Eight Watson-Class Lmsrs to Go to Patriot, MSC Says
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Vol. 49, No. 5 Sept. - Oct. 2013 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Eight Watson-Class LMSRs To Go To Patriot, MSC Says Gridlock in Congress May Cost Maritime Security Fleet 20 Ships MM&P Launches Media Campaign to Defend MSP Maersk Utah Helps Rescue 83 Off Sicilian Coast Table of Contents The Master, Mate & Pilot (ISSN 0025-5033) Vol. 49, No. 5 September - October 2013 is the official voice of the International Letter From the President 1 Organization MM&P in all-out effort to defend the Maritime Security Program (MSP) of Masters, from threatened cuts caused by sequestration and Congressional Mates & Pilots (International Marine Division gridlock. of the ILA), AFL-CIO. © 2013 IOMMP. Published bimonthly at News Briefs 2 MM&P Headquarters, 700 Maritime Blvd, Suite B, Eight Watson-class LMSRs to go to Patriot, MSC says; 20 MSP ships Linthicum Heights, MD may lose funding because of U.S. budget cuts; MM&P continues media 21090-1953. outreach in defense of MSP: MM&P officials interviewed in USA TODAY, Phone: (410) 850-8700 E-mail: [email protected] the LA Times, the Baltimore Sun and NPR Marketplace; Maersk Utah Internet: www.bridgedeck.org helps rescue 83 off coast of Sicily; Costa Concordia doors “not the Periodicals postage paid cause of grounding,” MM&P official tells CNN. at Elkridge, MD, and additional offices. Regulatory Update 17 POSTMASTER Please send changes to: AMO seeks to drive down wages and benefits for its members. The Master, Mate & Pilot 700 Maritime Blvd, Suite B Beck Notice 19 Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953 Washington Observer 20 Don Marcus Chairman, Editorial Board America’s security and American troops at risk without a strong U.S.-flag Lisa Rosenthal merchant marine. Communications Director INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS News From MITAGS 23 Don Marcus, President Maersk Lines masters and chief mates prepare to command the CV6500 Steven Werse, Secretary-Treasurer class of containerships transferred into the Maersk U.S.-flag fleet. VICE PRESIDENTS David H. Boatner, Offshore Pacific MM&P Plans 24 Wayne Farthing, Offshore Gulf Don Josberger, Offshore Atlantic C. Michael Murray, United Inland MM&P Pensioners 26 George A. Quick, Pilots Randall H. Rockwood, FEMG MM&P Offshore Scholarship Winners 27 MM&P Directory 28 Cross’d the Final Bar 32 Thank you for contributing to the PCF! 34 Printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks and 100% wind power. Vol. 49, No. 5 Sept. - Oct. 2013 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO About the Cover Connect with Us! USNS Charlton, one of the MM&P is on Facebook, Facebook.com/IOMMP Official Voice of the International eight Watson-class LMSRs that Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Twitter and YouTube. Like Military Sealift Command says @MMP_Union have been awarded to Patriot us. Follow us. Re-post and re-tweet. Every time you do, MastersMatesPilots Contract Services. you help MM&P build an Eight Watson-Class LMSRs To Go To Patriot, MSC Says — Photo Military Sealift Command essential online community of members and allies. Connect with Gridlock in Congress May Cost Maritime Security Fleet 20 Ships MM&P Launches Media Campaign to Defend MSP us today. And if you have news or photos you want to share with Maersk Utah Helps Rescue 83 Off Sicilian Coast everyone, send us an e-mail at: [email protected]. FROM THE PRES IDENT The U.S. Merchant Marine and Captain Phillips Union Brothers and Sisters, As we go to press, the Maritime Security Maritime Security Program fleet may be Program and, with it, the U.S. Merchant eliminated. Marine face what could be the point of no That this should be taking place during return. At a time when Hollywood is cel- one of those rare moments in which the ebrating the courage of MM&P’s Captain existence of the merchant marine is on Richard Phillips and the rest of the crew the radar of our national consciousness is of the MV Maersk Alabama, events on highly ironic. That irony is little comfort Capitol Hill may cripple our industry. to our many members whose jobs are at The viability of the U.S. Merchant risk. The courage of Captain Phillips and Marine, which has served America so his crew, who follow in the long and noble well “in peace and war,” is being threat- tradition of American merchant mariners ened by the potential effects of seques- rising to the call of duty under all condi- tration, the reduction of the “Food for tions at sea, deserves recognition. That Peace” cargo preference program and an recognition should be more than “fifteen incredible ignorance on the part of our minutes of fame” in a Hollywood feature are pre-positioned around the world, could government about the value of the U.S. film. While any positive recognition of not have come at a more opportune time for Merchant Marine. Absent some assis- American merchant mariners is to be MM&P. Members interested in employment tance in Congress, the U.S. Maritime celebrated, the most appropriate recogni- are urged to contact their local representative Administration has told industry leaders tion would be the ongoing commitment and MITAGS at the first opportunity. (See that twenty of the sixty U.S.