New jobs for AMO aboard two Waller Marine Inc. ATBs

Volume 40, Number 9
September 2010
New AMO jobs aboard
N ew j o b s fo r A M O
re-flagged heavy-lift
a b o a r d t w o Wa l l e r
ship BBC Houston
M a r i n e I n c . AT B s
AMO members preparing the Trafalgar (former Blue Moon) for service
under the new contract, here in New Orleans, La., Aug. 19, included Second
Mate Shane Hansen, Chief Engineer R.J. Greenwalt, Capt. Don Turbeville
and Assistant Engineer Trinity Ippolito. Not in the picture is Chief Mate
Linden Sims. The Trafalgar is operated for Waller Marine by Interocean
American Shipping and manned in all licensed positions by AMO.
AMO members recently began work aboard two articulated tug/barges that
will be traveling to Venezuela hauling equipment for a floating power generator.
The ATBs Blue Moon and Blue Bayou will soon be renamed Trafalgar and
Victory, respectively, for their voyage to South America. AMO members are currently preparing the vessels for service in New Orleans.
“This is a good example of the new and diverse projects AMO has been
working on,” said AMO National Executive Board Member David Weathers.
“These kinds of projects expand the AMO job base.”
The vessels are operated by Interocean American Shipping for Waller
Marine, Inc. and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime
Officers. The contract for the two ATBs covering this assignment is for approximately six months. When the assignment is complete, the ATBs will return to the
United States
The project includes the construction and transportation of two floating
power generators — the largest of their kind in the world — that will be towed
to Tacoa, Venezuela, and installed in a prepared basin, where they will provide
power for Caracas and the surrounding area.
The BBC Africa (above) is a sistership to the BBC Australia in the BBC
Chartering fleet. The BBC Australia was to have been re-flagged in midSeptember and will operate under U.S. registry as the BBC Houston with
American Maritime Officers members in all licensed positions. A second heavylift ship from the BBC fleet is expected to be re-flagged this year.
This month, the heavy lift ship BBC
Australia will be re-flagged into U.S. registry as the BBC Houston and will commence operations under contract with
American Maritime Officers, providing
new jobs for AMO members in all licensed
positions.
The BBC Houston will be operated
under U.S. registry by Teras Cargo
Transport for BBC Chartering. A second
ship from the BBC Chartering fleet is also
expected to be re-flagged and manned by
AMO. American Overseas Marine will provide crewing services.
The 7,500 DWT heavy lift ship is 390
feet long and outfitted with two cranes
capable of lifting 250 metric tons each.
AMO members were riding the BBC
Australia in early September en route to
Union’s job base expands as Great Lakes ITB
returns to service under new AMO contract
American Maritime Officers has
secured a new two-year agreement with
Port City Marine Services of
Muskegon, Mich., for the operation of
the tug/barge unit Michigan/Great
Lakes, which has returned to service on
the Great Lakes.
The vessel was last operated by
Keystone Great Lakes Inc. and has been
idled since last year. AMO’s new agree-
ment with Port City Marine Services covers
the licensed officers in the deck and engine
departments. Unlicensed personnel on the
vessel are represented by the Seafarers
International Union.
The Michigan/Great Lakes features a
double-hulled tank barge with a capacity of
70,773 barrels and operates in the Jones Act
trades on the Great Lakes shipping petroleum products. This vessel is AMO’s second
tug/barge unit with Port City Marine
Services since the company began operations in early 2009.
Fleet utilization of AMO-contracted vessels on the Lakes has reached
peak levels and AMO officers interested
in sailing on the Lakes are encouraged
to contact Great Lakes Dispatcher Bruce
DeWerth by phone at (800) 221-9395 or
via e-mail to bdewerth@amo-union.org.
Houston, Texas, where the ship was to have
been re-flagged
AMO secures
wage gains for
officers aboard
fast sealift ships
Page 2: MARAD has extended
Maersk Line Limited’s operating
contract for eight fast sealift ships.
The agency has accepted a new
AMO labor package for the extension with significant wage gains.
AMO Plans
summary
annual reports
for FY 2009
Page 11: The summary annual
reports for fiscal year 2009 for the
AMO Pension Plan, Medical Plan
and Vacation Plan are published in
this edition. The summary annual
report for calendar year 2009 for the
AMO 401(k) Plan will be published
at a later date.
Copyright © 2010 American Maritime Officers ■ 2 West Dixie Highway ■ Dania Beach, FL 33004 ■ (800) 362-0513 ■ editorial@amo-union.org
2 • American Maritime Officer
September 2010
U.S. Navy opposes efforts to repeal the Jones Act
Military, Navy League cite importance of U.S. mariners, U.S. ships, U.S. shipbuilding
The news that the U.S. Navy and
the U.S. Navy League support the Jones
Act and oppose its repeal was welcomed
by Maritime Cabotage Task Force
(“MCTF”), the national coalition representing the U.S.-flag fleet engaged in
domestic waterborne commerce. Both
organizations dedicated to the defense of
the United States have reaffirmed their
support for the law, which is directly
responsible for half a million U.S. jobs
and vital to national security.
In response to anti-Jones Act legislation introduced earlier this year, the
U.S. Navy said, “For decades, U.S. merchant mariners have provided essential
support for the U.S. Navy during times of
war and national crisis. Repealing the
Jones Act would remove that support at a
time when we are fighting two wars and
facing a continuing threat from international terrorism.”
The statement comes within days
of comments from Daniel B. Branch, Jr.,
president of the Navy League of the
United States, highlighting the importance of a “strong commercial maritime
industry” to a “maritime nation [like] the
United States.”
The Jones Act establishes a U.S.
merchant marine of skilled seafarers and
U.S.-flagged ships essential for maintaining the flow of domestic and foreign
waterborne commerce that is capable of
serving as a naval and military auxiliary
in times of war or national emergency.
“As a maritime nation, the United
States depends not only on a strong
Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, it
also requires a strong commercial maritime industry,” said Navy League
National President Daniel B. Branch, Jr.
“The Jones Act must be maintained so
that the more than 8,000 U.S. citizen
mariners can continue to provide the economic and military support that is critical
to our national interests.”
The Navy League is a non-profit
civilian organization with more than
50,000 members worldwide whose mission for more than 100 years has been to
educate the American people and their
leaders about the enduring importance of
sea power to a maritime nation, and to
support the men and women of the U.S.
sea services.
The Navy support for the Jones Act
in nothing new. In previous Congresses,
the Navy opposed Jones Act repeal legislation, noting that such legislation
“adversely impacts” the military need for
a strong cadre of American ships, citizen
mariners, and “maritime industrial base
of shipyard and repair facilities.”
“The U.S. Navy and the Navy
League both understand that maintaining
longstanding U.S. maritime law boosts
our economy and helps protect our homeland,” said Mark Ruge, counsel to the
MCTF. “In a time of economic uncertainty and threats to our nation, the Jones
Act provides a U.S. merchant marine that
promotes efficient trade and supports
U.S. military and humanitarian efforts
throughout the world.”
