.”
August 2011
12 • American Maritime Officer
AMO in the Seabulk towing fleet in Port Everglades
AMO members working aboard the ship docking module New River in July, here
in Port Everglades, Fla., included (from left to right) AB George Moise, Engineer
Jorge Curtis-Brown, Chief Engineer John Clifford, (back row) Capt. John Kahler,
Capt. Ken Collins and Capt. Brian Stowe.
AMO members working aboard ship docking module St. Johns in July, here in
Port Everglades, Fla., included (left) Capt. Brian Stowe and Engineer Guido
Onia.
Capt. Scott Allen, master aboard the
ship docking module New River
The tractor tug Broward here in Port
Everglades, Fla.
The Seabulk ship docking modules New River and St. Johns and tug Broward
were among the vessels that assisted in docking the USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 during
Fleet Week in April, in Port Everglades, Fla.
AMO members working aboard the
ship docking module New River in July,
included Engineer Joe Ungerland.
AMO member Shop
Welder Pete
Narbone prepares
new Seabulk
Towing signs in Port
Everglades, Fla.
The tug Fort Lauderdale in Port Everglades, Fla.
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 Headquarters in Dania (on Tuesday when Monday
is a contract holiday) and on Wednesday in Toledo. The next meetings will
take place on the following dates:
DANIA BEACH:
TOLEDO:
AMO member AB Jason Frongello moves a welding machine to the dock in
preparation for repairs aboard ship docking module New River
September 6 (Tuesday*), October 3
September 7, October 5
*Union offices will be closed September 5 in observance of Labor Day.