New Jobs for AMO on the Way As Navy Christens USNS Maury for T-AGS Fleet
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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 T- moon pool for easier deployment and AGS fleet will return to a count of seven retrieval of unmanned underwater vehicles. oceanographic survey ships with the chris- The 350-foot ship is named for Cmdr. tening of the USNS Maury (T-AGS 66). Matthew F. Maury, considered to be the The T-AGS vessels are operated for father of oceanography — nicknamed the Military Sealift Command by 3PSC, a “Pathfinder of the Seas” — and the first wholly-owned subsidiary of Maersk Line, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Limited, and are manned in all licensed Observatory. positions by American Maritime Officers. The USNS Maury will survey the The USNS Maury is expected to be deliv- world’s oceans, collecting ocean data for ered in 2014 and will add new jobs for the the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography AMO membership. Command (NAVMETOCCOM), continu- “AMO joins the Navy in welcoming ing the work in the 21st century that the USNS Maury to the MSC fleet,” said Matthew Maury started in the 19th. AMO National President Tom Bethel. NAVMETOCCOM directs the “AMO officers have traditionally done Navy’s meteorology, oceanography and exceptional work in the T-AGS fleet and hydrography programs, operates the Navy’s we’re very pleased with the opportunity to atomic clock for precise time and tracks the U.S. Navy photo: David Stoltz continue this tradition aboard the newest positions of the stars for navigation. Naval ship in the class.” Military Sealift Command’s USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) is launched at VT Halter oceanography enables the safety, speed and Christened by the U.S. Navy March Marine in Moss Point, Miss. the USNS Maury is named in honor of Cmdr. operational effectiveness of the fleet. 27 at VT Halter Marine’s ship yard in Moss Matthew Fontaine Maury, known as the “father of modern oceanography.” The The T-AGS vessels operated by Point, Miss., the USNS Maury is 24 feet ship — expected to be delivered in 2014 — will be the seventh vessel in the T- 3PSC include the USNS Bowditch, USNS longer than its six sister ships in the T-AGS AGS fleet, which is operated for MSC by Maersk Line, Limited subsidiary 3PSC Heezen, USNS Henson, USNS Mary Sears, fleet to accommodate a 300 square-foot and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers. USNS Pathfinder and USNS Sumner. The Obama Administration in April released its budget pro- U.S.-flag maritime posal for fiscal year 2014. Among other things, the admin- U.S.-flag maritime istration 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 shift- iinndduussttrryy bbrraacceedd ing that funding to use for the “regional” purchase of food- aid from foreign producers and expansion of the USAID’s cash-based emergency assistance account. Under current cargo preference requirements, 50 ffoorr bbaattttllee oovveerr 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 pprrooppoosseedd ccuutt 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 ttoo FFoooodd ffoorr PPeeaaccee 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 LLaawwmmaakkeerrss rraallllyy iinn ssuuppppoorrtt ooff pprrooggrraamm and organizations from various sectors in the U.S. econo- my — strongly oppose the administration’s proposal. ccrruucciiaall ttoo UU..SS.. ddeeffeennssee sseeaalliifftt ccaappaabbiilliittyy Coverage is included in this edition. Media drive could mean new AMO Congressional panel blasts plan jobs in unconventional trades to eviscerate PL-480 program Page 2: When it comes to long-term job and benefit security for the Page 6: During a hearing in April on the Obama administration’s budget seagoing AMO membership, it’s necessary to think in uncommon, requests for the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration and Federal untraditional ways, to take advantage of emerging trends and to antici- Maritime Commission, members of the House Subcommittee on Coast pate varied career options. This is more critical now than ever, with Guard and Maritime Transportation blasted the administration’s plan to key elements of U.S. maritime policy at real risk, and with severe fed- shift as much as 45 percent of the funding away from the purchase of eral budget cuts limiting jobs for American merchant mariners. 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 for granted, or they believe all that hard- ware gets to a war zone by air. Media drive could mean new jobs Nor does the average American link the consumer goods they buy with the U.S.-flagged containerships that bring at for AMO in unconventional trades least some of these products to the U.S., or with the tankers that carry gasoline, home By Tom Bethel about the work that AMO members do, tive employers that AMO is a responsible heating oil and other refined petroleum National President why this work matters, and the difference and realistic source of the skilled, licensed products in domestic markets. AMO members can make — not only in seagoing professionals cruise lines and What better, easier way to get the During an cruise markets, but in all international dry energy companies would welcome. public’s attention than through a series of April 15 interview cargo and energy trades. If these media are Just days after the FOX segment telling news program and talk show sound on FOX News willing to give American Maritime aired, I received serious inquiries about bites replayed repeatedly for 24 hours or Network’s FOX Officers the airtime, the bytes and the ink the number of AMO members with more? If American families understood and Friends, I said to tell our story, I’m willing to take advan- Dynamic Positioning training and experi- the political hostilities directed all too confidently that tage of the opportunities — with three ence, along with questions about the often at the U.S. merchant fleet, they the U.S.-based specific goals in mind. unique DP training available at STAR could be inspired to contact the White international Center. I will pursue this credible lead, House and Congress to express legitimate cruise industry New jobs for AMO and I hope to report soon on a new break- concern — and the laws that sustain the could minimize When it comes to long-term job and through agreement for AMO. fleet as we know it today would be far less the risk of under- benefit security for the seagoing AMO vulnerable. way incidents and membership, it’s necessary to think in Telling the merchant marine story improve its public uncommon, untraditional ways, to take Having represented American A reliable source of information image by employing U.S. merchant advantage of emerging trends and to antic- Maritime Officers on Capitol Hill for American Maritime Officers could marine officers in key bridge and engine ipate varied career options. This is more eight years, I know from direct experi- through media contacts become the princi- room positions. I pointed out that these critical now than ever, with the Jones Act ence that federal lawmakers and pal source of important, accurate informa- officers are trained more completely and and U.S.-flag cargo preference laws at real Congressional staffers value the private- tion about the U.S. merchant fleet and vetted more thoroughly than the foreign risk, with severe federal budget cuts limit- ly owned and operated U.S. merchant American merchant mariners, the U.S. nationals now filling these jobs, and that ing jobs for American merchant mariners fleet and American merchant mariners as policies and international conventions that a visible American presence at sea would under government contract, and with economic and defense assets when the affect these ships and mariners and the reassure the U.S. citizens who account Maritime Security Program funding in industry is explained clearly and con- consequences — unintended or otherwise for nearly all cruise ship ticket sales long-haul doubt. cisely to them. And I believe that the — of what the President and Congress do worldwide. But there is plenty of seagoing work American public at large would under- or don’t do. My remarks in this interview — a to be had in this world, and media contacts stand and appreciate U.S.-flagged cargo Such standing would allow for sus- live feed from the unique 360-degree- can help American Maritime Officers get ships and U.S. citizen vessel officers and tained outreach to prospective employers, view ship’s bridge simulator at the much of it. A lot of prospective employers crews as well if they knew what we do in enhance AMO’s reputation as a peerless American Maritime Officers Safety and now understand the practical advantages peacetime and in war. advocate of U.S. merchant marine officers Education Plan’s STAR Center in Dania of having highly skilled U.S. citizen mer- The average American does not con- and strengthen our already solid growth Beach FL — did not address the legal chant marine officers aboard their vessels, nect the U.S.