Thousands of American mariners
have played a critical role cleaning up oil
in the Gulf of Mexico. Jones Act vessels
involved in the cleanup have included
scores of the world’s largest and best
equipped oil spill response vessels,
dozens of technologically advanced offshore supply vessels, as well as thousands of fishing boats and other vessels
of opportunity.
The Jones Act maritime industry
annually generates 500,000 jobs, contributes $100 billion in total economic
output, adds $46 billion to the value of
U.S. economic output, provides $29 billion in wages, and contributes $11 billion
in taxes.
American Maritime Officer (USPS 316-920)
Official Publication of American Maritime Officers
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(954) 921-2221
Periodical Postage Paid at
Dania Beach, FL, and Additional Mailing Offices
Published Monthly
Photo: Military Sealift Command
M/V Page enters service
under new MSC charter
New contract includes significant gains;
M/V Carter to commence operations
under new charter in mid-April 2011
The M/V LTC John U.D. Page
has entered service under a new
Military Sealift Command charter
prepositioning ammunition for the
U.S. Army. The contract with Maersk
Line Limited under this charter
includes significant wage improvements for members of American
Maritime Officers.
The M/V Page, manned in all
licensed positions by AMO, has been
operating in this prepositioning mission, and the new MSC charter
extends the ship’s service to the U.S.
Army. If all options are exercised, the
new contract will extend to four years
plus the initial base period.
Under a separate procurement,
Maersk Line Limited was awarded an
MSC follow-on time charter for the
M/V SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. to support the U.S. Army’s prepositioning
program. The M/V Carter, also
manned in all licensed positions by
AMO, will commence operations
under the new charter and the same
economic provisions as the M/V Page
in mid-April 2011.
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
Donald Cree, National Vice President, Great Lakes
Brian Krus, National Assistant Vice President, Great Lakes
Michael Murphy, National Vice President At Large
Daniel Shea, National Executive Board Member At Large
David Weathers, National Executive Board Member At Large
Donald Nilsson, National Executive Board Member, Deep Sea
Charles Murdock, National Executive Board Member, Inland Waters
Representative: Stan Barnes
Editor: Matt Burke
Assistant Editor: Amber Lupin
Contributing Editor: Paul Doell
POSTMASTER—Send Address Changes To:
American Maritime Officers
ATTN: Member Services
P.O. Box 66
Dania Beach, FL 33004
September 2010
American Maritime Officer • 3
AMO secures significant wage gains under MARAD
contract extension for eight Fast Sealift Ships
The Maritime Administration has
extended the contract covering eight Fast
Sealift Ships operated by Maersk Line
Limited and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers for six
months while the agency considers bids for
a new operating charter covering the eight
FSS ships and three other vessels.
The six-month contract extension
commences Oct. 1, 2010, and MARAD has
accepted a new AMO labor package for the
eight ships. The new AMO labor package
includes significant wage improvements for
the officers working aboard the FSS ships.
“The AMO national executive vice
president and the AMO national vice
president at large deserve a lot of credit
for their extensive efforts in pressing the
Maritime Administration to improve the
contract terms under this extension,”
said the AMO national president. “Their
hard work and persistence have paid off
for the AMO members working on the
MARAD
authorization
bill for 2011
approved by
Senate panel
The Denebola is one of eight Fast Sealift Ships operated for the Maritime
Administration by Maersk Line Limited and manned in all licensed positions by
American Maritime Officers.
Fast Sealift Ships.”
MARAD has issued a request for proposals (RFP) soliciting bids for a new operating charter covering the eight FSS ships —
the Algol, Altair, Antares, Bellatrix, Capella,
Denebola, Pollux and Regulus — as well as
the Pacific Collector and Pacific Tracker,
operated by Interocean American Shipping
and manned by AMO, and the Cape Jacob,
operated by a non-AMO company.
AMO’s labor package for this RFP
was drafted under the tripartite agreement,
through which all three officers’ unions provide packages with an identical total labor
cost to the ship operating companies bidding on the RFP. Labor packages drafted
under the tripartite agreement provide
stronger wage and benefit rates for the officers working under the contract in the final
charter award.
Four AMO-contracted companies
submitted proposals to MARAD in
response to this RFP.
The Senate Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee July 15
approved legislation authorizing $158.7
million in fiscal year 2011 for the Maritime
Administration, including full funding for
the Maritime Security Program. The bill
also directs the maritime administrator to
assess and report on the nation’s marine
highway system.
Committee Chairman Sen. Jay
Rockefeller (D-WV) said the funding
would ensure “efficient movement of goods
guarantees. This Senate bill authorizes $4
million, a figure that would provide no
new loan guarantees in fiscal 2011.
S. 3566 authorizes $30.9 million
in fiscal 2011 for capital improvements
at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
and $11 million for maintenance and
repair for training ships at state maritime schools. Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood has frequently cited making improvements at the U.S. Merchant
Marine Academy as a top priority.
throughout the nation.”
Introduced
by
Sen.
Frank
Lautenberg (D-NJ), S. 3566 authorizes
$174 million in fiscal 2011 for the
Maritime Security Program, full funding
for MSP and the amount requested by the
administration. In May, the House
approved a Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 5136) that also authorized $174 million for the MSP.
The House legislation authorized $60
million for new Title XI shipbuilding loan
Senate Commerce Committee chairman pushes to delay
requirement for 100 percent box scanning until 2015
Lawmakers, federal agencies continue to question feasibility of security mandate
Following a hearing examining
progress on the Congressional mandate for
100 percent cargo container scanning, the
chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science
and Transportation Committee has moved
to extend the deadline for the requirement to
2015.
Committee
Chairman
John
Rockefeller (D-WV) and Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-TX), also a member of the
committee, in July introduced the Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2010. The
legislation extends the deadline for the
Department of Homeland Security to scan
100 percent of cargo containers entering the
country through its 2,100 inbound routes
from 2012 to 2015.
“The very size, location and constant
movement at ports make them vulnerable to
a potential terrorist attack,” Sen.
Rockefeller said at the July 21 hearing. “If
terrorists were to shut down a major port,
the economic disruption to our economy
would be incalculable.”
Sen. Rockefeller recognized the great
challenges that would need to be overcome
to meet this requirement, stating that if 100
percent scanning is not the solution, “I
believe we need to find a different way to
address this threat.”
American Maritime Officers aboard M/V Endurance
American Maritime Officers members working aboard
the M/V Endurance in August, here in Galveston, Texas,
included Second Assistant Engineer Wayne Bryant and
First A.E. Bryan Dittmar. The Endurance is one of nine
car carriers operated for American Roll-On/Roll-Off
Carrier by Crowley Liner Services and manned in all
licensed positions by AMO.
AMO members working aboard the M/V Endurance in
August, here in Galveston, Texas, included Third
Assistant Engineer Ryan Gannon and Third Mate Owen
Gallagher.
