STCW Medical Certificates Legislative Victory for U.S
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Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Volume LXXVII No. 1 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, January 24, 2014 STCW Medical Certificates Legislative victory for U.S. n December 24, the United States Coast Guard published the rules related to the implementation of the STCW 2010 Merchant Marine: Maritime Manila Amendments. The Manila Amendments contain Omany provisions that will affect seagoing mariners and most recently Security Program fully funded mariners engaged in the international trades have been forced to resident Obama signed an Program’s fleet of 60 U.S.-flagged as the West Coast Sailors went to comply with the security endorsement known as Vessel Personnel omnibus appropriations ships, the full funding level au- press, the precise allocation for with Designated Security Duties or VPDSD. Next up is the STCW bill, on January 17, that thorized by law for the program the Ready Reserve Force fleet medical certificate. P covers the balance of fiscal year in fiscal year 2014. SUP-contract- could not be ascertained. This The STCW medical certificate, (also required by the entry into 2014 and includes full funding ed APL Marine Service, Ltd. information will be reported force last August of the Maritime Labor Convention), does not for the Maritime Security Pro- operates nine MSP vessels: APL when it becomes available. enter into full force until the complete implementation of the 2010 gram (MSP), as well as funding Agate, APL China, APL Coral, The omnibus appropriations Manila Amendments on January 1, 2017. However, in its Final Rule for other programs crucial to the APL Cyprine, APL Korea, APL bill provides $38.5 million for implementing the 2010 Amendments, the Coast Guard said that, U.S. maritime industry. Pearl, APL Philippines, APL the Maritime Administration’s “since it will eventually be required under STCW, and since it is The Senate voted to approve Singapore, and APL Thailand. Title XI shipbuilding loan guar- required now under the MLC, the Coast Guard is pressing forward the bill on January 16, follow- The bill provides $1.466 bil- antee program, $35 million of to issue medical certificates as quickly as possible…” mainly to ing passage of the legislation by lion for Food for Peace Title which is designated for new loan avoid detention by port state control on international voyages. This the House of Representatives II, an increase over the $1.435 guarantees. The leadership of means that the medical certificate is a present requirement for sail- on January 15. In addition to billion enacted for fiscal year Congressman Duncan Hunter ors in the international trades despite the technical effective date appropriations, the bill includes 2013. The legislation keeps the (R-California) was instrumental of January 1, 2017. provisions geared to bolster the Food for Peace Title II funding in the inclusion of this appropri- The medical certificate is a required document for sailors, U.S.-flag fleet. The omnibus ap- under the Department of Ag- ation in the omnibus bill. Title XI then, to be carried on board ship with their Merchant Mariner propriations legislation replaces riculture, avoiding both a shift has long depended upon congres- Credentials. It must be signed by the mariner and is designed to the short-term continuing res- of the money to other govern- sional support for funding beyond be folded and inserted into the same plastic pocket within the olution that funded the federal ment agencies and the radical administrative expenses, and the MMC presently occupied by the TWIC (Transportation Workers government through January 15, restructuring sought by the funding included in the fiscal year Identification Credential). But the STCW medical certificate is a and was extended while the new Obama Administration and its 2014 bill will provide a significant separate stand-alone document and expires in two years. Because spending legislation moved congressional allies. However, boost for new projects at U.S. the Coast Guard’s review of existing credential eligibility for the through Congress. the fiscal year 2014 legislation shipyards. Title XI is not a sub- allocates $35 million of the total medical certificate took place during 2013, and the issuance that “This legislation is a victory sidy program, and serves to ease appropriation to agencies and began later, in January of 2014, there may be individual expirations for the U.S. Merchant Marine access to private sector financing that are less than two years depending on when the review took purposes other than commodi- for the commercial construction and it serves as a powerful ties supplied in connection with place. (There is a provision where the mariner may continue to of merchant vessels in the U.S. acknowledgment of the impor- the Food for Peace Act. sail if the medical certificate expires during a voyage provided the tance of the U.S.