-flag ves- from our government to keep our industry page 4 of this issue for more information.) sels currently in the Maritime Security intact so that it can continue to support The members of Masters, Mates & Pilots Program (including the MV Maersk our national economy and defense. should be proud of the courage and dedica- Alabama) may be eliminated from the MM&P members should contact their tion to duty that sustained Captain Phillips program. This would devastate the pool representatives in Congress urging them throughout his ordeal off the Somali coast. of trained merchant mariners available for to support the American Merchant Marine We should take pride in the fact that Captain sea-going service and greatly weaken the and to join the Congressional Maritime Phillips, as well as our other members industrial capacity of the merchant marine. Caucus. You will find links to contact your aboard the MV Maersk Alabama and every Masters, Mates & Pilots has been representatives, as well as suggestions for a other member of the crew, came through engaged in an all-out effort to bring this letter, on www.bridgedeck.org. when they were put to the ultimate test. Like critical situation to the attention of our While the future of the Maritime American merchant mariners generally, who lawmakers as well as the general public. Security Program and many of our from colonial days have frequently been put Recent interviews with the LA Times, jobs related to our contracted employ- to the test and have risen to the occasion, the Washington Post, USA Today, NPR’s ers enrolled in that program remain in our union, which has been in existence since Marketplace and other media outlets question, there has been excellent news 1887, is also being put to the test. While no have been part of this effort. What is from Military Sealift Command (MSC). outcome can be guaranteed during these needed most is action in Congress. The In addition to the recent tanker contract difficult economic and political times, our U.S. Maritime Administration and the award by MSC to Patriot Contract Services efforts on Capitol Hill and our recent suc- Department of Transportation have told announced in the last issue of the Master, cesses in securing new work for our mem- us that while they are aware of the grav- Mate & Pilot, the eight-ship “Watson bers should assure you that the leadership ity of the situation, their hands are tied, Class” LMSR contract was also awarded to of your union is doing everything it can to and Congress must step in. Never mind MM&P. This outstanding event is testa- fulfill our responsibilities to the membership. the fact that what we are talking about is ment to the hard work of our Contracts Like Captain Phillips, we answer the call of a shortfall of, depending on the circum- Officer, Lars Turner, Patriot Contract duty. stances, $12 million to $30 million. So low Services and the cooperative efforts of is the position of the merchant marine on MM&P, MEBA and the other unions Fraternally, the national food chain that for lack of employed by Patriot. Making this pro- funds to the tune of the price of a couple of gram a success is essential. These vessels, Don Marcus military helicopters, up to one-third of our which are in Full Operating Status and MM&P International President The Master, Mate & Pilot - 1 - September - October 2013 NEWS B RIEFS Twenty Ships May Go Because of Cuts to MSP, MARAD Announces After many weeks of discussion, MARAD has formally notified MM&P, the Maritime Security Program (MSP) agreement holders and the other affected maritime unions of the potential impact on MSP operating agreements of the appropriations uncertainty in fiscal year (FY) 2014. MARAD has provided MM&P with a list of twenty MSP operating agreements that are potentially at risk and, therefore, may not be funded beyond the 60th day of FY 2014 (Dec. 1, 2013). That is, twenty ships are at risk of elimination. While a formal list of the specific ships has not been disclosed by MARAD to MM&P as of the date of this release, at least fourteen vessels currently crewed by MM&P are at risk. The information MM&P has received is as follows: MSP Participant Total Vessel(s) Vessel Type American International Shipping, LLC 1 RO/RO APL Marine Services, Ltd.