In August 2007, Congress passed
H.R. 1, which, among other provisions,
requires all containers headed for the U.S.
be scanned for radioactivity. The legislation
aims to prevent weapons of mass destruction from entering the U.S. by sea.
In order to test this requirement,
Customs and Border Protection initiated a
pilot scanning program in 2007. At the
hearing, CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin
described “a number of serious challenges
to implementing the 100 percent scanning
mandate.
“In order to implement the 100 percent scanning requirement by the 2012
deadline, DHS would need significant
resources for greater manpower and technology, technologies that do not currently
exist, and the redesign of many ports,” he
said. He added that the costs associated
with 100 percent cargo scanning “pose a
great challenge, particularly in a struggling
economy.”
Stephen Caldwell, director of
Homeland Security and Justice Issues for the
Government Accountability Office, agreed,
noting that during the course of the pilot program, no large port has achieved a sustained
rate of cargo scanning over 5 percent. The
small ports involved in the pilot maintained
between 54 to 86 percent scanning.
The GAO and CBP have “previously identified many of challenges and CBP
officials are concerned that they and the
participating ports cannot overcome
them,” he said.
September 2010
4 • American Maritime Officer
Ballots mailed for 2010 AMO Election of National
Officers; instructions for requesting a duplicate ballot
Ballots for the 2010 American
Maritime Officers Election of National
Officers were mailed to all AMO members Sept. 1, 2010, by TrueBallot Inc., the
independent firm that has administered
AMO elections and referendums since
January 2007, and is conducting this 90day union-wide secret ballot election.
TrueBallot mailed ballots to each
AMO member at the address he or she
has on file with the union. AMO has provided TrueBallot with a current mailing
list of members for the purpose of this
election, as is done for each AMO elec-
No publicity
for candidates
tion and referendum.
AMO members whose ballots are
lost or destroyed, and AMO members who
do not receive a ballot in the mail, can
request duplicate ballots. As stipulated by
the AMO National Constitution, the
request for a duplicate ballot must specify
that the original ballot was lost or mutilated so it cannot be used.
Additionally, any AMO member
who would prefer his or her ballot be sent
to an address other than the address he or
she has on file with the union can request
a ballot be sent to an alternate address. A
duplicate ballot will be sent to the alternate address provided by the member.
AMO members who need to request
a duplicate ballot or would like a duplicate
ballot to be sent to an alternate address will
need to contact Jack Branthover, special
assistant to the AMO national president:
Jack Branthover
American Maritime Officers
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
FAX: (954) 926-5112
jbranthover@amo-union.org
The union will provide alternate
addresses and requests for duplicate ballots to TrueBallot Inc. for the mailing of
duplicate ballots to AMO members. As
with all AMO elections and referendums
administered by TrueBallot, the union
itself will not be mailing, handling or processing any ballots in this election.
Ballots will be mailed to all AMO
members, regardless of dues status.
However, for each member’s ballot to be
So as not to give any candidate
an undue advantage in the forthcoming election of AMO national officers, neither the names nor photographs of candidates, whether
incumbent or not, will be published
in articles in the union’s newspaper,
American Maritime Officer, or the
union’s online periodical, AMO
Currents. In the case of news stories
that involve an incumbent who is a
candidate, only the candidate’s title
may be mentioned.
counted in the final tally — which is
scheduled for Dec. 6, 2010 — he or she
must be an AMO book member in good
standing and his or her dues must be paid
in full through the end of the fourth quarter of the calendar year (Dec. 31, 2010) at
the time the ballots are counted.
As stipulated by the AMO National
Constitution, each member must both
have his or her dues paid in full through
the fourth quarter of the calendar year
and establish good standing no later than
Nov. 30, 2010, for his or her ballot to be
counted.
As defined by the AMO National
Constitution, a member in good standing
is “a member whose dues are paid through
the current quarter and who is not under
suspension or sentence of expulsion as
provided by this Constitution.”
AMO aboard
the steamer
Wilfred Sykes
AMO National
Constitution
available on
AMO Web site
and at union
headquarters
The steamer Wilfred Sykes —
here in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., alongside the H. Lee White — is owned
by Mittal Steel and operated by
Central Marine Logistics Inc.
The American Maritime
Officers National Constitution was
mailed to all AMO deep-sea, Great
Lakes and inland waters members
at their home addresses and to contracted vessels in the April 2010
edition of American Maritime
Officer. AMO members wishing to
obtain additional copies of the
AMO National Constitution can
acquire them from AMO headquarters upon request. A digital copy of
the AMO National Constitution is
available on the AMO Web site at
www.amo-union.org.
American Maritime Officers member Second Assistant Engineer
Michael McKenzie takes a minute
to talk with AMO National
Assistant Vice President for the
Great Lakes Brian Krus while testing the steam plant boiler water
onboard the Wilfred Sykes. AMO
represents the licensed officers
and stewards onboard the ship.
Mexico pressures U.S. on cross-border trucking program
Trucking issue seen as threat to safety, U.S sovereignty over domestic transportation
Mexico in August added ten new
products to its tariff list as retaliation
for the termination of a “pilot” crossborder trucking program Congress
ended in March 2009.
The dispute, now in its seventeenth month, centers on Mexican
access to American highways. In
March of last year, Congress approved
an omnibus spending bill eliminating a
pilot program granting some Mexican
companies
complete
access
to
American roadways. The 18-month
program was established by the Bush
administration to satisfy requirements
in the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico retaliated
by imposing tariffs on $2.4 billion
worth of U.S. products and has now
added to the list, putting renewed pressure on U.S. transportation officials to
come to an agreement.
Although this issue exclusively
affects ground transportation, it has
strong parallels with U.S. cabotage
laws, including the Jones Act, which
reserves the waterborne transportation
of cargo and passengers for vessels
built in the U.S., crewed with U.S. citizens, and owned and operated by U.S.
companies.
The pilot program was strongly
opposed by transportation labor, environmentalists, public interest groups
and members of Congress. Opening the
U.S. border to Mexican trucks threatens
U.S. sovereignty over domestic transportation systems and may endanger the
safety of American citizens on U.S.
roadways. An inadequate and understaffed safety inspection system at the
border to verify the compliance of foreign trucks with U.S. safety standards is
evidence the countries are not ready for
a new cross-border trucking program.
Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood has repeatedly said a new
cross-border trucking plan would be
available “soon.”
U.S. Trade
Ambassador Ron Kirk has declined to
See Cross Border ◆ Page 10
September 2010
American Maritime Officer • 5
Great Lakes
AMO supports municipal TIGER II grant application
for upgrades to Lake Michigan car ferry S/S Badger
The following letter was sent by the
national president of American Maritime
Officers to Secretary of Transportation Ray
LaHood and Maritime Administrator David
Matsuda.
On behalf of the U.S. merchant
marine officers I am privileged to represent,
I offer strong support of the TIGER II grant
application submitted by the City of
Ludington, Michigan, to help fund the
replacement of coal-fired steam engines
aboard the historic Lake Michigan car ferry
SS Badger with cleaner diesel engines.
