The Newsletter of the American Pilots’ Association December 15, 2017 Page 1 McGEE AND PHILLIPS HONORED FOR HEROISM AT INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION CEREMONY IN LONDON Two Houston Pilots who defied fire to bring a minutes, leaving both pilots exhausted and burned. burning ship to safety, averting a major maritime ca- Captain McGee, using tugs, was then able to bring tastrophe, received the 2017 International Maritime the damaged tanker safely to a mooring facility. Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery McGee and Phillips were nominated by the In- at Sea during the 2017 IMO awards ceremony, held ternational Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA), in London on Monday, November 27. with support from the APA. The Award was decided Captain Michael G. McGee and Captain Mi- by a panel of judges and endorsed by the IMO Coun- chael C. Phillips were recognized for their role in cil at its 118th session in July. averting a major tragedy in September 2016. The Presenting the pilots with medals and certifi- ship the two were piloting, the 810 foot-long tanker cates, IMO Sec- AFRAMAX RIVER, suffered a major propulsion retary General casualty in the middle of the night while in the Hou- Kitack Lim said ston Ship Channel causing the ship to allide with a the two had been mooring dolphin and burst into flames. faced with a Captain McGee and Captain Phillips were sur- challenge which rounded by a towering wall of burning fuel as the was out of the raging fire quickly spread across the channel, threat- ordinary and re- ening other tank ships and nearby waterfront facili- quired great ini- ties. Both pilots remained at their stations on the tiative and hero- bridge of the ship during the fire. Captain McGee ism. Accept- managed to maneuver the stricken and blazing vessel ing the Award, Captain Phillips (left) and Captain away from surrounding ships and facilities. Captain Captain Philips McGee (right) are congratulated by Phillips coordinated communications and fire- agreed that the IMPA President Captain Simon Pelle- fighting efforts with the Coast Guard and numerous incident on the tier following the ceremony. local fireboats. Captain Phillips also rushed to man a night of September 6, 2016 was not something that fire hose and put out fires burning on the port bridge they encountered in routine piloting duties. wing. See page 2 for more on the 2017 IMO award The inferno was finally extinguished after 90 ceremony. Page 2 ON STATION December 15, 2017 MORE FROM THE IMO PILOT LADDER SAFETY AWARD CEREMONY The photo below, sent by Captain Jonathan During their time in London Samuell (Houston Pilots), demonstrates several fail- while accepting the 2017 IMO ures of pilot transfer arrangements to meet U.S. pilot Award for Exceptional Bravery at ladder regulations, as well as SOLAS regulation Sea, Captain McGee and Captain V/23 and IMO Assembly Resolution A.1045(27), Phillips were interviewed by the British Broadcast- which provides: side ropes should be continuous; ing Company (BBC) and asked to recount their har- lower platform of the accommodation ladder should rowing experience aboard the AFRAMAX RIVER. be secured to the ship's side; ladder should be The full BBC interview is available at: rigged immediately adjacent to the lower platform; www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvqp2 and steps of the pilot ladders should be equally At the award ceremony, Captain Phillips gave spaced… the following brief acceptance speech on behalf of APA strongly en- Captain McGee and himself: courages member pilots to report pilot ladder defi- Secretary-General Lim, Chairman Lantz, Excellencies, ciencies to federal and members of the Assembly, distinguished guests, ladies and State authorities whenev- gentleman, Captain McGee and I thank you, the Council, and er encountered. the members of the Panel of Judges for this tremendous honor. The annual IMPA We also want to thank the International Maritime Pilots’ Associ- safety survey, conducted ation for nominating us, and the Houston Pilots and the Ameri- from October 1-14, is can Pilots’ Association for their support. critical in efforts to im- Obviously, what happened on the night of September 6, prove pilot transfer ar- 2016 was not something that we encounter in our normal pilot- ing duties. It’s also not something that we train for or practice. rangement safety. The Frankly, we didn’t have a lot of time to even think about what survey results, which are we needed to do. We just did it. submitted yearly to IMO, We’d like to think, however, that we did what we did in are essential for assessing large measure because we’re state pilots. We’re used to taking vessels’ compliance with control when we climb aboard a ship. Pilots don’t sit back and international and national standards for pilot ladders. wait for others to tell them what to do. We also feel a deep re- sponsibility for protecting our port. We are proud to be state CAIRNS REPRESENTS APA AT IALA eNAV MEETING commissioned pilots and proud of what state pilots do in safe- guarding their respective ports. In that respect, we accept this The International Association award on behalf of our fellow pilots in Houston, the U.S. and of Marine Aids to Navigation and everywhere else in the world. Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) held the 21st meeting of its e- Navigation Committee (ENAV) at American Pilots’ Association 499 South Capitol Street, S.W., Suite 409 IALA HQ, from September 18-22. Washington, D.C. 20003 The APA is an Associate Member of IALA, (202) 484-0700 • Fax: (202) 484-9320 which gives member pilots another voice at IALA to Captain Jorge J. Viso ·················· President complement that of IMPA. Captain Whit Smith ··················· Secretary-Treasurer Captain Eric A. Nielsen ··············· Sr. Vice President-North Atlantic States Navigation Technology Director, Bill Cairns, Captain W. Crayton Walters III ····· Vice President-South Atlantic States participated for the APA, and representing IMPA Captain Michael C. Torjusen ········ Vice President-Gulf States Captain Brett A. Palmer ·············· Vice President-Gulf States (Louisiana) was French pilot, Captain Jean-Daniel Gilles. Captain Peter McIsaac ················ Vice President-Pacific Coast States The effort of most import to pilots is the work- Captain Danny H. Gallagher ········· Vice President-Great Lakes Paul G. Kirchner ······················· Executive Director-General Counsel ing group on the Maritime Service Portfolio (MSP). Clayton L. Diamond ··················· Deputy Director-Assoc. General Counsel The Pilotage Service was among the sixteen mari- William R. Cairns ····················· Navigation Technology Director Lisa Powell Townshend ·············· Operations Director time services identified by IMO as providing e- ON STATION is published by the American Pilots’ Association, a non-profit Navigation service to ships. IMPA has the responsi- professional association composed of groups of state-licensed pilots operating bility for this MSP and will develop it when the in each of the coastal states, as well as groups of U.S. registered pilots in the guideline is again considered during the next IALA Great Lakes region. Each pilot in APA-member groups receives ON STA- TION, the costs of which are paid from the member’s dues. Any comments, work program beginning in September 2018. APA suggestions or questions concerning ON STATION should be directed to the continues to work closely with IMPA in this effort. attention of the APA office at the above address. Page 3 ON STATION December 15, 2017 APA OFFICERS MEET IN APA has key partnerships. Rear Admiral John THE NATION’S CAPITOL Nadeau, Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for The officers of the American Prevention Policy, and Mr. Brian Curtis, Director of Pilots’ Association met in the APA the NTSB’s Office of Marine Safety, provided over- offices on October 16. The Presi- views of their respective agency’s latest initiatives dent, Regional Vice Presidents, the and priorities. The two also gave updates on the on- Secretary-Treasurer and the APA staff discussed na- going EL FARO marine casualty investigations. tional and international matters, as well as APA busi- Captain Viso delivered the President’s Report, ness. Each Vice-President provided a comprehen- during which he summarized past, current and sive report on issues, concerns, and topics of general planned APA work, and discussed his views on tech- interest from his region. nology and the piloting profession. Trustees gave a APA President, Captain Jorge Viso; Executive report on pilotage matters within their respective Director-General Counsel, Paul Kirchner; Deputy States, including pilot operations, port activities, and Director-Associate General Counsel, Clay Diamond; political updates. Clay Diamond gave a presenta- and Navigation Technology Director, Bill Cairns, tion on recent credentialing matters, and the meeting then reported on national and international items. concluded with Paul Kirchner providing the annual The APA report included the following: a federal Executive Director-General Counsel Report. legislative overview; an update on USCG and NTSB On October 17, Captain Paul Amos conducted matters; an overview of activities with IMO, IALA his inaugural meeting as NAVTECH Chairman. He and IMPA; and an update on the status of planning was assisted by Vice Chairman, Captain Jonathan for the 2018 APA Biennial Convention in Savannah. Samuell, and Navigation Technology Director, Bill Cairns. Of particular note, NAVTECH unanimously adopted an updated resolution on Emerging Elec-