-flag fleet to The legislation also seeks to Under current cargo pref- period after expiration is less than 90 days.) our nation’s commerce and U.S. ensure the maximum utilization erence requirements, 50% of Beginning on January 2, 2014, the Coast Guard started issuing defense sealift capabilities,” said of Jones Act qualified vessels in U.S. food-aid shipments must medical certificates to current holders of STCW endorsements. SUP President Gunnar Lunde- the transportation of oil drawn be carried by U.S.-flagged This means that there is no new physical, no new fee, and no new berg. “We have been facing ex- from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum vessels. In that regard, the application required. Mariners with STCW endorsements will tremely uncertain circumstances Reserve. Senator Mary Landrieu omnibus appropriations bill, simply receive their certificates in the mail (provided they have on multiple fronts. While more (D-Louisiana) spearheaded the within 90 days of its enact- a good mailing address on file with the Coast Guard). Beginning work remains to be done, this bill effort to ensure this issue was ad- ment, requires the Maritime on January 24, 2014, mariners will be issued medical certificates is a big step forward for the U.S. dressed in the omnibus bill. Spe- Administration to submit a as part of their regular MMC maritime industry.” cifically, the legislation prohibits report detailing the current renewal package. Entry-level the expenditure of any funds to The maritime funding levels and future impacts on the mariners are not required to approve a waiver of the Jones Act for this fiscal year provided in U.S. Merchant Marine of the hold medical certificates. for the transportation of crude oil the bill were made possible by the reduction in the U.S.-flag share Eventually the Coast Guard distributed from the SPR until strong support of congressional of U.S. food-aid shipments will develop a Designated Med- “the secretary of homeland se- appropriations leaders Senator from 75% to 50% made by ical Examiner Program that will curity, after consultation with the Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) surface transportation legis- more formally implement the secretaries of the Departments of and Congressman Hal Rogers lation (MAP-21) enacted in standards within the maritime Energy and Transportation and (R-Kentucky), and that of many 2012, as well as the impact of medical community. If you representatives from the United senators and representatives on the winding down of the wars are a current holder of a valid States flag maritime industry, both side of the aisle. Chairman in Iraq and Afghanistan. STCW endorsement and you do of the House Transportation Ap- takes adequate measures to en- Additionally, the bill requires not receive your medical certif- propriations Subcommittee Tom sure the use of United States flag the Secretary of Transportation icate by March 31, 2014 contact Latham (R-Iowa) held fast to his vessels.” The bill also requires and the Maritime Administrator, the NMC at 1-888-I-ASKN- long standing support of the MSP that notification of requests for working in collaboration with the MC. There’s more to come but during deliberations on this leg- Jones Act waivers be provided that’s enough for now. Joseph Department of Defense, to “de- to the Committees on Appropri- Periodicals’ postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) postage paid at San Francisco, CA Periodicals’ islation. Latham has announced velop a national sealift strategy Conrad famously rejected any- that he will retire at the end of ations and on Commerce, Science that ensures the long-term viabil- thing friendly about the sea, his term, and the U.S. maritime and Transportation in the Senate, ity of the U.S. merchant marine.” describing it at best to be “the industry will miss his support. and to the Committees on Appro- The legislation includes an accomplice of human restless- The legislation provides $186 priations and on Transportation appropriation for the National ness.” The same may be said of million for the Maritime Security and Infrastructure in the House maritime regulation. Defense Sealift Fund; however, of Representatives. ESU NEWS: PAGE 7 CHEVRON & PATRIOT WAGE RATES: pAGE 9 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, January 24, 2014 SUP Honor Roll Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: Organization/ Political Fund Wilson Abanto. 40.00 General Fund Jamie Acosta. .50.00 Abe Acosta. 20.00 Abe Acosta. .20.00 Corey Burton. 200.00 Mike Arceo . 50.00 Scott Carson . 50.00 Emo Aulelava. .20.00 Jonathan Goodwin. 25.00 Rogelio Berioso. .20.00 Marshall Griggs. 50.00 Archie Bickford. .50.00 Geoffrey Knight. 25.00 Quentin Brown. .20.00 Nicholas Marinovich. 100.00 Cory Burton . 200.00 Steve Messenger . 100.00 James Buster. .10.00 Vince O’Halloren . 100.00 Milton Cabellero. 10.00 OS Robert Leeper and Bosun Liam Casement on the Matsonia activated in Oakland on Scott Carson .