This grant — to be supplemented by
an investment of $2 million by the vessel’s
owner and operator, Lake Michigan Car
Ferry Service — would allow the SS Badger
to comply fully with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s requirement that the
ship end its discharge of coal ash in Lake
Michigan by December 2012 under the
EPA’s 2008 Vessel General Permit.
Refitting the SS Badger with diesel
engines would also allow the vessel to meet
the EPA’s air quality standards through cleaner fuel exhaust. These new engines would be
“Tier III,” which would meet current and
foreseeable EPA air emission requirements.
The SS Badger, which provides daily
direct round-trip service across Lake
Michigan between Ludington and
Manitowoc, Wisconsin, represents a significant measure of economic life in both communities — an estimated $21 million a year
in Ludington and an estimated $14 million
a year in Manitowoc, according to reliable
data compiled locally.
But this TIGER II grant and the proposed replacement of the SS Badger’s
engines would be especially critical to
Ludington, where the unemployment rate is
a staggering 13 percent — a level that could
spike to 22 percent if the vessel is forced out
of service.
The SS Badger today accounts for an
estimated 200 direct jobs aboard the vessel
(including jobs held by members of
American Maritime Officers) and ashore in
the company office and an estimated 500
indirect jobs in the service and supply businesses that count Lake Michigan Car Ferry
Service as a customer.
In addition, the SS Badger sustains
jobs in Midwest and nationwide industries
that use the ferry to move more than 1,000
commercial trucks across Lake Michigan
each year as an extension of Interstate 10, as
opposed to driving these vehicles around
the lake in either direction at greater
expense. This cross-lake option also results
in less highway congestion and less air pollution from truck fuel exhaust.
New employment would result as
well from the SS Badger diesel conversion
project — up to 70 jobs at Bay Shipbuilding
Co. in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where the
new engines would be installed, and additional jobs in the companies providing the
diesel engines and their component parts.
To preserve the SS Badger’s cultural
and historic value among entries on the
National Register of Historic Places and as
a national landmark as defined by several
organizations, the vessel’s coal-fired
propulsion plant would be maintained
aboard the vessel. This could trigger additional economic activity by encouraging
more maritime historians, marine propulsion students, Great Lakes vessel enthusiasts and tourists to Ludington and
Manitowoc to visit this vessel in port.
Despite expressed concern that this
TIGER II grant would give Lake Michigan
Car Ferry Service an artificial advantage
over a second company providing roundtrip Michigan-Wisconsin service across
Lake Michigan, competition is not an issue
here. The SS Badger — which would actually cost more to operate with diesel
engines, given the comparative coal-diesel
fuel costs — and the Lake Express (operated by Lake Express LLC) operate on different direct routes between different points in
Michigan and Wisconsin. These vessels do
not compete head-to-head.
Moreover, the SS Badger — by virtue
of its size and configuration — can provide
important specific commercial services that
the Lake Express is incapable of. The SS
Badger can transport trucks, buses and
oversized loads, while the Lake Express can
accommodate only standard-sized passenger cars, vans and sport utility vehicles.
We believe that whatever difficulty
Lake Express LLC may be enduring under
current market conditions cannot be traced
fairly to the SS Badger or to Lake Michigan
Car Ferry Service, and we trust that market
strength was assessed completely by the
Department of Transportation’s Maritime
Administration before MARAD approved a
Title XI vessel construction loan guarantee
for Lake Express LLC more than three
years ago — some 50 years after the SS
Badger entered service.
In our view, the TIGER II grant application filed by the City of Ludington in the
legitimate interest of preserving the SS
Badger as an economic, historic and cultural asset meets the grant criteria and stands
squarely on merit, and we urge respectfully
that it be approved.
ASC president,
captain discuss
maritime policy
with Rep. Lee
American Steamship Company
President David Foster (left) and
AMO member Capt. Daniel
Bartels (right), in August met with
Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY) to discuss
maritime policy issues vital to the
U.S.-flag shipping industry on the
Great Lakes
U.S.-flag cargo float for month of July
increases 40 percent over previous year
U.S.-flagged lakers shipped more than
10.5 million net tons of cargo in July, an
increase of 2 percent compared with June
and a gain of 40 percent over July of 2009.
Iron ore cargoes increased 70 percent
in July over the same period the previous
year. Coal loadings grew by more than 16
percent compared with July of 2009 and
Limestone cargoes increased more than 40
percent.
For the season, loadings had grown 53
percent at the end of July compared with the
same period last year, but were 9 percent
lower than the five-year average mark for the
first seven months of the year.
U.S.-flag dry bulk carriage on the Great Lakes: July 2005-2010 — net tons
Commodity
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Average
Iron Ore
4,770,802
5,519,635
4,904,391
5,512,805
2,646,545
4,495,619
4,670,836
Coal
3,114,594
2,438,428
2,888,808
2,779,468
2,273,590
2,641,930
2,698,978
Limestone
3,356,566
3,725,441
3,482,257
3,068,833
2,103,453
2,949,596
3,147,310
Cement
501,412
519,314
432,626
417,946
291,895
280,691
432,639
Salt
133,962
97,342
213,232
135,053
134,110
150,298
142,740
Sand
53,767
34,259
42,255
38,427
54,794
15,640
44,700
Grain
14,533
14,387
20,475
14,494
20,871
16,605
16,952
Total
11,945,636
12,348,806
11,984,044
11,967,026
7,525,258
10,550,379
11,154,154
U.S.-Flag Carriage Year-to-Date 2005-2010 (net tons)
Commodity
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Average
Iron Ore
23,934,942
25,369,969
23,889,620
25,836,877
9,792,555
21,509,724
21,764,793
Coal
13,129,931
11,793,913
12,001,105
11,363,367
9,383,681
9,919,542
11,534,399
Limestone
13,716,634
14,291,885
12,615,313
11,503,481
7,119,710
9,872,314
11,849,405
Cement
1,910,724
2,112,594
1,923,147
1,620,296
1,248,592
1,257,158
1,763,071
Salt
511,122
589,387
607,832
578,291
583,676
694,378
574,062
Sand
198,935
177,175
169,014
105,065
135,925
83,964
157,223
Grain
149,763
119,110
173,293
75,029
135,966
100,688
130,632
Total
53,552,051
54,454,033
51,379,324
51,082,406
28,400,105
43,437,768
47,773,584
Source: Lake Carriers’ Association
September 2010
6 • American Maritime Officer
Projects
identified by
DOT for
America’s
Marine
Highway
Program
In August, Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood announced 32 projects that
will be developed as part of “America’s
Marine Highway Program.” Additionally,
these projects will be eligible to compete
for $7 million in marine highway grants.
“Making better use of our rivers and
coastal routes offers an intelligent way to
relieve some of the biggest challenges we
face in transportation — roadway congestion, climate change, fossil fuel energy
use, and soaring road maintenance costs,”
LaHood said. “There is no better time for
us to improve the use of our rivers and
coasts for transportation.”
The announcement is the next step
in LaHood’s pledge to prioritize the
growth of maritime transportation. Rather
than compete with currently operating
water transportation routes, the program
intends to advance initiatives that “expand
the use of marine transportation where
landside transportation is currently being
utilized and when the water option represents the best overall option,” according to
the Notice of Funding Availability printed
in the Federal Register.
The Maritime Administration identified 18 marine corridors that offer an
opportunity to reduce landside congestion,
improve air quality in the area and other
benefits. By designating these marine
highway routes, “Secretary LaHood is
taking the first step to focus public and
private efforts to use the waterways to
relieve landside congestion and attain
other benefits that waterborne transportation can offer in the form of reduced
greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings
and increased system resiliency,” the
Maritime Administration said in a press
release.
Eight projects were identified that
will create new or expanded marine transportation routes offering the “promise of
public benefit and long-term sustainability
without future federal operational support,” MARAD said. These projects will
receive “preferential treatment” for any
future federal funding or assistance from
MARAD or the Department of
Transportation. A total of 35 applications
were submitted.
Additionally, six initiatives were
selected that do not qualify to compete for
the current grants but that “offer promise
of potential in the future.” MARAD will
work with these applicants to strengthen
their research, market analysis and other
support they made need.
The Obama Administration and the
Department of Defense are excited about
the shift in focus to maritime initiatives.
“Lower maintenance costs, lower congestion, lower environmental footprint, and
new jobs,” LaHood said. “That sounds
like a winning combination to me, and I
look forward to seeing these corridors
develop.”
Rep. LoBiondo
meets with AMO
officers aboard
El Yunque; sea
trial crew for
OSG tanker
Capt. Lou Hartmann, master of S/S
El Yunque, gives a tour of the ship
to Congressman Frank LoBiondo
(R-NJ) at that the Philadelphia,
Tioga Terminal. El Yunque is operated by Interocean American
Shipping for Sea Star and manned
in all licensed positions by
American Maritime Officers.
Rep. LoBiondo toured the trailership El Yunque, and visited the
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and
met with the AMO officers preparing the Overseas Anacortes for
sea trials. The Jones Act tanker is
the tenth built for Overseas
Shipholding Group by Aker. AMO
officers conduct the sea trials for
the ships through Aker’s contract
with Interocean American
Shipping Corporation. With the
congressman here are (left to
right) Jeff Perlstein, Aker Project
Manager Dave Moorhead, Capt.
Fred Leach and IAS Operations
Manager Harry Rogers.
The AMO sea trial crew for the
Overseas Anacortes included
Second Mate Steve Shultz,
Second Engineer Jeff Mathias,
Third Engineer Sean Holmes,
Third Mate Malcolm McNeil, First
Engineer Arturo Machado, Chief
Engineer Marc Lenz, Capt. Fred
Leach and Chief Mate Jeff
Perlstein.
Transportation Department’s marine highway
grants program may bolster several projects
Some of the corridors and projects that may be bolstered by the Department of Transportation’s marine highway
grants program include:
• Projects intended to decrease congestion on some of
America’s most clogged highways, including I-5, I-580 and I84 on the West Coast, I-10 and I-49 in the Gulf of Mexico and
I-95 on the East Coast. Some plans include the purchase of
new Jones Act vessels.
• Projects in Alaska, Puerto Rico and on the Great Lakes
• Projects along the Mississippi, Illinois and other
inland waterways to relieve congestion on highways and offer
choices to shippers
• Expansion of an existing container-on-barge service
operating between Newark, NJ, Boston, Mass. and Portland,
Maine.
• Doubling the frequency of service on the M-10 (along
I-10) marine highway corridor between Brownsville, Texas
and Port Manatee, Fla.
• Assistance with establishing a marine highway route
to mirror I-10 and I-95. Current plans include the purchase of
10 new Jones Act vessels to move containers throughout these
crowded transit routes.
• Creating a container shuttle service and expanding a
container-on-barge service between Hampton Roads, Va. and
Richmond, Va.
• Connecting five New Jersey hubs and the states of
New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
Maryland and Virginia via marine highways
• Utilizing existing and new-build U.S.-flagged vessels
to expand medium and long-haul service between the ports
of New Bedford, Mass., Baltimore, Md. and Port Canaveral,
Fla.
• Developing an intermodal distribution network along
the coastlines of Washington, Oregon and California
September 2010
American Maritime Officer • 7
Heroes of the storm honored for lifesaving
work at five-year mark following Katrina
The American Red Cross hosted
a ceremony in August, five years
after Hurricane Katrina, honoring
the heroes of the storm. American
Maritime Officers members recognized for their lifesaving work during Katrina included Robert
Lansden (third from right), who
was master aboard the Pollux and
among other things used the
ship’s resources to provide fuel,
food and emergency hospitalization for residents and emergency
agencies and facilities in the
storm’s aftermath with Military
Sealift Command’s approval. Also
honored was Chris Keefe (third
from left), who was the American
Overseas Marine port engineer for
the ship at the time and who kept
working to help and save others
although his house was destroyed
in the storm and subsequent
flooding of New Orleans.
Deck cadet aboard APL Pearl earns U.S.
Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal
U.S. Merchant Marine Midshipman
Aaron Cummings, a deck cadet aboard the
APL Pearl from March to July 2010, was
recently awarded the U.S. Merchant
Marine Expeditionary Medal for his service aboard the vessel.
“We at DOT are very proud of his
service,” said Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood. “He’s certainly an example
of the kind of hard working, dedicated
individuals the USMMA attracts.”
Cummings sailed aboard the Pearl
as it called on ports in many Middle East
countries, including the United Arab
Emirates, Pakistan, Egypt and Yemen.
He also passed through the Gulf of
Aden during the voyage.
The APL Pearl is operated by APL
Maritime Limited and manned in all
licensed positions by American Maritime
Officers.
M/V Tern,
USNS Cobb
complete
Operation
Pacer Goose
The M/V American Tern and USNS
Samuel L. Cobb in July delivered fuel,
heavy vehicles and containerized cargo to
Thule Air Base in Greenland, the U.S. military’s northernmost installation, Military
Sealift Command reported. Operation
Pacer Goose, the annual resupply mission
to the base, has been conducted by contract civilian mariners since 1952.
The USNS Cobb loaded in
Rotterdam, Netherlands, and delivered
nearly 8.5 million gallons of fuel to Thule.
The Tern loaded in Norfolk, Va., and carried four snow-removal tractors and
approximately 120 containers of military
equipment, vehicles, medical supplies and
other items needed at the base. The vessels
also removed garbage and non-repairable
equipment.
On the return to Norfolk, the Tern
answered a distress call from a fishing
vessel. The Tern’s crew determined the
vessel required a tow into port and
remained nearby until the Canadian Coast
Guard confirmed one had been arranged.
The Tern returned to Norfolk Aug. 9.
The American Tern is operated by
APL Maritime Limited and the USNS
Samuel L. Cobb is operated by Ocean
Ships Inc. Both vessels are under charter
to Military Sealift Command and are
manned in all licensed positions by
American Maritime Officers.
AMO aboard
ATB OSG Vision
American Maritime Officers members
working aboard the OSG Vision, here
at the Bayonne Dry Dock, included
Second Mate Kyle Flynn, Assistant
Engineer Robert Fritzen, Capt. Gary
Robson, Chief Mate Curtis Hintze,
Third Mate Brandon Weaver,
Assistant Engineer Bruce Allen, Chief
Engineer Bob Elwell and Assistant
Engineer Bill Magnussen. OSG
America took delivery of the 45,556
dead-weight-ton crude oil barge OSG
350 and the 12,000 horsepower tug
OSG Vision — which form the ATB
OSG Vision — in March.
The articulated tug/barge OSG Vision gets underway in the Narrows River
after departing the Bayonne Dry Dock.
The OSG Vision takes on fuel at Gordon’s Terminal in Bayonne, N.J.
8 • American Maritime Officer
September 2010
American Maritime Officers Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research Center
2 West Dixie Highway • Dania Beach, FL 33004 • (954) 920-3222
GENERAL COURSES
ABS NS5 Fleet
Management Software
3 days
12 October
14 March
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
4 October
1 November
6 December
13 December
10 January
21 February
12 January
23 February
Basic Safety Training—All 4
modules MUST be completed 5 days
within 12 months
Personal Survival
1 1/2 days
Techniques (MondayTuesday)
Personal Safety & Social
Responsibility
(Tuesday 1/2 day
p.m.)
Elementary First Aid
(Wednesday)
1 day
3 January
7 February
7 March
28 February
14 March
11 April
18 October
13 December
12 January
21 February
25 October
18 January
15 February
Basic Safety Training
Basic Safety Training
Basic Safety Training
Fire Fighting & Fire
Prevention (ThursdayFriday)—Not required if
2 days
“Combined Basic &
Advanced Fire Fighting”
completed within 12 months
Basic Safety Training
Basic Safety Training Refresher
3 days
15 December
Effective Supervision
2 days
7 February
Fast Rescue Boat
4 days
20 September
1, 15 November
24 January
GMDSS
10 days
11 October
29 November
7 February
Tankerman PIC LNG
8 days
4 October
1 December
5 January
LNG Simulator Training—Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator course is
given to qualified member candidates for employment and/or observation oppor5 days
tunities with AMO contracted LNG companies. Completion of the Tankerman
LNG PIC classroom course is a prerequisite.
Ocean Ranger Program
6 days
4 April
Please Call
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
27 September
Tankerman PIC DL Classroom
5 days
15 November
21 March
Tankerman PIC DL Simulator
10 days
25 October
24 January
Train The Trainer—Requires after hours homework
5 days
Please Call
Vessel/Company Security
Officer
2 days
8 November
19 January
9 February
4 April
Anti-Piracy Seminar
1 day
10 November
21 January
11 February
6 April
5 days
7 March
Advanced Shiphandling for Masters—(No equivalency) Must have sailed as
5 days
Chief Mate Unlimited
27 September
13 December
14 March
Advanced Shiphandling for Third Mates—(60 days seatime equivalency for
Third Mates)
20 September - PM
11 October
6 December
1, 29 November
21 February
29 November
7 March
25 April
DECK COURSES
Advanced Bridge
Resource Management
Advanced (or emergency)
Shiphandling for First
Class Pilots, Great Lakes
Bridge Resource
Management Seminar
5 days
Please Call
3 days
15 November
Integrated Bridge System/Podded Propulsion
5 days
Locking & Docking—First
Class Pilots, Great Lakes
5 days
Please call
STCW Deck Officer
Refresher
3 days
Please call
10 days
8 November
Towing Officer Record Assessment—Third mate (Unlimited or Great Lakes)
5 days
or 1600-ton master license
Tug Training (ASD Assist)
5 days
Visual Communications
1 day
(Flashing Light)—test only
24 January - PM class
14 March
Please call
ENGINEERING COURSES
Advanced Slow Speed Diesel
10 days
20 September
Basic Electricity
10 days
7 February
25 April
Diesel Crossover
4 weeks
24 January
Electrical, Electronic, Control Engineering
4 weeks
20 September
Engine Room Resource Management
5 days
6 December - PM
28 February
4 April
Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator)
3 days
12 October
18 January
14 March
Gas Turbine Endorsement
10 days
16 August
11 October - NEW
8 November
10 January
7 February
High Voltage Safety
3 days
27 October
14 March
1 November
7 March
11 April
27 September
29 November
14 March
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)—An understanding of electricity is
required. Priority will be afforded to 2 AEs and 3 AEs.
Steam Crossover
4 weeks
5 days
25 April
10 January
Welding & Metallurgy—course is open to eligible chief mates and masters on
a space-available basis. Applications will only be confirmed two weeks prior to 2 weeks
start of course.
MSC TRAINING PROGRAM—includes self-study courses Afloat Environmental Protection Coordinator, Anti-Terrorism Level 1 and Crew Endurance Management (see that section).
CBRD Orientation
1 day
16 September
22 October
19 November
3 December
28 January
4 March
Damage Control
1 day
21 October
18 November
2 December
27 January
3, 31 March
14 April
1 day
29 November
24 January
25 April
14 January
17 March
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
Helicopter Fire Fighting
1 day
1, 15 April
17 September
4 November
Marine Sanitation Devices 1/2 day
21 January
17 March
Medical PIC Refresher—Note: Not MSC approved
3 days
4 October
8 November
15 February
6 April
Small Arms - Initial & Refresher Training—Note:
Open to members/applicants eligible for employment
through AMO within one year on MSC or MARAD
vessels
3 days
13 September
18 October
1,15, 29 November
13 December
10, 24 January
14, 28 March
11, 25 April
Water Sanitation Afloat
21 January
17 March
19 November
3 December
28 January
4 March
1/2 day
Marine Environmental Program - NEW
1/2 day
22 October
SAMM (Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management) - NEW
3 days
25 October
September 2010
American Maritime Officer • 9
MARAD TRAINING PROGRAM—(11 day package composed of the 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 Training (Initial & Refresher)—Note: Open to members/applicants eligible for employment through AMO within one year
on MSC or MARAD vessels
3 days
27 September
Elementary First Aid
1 day
30 September
3 March
Drug Collector Training
1 day
1 October
4 March
Breath Alcohol Test Collector
1 day
2 October
5 March
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
4 October
7 March
1 day
29 November
24 January
25 April
1 day
21 September
19 October
16, 30 November
4, 25 January
8 March
26 April
3 days
22 September
20 October
17 November
1 December
5, 26 January
9 March
5 days
27 September
25 October
6 December
10, 31 January
14 March
3 days
4 October
8 November
15 February
Urinalysis Collector Training
1 day
13 December
18 January
7 February
21 March
Breath Alcohol Test
1 day
14 December
19 January
8 February
22 March
Saliva Screening Test — QEDs only
1/2 day
15 December
20 January
9 February
23 March
28 February
MEDICAL COURSES
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation
Afloat
Elementary First Aid—Note: Prerequisite for
Medical Care Provider within preceding 12
months
Medical Care Provider—Note: Prerequisite for
Medical Person In Charge within preceding 12
months. Please fax EFA certificate when registering
Medical Person In Charge—Note: Please FAX
Medical Care Provider certificate when registering
Medical PIC Refresher—Note: Not MSC
approved.
27 April
RADAR COURSES
Radar Recertification (at Toledo Maritime
Academy) — Priority will be give to Great
Lakes mates
1 day
4 October
8 November
ARPA
4 days
9 November
18 January
Western Rivers Recertification
1 day
Please Call
Radar Recertification & ARPA
5 days
8 November
17 January
ECDIS
5 days
20 September
Original Radar Observer Unlimited
5 days
1 November
16 December
6, 7, 17 January
21 February
14, 15, 18 April
25 October
15 November
6 December
24 January
28 February
10 January
28 March
25 April
21 March
SELF-STUDY CD & ONLINE PROGRAMS—Available for use when attending other approved classroom courses
Afloat Environmental Protection Coordinator (CD)
Anti-Terrorism Level 1 (Online)
DoT - Hazardous Materials Transportation Training (CD)
Crew Endurance Management (CD)
Prudent Mariner’s Guide to Right Whale Protection (CD)
EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification Examination
OFFICER IN CHARGE OF A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH—Successful completion of this program will satisfy the training requirements for STCW certification as third mate and second mate on vessels of
500 or more gross tonnage (ITC)
Terrestrial Navigation
10 days
14 March
Ship Construction & Stability
5 days
14 February
Electronic Navigation
5 days
7 March
Meteorology
5 days
17 January
Watchkeeping
10 days
20 September
Cargo Handling & Stowage
5 days
21 February
Basic Shiphandling at the Operational Level
5 days
4 October
Emergency Procedures and SAR
4 days
7 February
Celestial Navigation
10 days
24 January
Magnetic & Gyro Compass
3 days
28 February
28 March
11 April
OICNW— Additional required courses with priority to students enrolled in the OICNW program — GALLEY COURSES
Original License (Great Lakes) Courses (Deck &
As Required
Engine)
Please Call
Basic Safety Training
5 days
Please Call
RFPNW Assessments
1 day
3 March
GMDSS
10 days
Please Call
Marlin Spike
1 day
4 March
40-Hour Able Seaman
5 days
11 October
EFA/MCP
4 days
25 January
Food Safety, Sanitation & Nutrition (ServSafe)
5 days
24 January
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
18 January
Culinary Fundamentals
10 days
31 January
Original Radar
5 days
Please Call
Advanced Steward Course
5 days
Please Call
GALLEY COURSES
18 April
DECK LICENSE UPGRADE: SECOND OFFICER TO CHIEF MATE / MASTER—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.
Cargo Operations
9 days
18 October
4 January
7 March
25 April
Celestial Navigation—Note: A thorough review and understanding
of the topics covered in Parts 4 & 5 of Pub. Number 9, The American 5 days
Practical Navigator (Bowditch), is a prerequisite.
4 October
29 November
17 January
28 February DATE CHANGE
Marine Propulsion Plants
5 days
1 November
13 December
31 January
21 March
Shipboard Management
5 days
1 November
31 January
21 March
Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology
5 days
18 October
6 December
24 January
21 February - CH
Upgrade: Advanced Navigation - ECDIS—Advanced Navigation
and a USCG-approved ECDIS to be completed within 12 months of
each other
5 days
27 September
15 November
14 February
4 April
Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (Includes Simulator)
5 days
20 September
8 November
7 February
28 March
Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level
10 days
18 October
8 November
17 January
7 March
25 April
Upgrade: Stability—Note: It is recommended that chapters 1-13 in
the book Stability and Trim for the Ship’s Officer be reviewed prior to 5 days
attending this course
20 September
8 November
13 December
7 February
28 March
Watchkeeping 1 (Bridge Resource Management)—Note:
Watchkeeping Weeks 1 and 2 MUST be completed within 12 months 3 days
of each other.
6 October
1 December
5 January
23 February
13 April
Watchkeeping 2 (COLREGS)—Note: Watchkeeping Weeks 1 and 2
5 days
MUST be completed within 12 months of each other.
11 October
6 December
10 January
28 February
18 April
11 April
18 April
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.
September 2010
10 • American Maritime Officer
GALVESTON, TX 77551
2724 61st Street, Suite B
PMB 192
David M. Weathers, National Executive Board Member At Large
(dweathers@amo-union.org)
(800) 362-0513 ext. 2001
Mobile: (409) 996-7362
HEADQUARTERS
DANIA BEACH, FL 33004
2 West Dixie Highway
(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513
Thomas J. Bethel, National President (tbethel@amo-union.org)
José E. Leonard, National Secretary-Treasurer (jleonard@amo-union.org)
Jack Branthover, Special Assistant to the National President
(jbranthover@amo-union.org)
FAX: (954) 926-5112
Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea
(jgremelsbacker@amo-union.org)
Charles A. Murdock, National Executive Board Member, Inland Waters
(cmurdock@amo-union.org)
FAX: (954) 920-3257
Dispatch: (800) 345-3410
FAX: (954) 926-5126
Brendan Keller, Dispatcher (bkeller@amo-union.org)
Robert Anderson, Dispatcher (randerson@amo-union.org)
Member Services: Extension 1050 (memberservices@amo-union.org)
PORTS
TOLEDO, OH 43604
The Melvin H. Pelfrey Building
One Maritime Plaza
(419) 255-3940
(800) 221-9395
FAX: (419) 255-2350
Donald N. Cree, National Vice President, Great Lakes
(dcree@amo-union.org)
Brian D. Krus, National Assistant Vice President, Great Lakes
(bkrus@amo-union.org)
Stan Barnes, National Representative (wbarnes@amo-union.org)
Bruce DeWerth, Dispatcher (bdewerth@amo-union.org)
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19113
2 International Plaza, Suite 422
Robert J. Kiefer, National Executive Vice President (rkiefer@amo-union.org)
(800) 362-0513 ext. 4001 / 4002
Mobile: (215) 859-1059
FAX: (610) 521-1301
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 Executive Board Member At Large
(dshea@amo-union.org)
FAX: (510) 444-5165
NORWOOD, NJ 07648
463 Livingston Street, Suite 102
PMB 60
Donald R. Nilsson, National Executive Board Member, Deep Sea
(dnilsson@amo-union.org)
(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
J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President At Large
(mmurphy@amo-union.org)
Paul Doell, Legislative Director (pauldoell51@yahoo.com)
Phree Baker, Assistant Legislative Director (pbaker@amo-union.org)
FAX: (202) 479-1188
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
TRS@star-center.com
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
MARITIME MEDICAL CENTER
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
305 Madison Ave. Suite 2240
New York, NY 10165
(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
MikeReny@BEX.NET
National Maritime Center Web site offers documents suitable for
framing for mariners who hold Merchant Mariner Credential
The National Maritime Center,
responding to requests from mariners,
has launched an online service through
which merchant mariners can print a
certificate suitable for framing.
The Coast Guard has confirmed
that only mariners holding the new
Merchant Mariner Credential will be
able to access the Web site feature
allowing mariners to print mariner documents suitable for framing.
Mariners who hold a license and
have not yet obtained the new combined
Merchant Mariner Credential will not
be able to download and print a certificate suitable for framing using the feature on the U.S. Coast Guard’s
Homeport Web site.
Mariners who hold or have held a
valid Merchant Mariner Credential
(MMC) can download, save, print and
display the certificate. The certificates
are for display purposes only and will
not serve as a valid substitute when
Cross Border
resolve this issue in a way that addresses safety concerns and upholds our
trade obligations.”
The dispute has now carried on
more than 16 months and has cost the
U.S. economy 25,600 jobs and more
than $2.6 billion in exports, the
Houston Chronicle reported.
Continued from Page 4
give timelines or details on a resolution.
In a statement following the Mexican
announcement, Amb. Kirk said he and
Secretary LaHood are “seeking to
posting an MMC is required.
The service is available online at
http://homeport.uscg.mil/mmcert.
There is no fee associated.
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:
October 4, November 8
October 6, November 10
September 2010
American Maritime Officer • 11
AMO Pension Plan: fiscal year 2009 summary annual report
This is a summary of the annual report for the American Maritime Officers Pension
Plan, EIN 13-1936709, Plan No. 001, for the period October 1, 2008 through September 30,
2009. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, as required under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Basic Financial Statement
Benefits under the plan are provided through insurance and through a trust
fund. Plan expenses were $170,827,105. These expenses included $6,000,141 in
administrative expenses and $164,826,964 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 5,804 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan
at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right
to receive benefits.
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $345,018,440 as
of September 30, 2009, compared to $474,285,696 as of October 1, 2008. During the plan
year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $129,267,256. This decrease
includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and the value of the
assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The plan
had total income of $41,559,849, including employer contributions of $47,469,784 realized
(loss) of $(47,788,020) from the sale of assets, earnings from investments of $41,877,942
and other income of $143.
Minimum Funding Standards
An actuary’s statement shows that enough money was contributed to the plan to keep
it funded in accordance with the minimum funding standards of ERISA.
Your Rights To Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on
request. The items listed below are included in that report:
1. an accountant’s report;
2. financial information and information on payments to service providers;
3. assets held for investment;
4. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets;
5. insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers;
6. information regarding any common or collective trusts, pooled separate accounts,
master trusts or 103-12 investment entities in which the plan participates; and
7. actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan.
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call Board of
Trustees American Maritime Officers Pension Plan, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL
33004, (954) 920-4847. The charge to cover copying costs is $.15 per page or for any part
thereof.
You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator a statement of the assets
and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses
of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report
from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a
charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished
without charge.
You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main
office of the plan (Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Pension Plan, 2 West
Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S. Department of Labor in
Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of
copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure
Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
AMO Medical Plan: fiscal year 2009 summary annual report
This is a summary of the annual report of the American Maritime Officers Medical
Plan, EIN 13-5600786, Plan No. 501, for the period October 1, 2008 through September 30,
2009. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, as required under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Insurance Information
The plan has a contract with Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York
to pay Stop loss claims incurred under the terms of the plan. The total premiums paid for
the plan year ending September 30, 2009 were $186,837
Basic Financial Statement
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $19,480,647 as
of September 30, 2009, compared to $40,029,035 as of October 1, 2008. During the plan
year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $20,548,388. This decrease includes
unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference
between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the
beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. During the plan year,
the plan had total income of $17,472,580, including employer contributions of $16,119,677,
employee contributions of $379,208, earnings from investments of $841,231 and other
income of $132,464
Plan expenses were $38,020,968. These expenses included $6,677,575 in administrative expenses and $31,343,393 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.
Your Rights To Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on
request. The items listed below are included in that report:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
an accountant’s report;
financial information and information on payments to service providers;
assets held for investment;
transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets; and
insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers.
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write Board of Trustees
of the American Maritime Officers Medical Plan, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL
33004, (954) 920-4247. The charge to cover copying costs is $.15 per page or for any part
thereof.
You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator a statement of the assets
and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses
of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report
from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a
charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished
without charge
You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main
office of the plan (Board of Trustees of the American Maritime Officers Medical Plan, 2
West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S. Department of Labor in
Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of
copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure
Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
AMO Vacation Plan: fiscal year 2009 summary annual report
This is a summary of the annual report of the American Maritime Officers
Vacation Plan, EIN 11-1929852, Plan No. 501, for the period October 1, 2008
through September 30, 2009. The annual report has been filed with the Employee
Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, as required under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Basic Financial Statement
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $617,578
as of September 30, 2009, compared to $1,958,005 as of October 1, 2008. During
the plan year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $1,340,427. This
decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan
assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the
year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets
acquired during the year. During the plan year, the plan had total income of
$65,924,572, including employer contributions of $65,636,145 and earnings from
investments of $288,427
Plan expenses were $67,264,999. These expenses included $1,475,569 in
administrative expenses and $65,789,430 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.
Your Rights To Additional Information
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part
thereof, on request.
The items listed below are included in that report:
1.
2.
3.
4.
an accountant’s report;
financial information and information on payments to service providers;
assets held for investment; and
transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets.
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write Board of
Trustees American Maritime Officers Vacation Plan, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania
Beach, FL 33004, (954) 920-4247. The charge to cover copying costs is $.15 per
page or for any part thereof.
You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator a statement of
the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of
income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request
a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements
and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover
copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge.
You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the
main office of the plan (Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Vacation
Plan, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S. Department
of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of
Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be
addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits Security
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20210.
12 • American Maritime Officer
September 2010
AMO members train,
upgrade at STAR Center
AMO members completing the Celestial Navigation Course as part of the Officer
in Charge of a Navigational Watch Program at STAR Center in July included (left
to right) Donald Turbeville, Ray Theriot, Michael O’Leary, Karen Michele
Laycock, Samuel Makler Jr., Rik Stern, and Kathy Braud. With them here is
Instructor Robert Bates. The boxes contain sextants, which were used to measure local apparent noon from the public pier in Dania Beach, Fla.
AMO members completing Diesel Crossover training at STAR Center in July and
August, here with Instructor Andrew Davis, included Hans Hess, Tommy
Thornhill and Chris Hilley.
AMO member Francisco Sousa in August successfully upgraded to an unlimited
chief mate’s license after completing the STCW training and assessment program for upgrading to the chief mate/master level at STAR Center. With him here
is Instructor David Greenhouse.
AMO member Danny Robichaux relaxes with his children Abigail “Abbie”
Robichaux, Madeleine “Maddie” Robichaux, and Danny Robichaux III at STAR
Center in between sessions of the Train the Trainer course in August.