SEA-Vista tanker Independence launched

SEA-Vista tanker Independence launched
Volume 46, Number 1
January 2016
The Independence, the first ship in a
series of three ECO Class tankers being
built for the SEA-Vista fleet, was christened
and launched December 12 at the General
Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San
Diego, Calif.
Seabulk Tankers, Inc. will operate the
three tankers being built for SEA-Vista and
American Maritime Officers will represent
all licensed officers aboard the ships.
The Independence is a 610-foot
50,000-deadweight-ton product tanker with
a 330,000-barrel cargo capacity built ready
for conversion for use of liquefied natural
gas as a fuel. The new ECO Class tanker
symbolizes the emerging direction of the
shipping industry in the U.S. toward cleaner, more fuel-efficient modes of transporting product. Construction on the ship began
in November 2014.
“We are pleased to complete this
important milestone for the first in a series
of three fuel-efficient, ECO Jones Act product tankers that will be delivering into the
SEA-Vista fleet and operated by Seabulk
Tankers, Inc.,” said Daniel Thorogood,
president and chief operating officer for
Seabulk Tankers, Inc.
During the ceremony, the ship’s sponsor, CEO of RaceTrac Petroleum Allison
Moran, christened the ship with a traditional
champagne bottle break over the hull.
See Independence ◆ Page 7
Above: On Saturday, December 12,
General
Dynamics
NASSCO
launched the Independence, the first
ship in a series of three ECO Class
tankers being built for the SEA-Vista
fleet. The Jones Act tankers will be
manned in all licensed positions by
American Maritime Officers.
Crowley takes delivery of second
Jones Act tanker from Philly Shipyard
Page 6: Crowley Maritime Corp. has taken delivery of Texas, the second of four new Jones Act product tankers from Philly Shipyard, Inc.
The Texas joins sister ship Ohio, which was delivered in October. The
four ships are being built ready for conversion to use LNG as a fuel.
At left: Attending the christening and
launch ceremony for the
Independence at General Dynamics
NASSCO were AMO National
Executive Vice President Daniel
Shea; AMO member Chief Engineer
Jason Kast; Seabulk Tankers, Inc.
President and Chief Operating Officer
Daniel Thorogood; General Dynamics
NASSCO President Fred Harris; AMO
member Captain Mark Maxim; and
AMO National Vice President, Inland
Waters, David Weathers.
General Dynamics NASSCO delivers
tanker Lone Star State to APT
Page 7: On December 4, General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the
company’s first ECO Class tanker, the Lone Star State, to American
Petroleum Tankers (APT). AMO will represent all licensed officers
aboard the series of five ships being built for APT.
Page 2: Amendment to AMO National Constitution approved
Copyright © 2016 American Maritime Officers
■
[email protected]
‘Mr. Speaker’: the quiet work of Rep. John Boehner
2 • American Maritime Officer
By Paul Doell
National President
January 2016
A Congressional sea change
of real significance
to the U.S. maritime community
occurred late in
October,
when
Ohio Republican
Rep. John Boehner
brought his principled public service
career to an honorable, voluntary end after 33 years at the
local, state and federal levels.
Ever the statesman, Rep. Boehner
based his deeply personal decision to retire
on the noble and selfless hope that this
action would somehow hasten the end of
ideological division on Capitol Hill and
calm “the prolonged leadership turmoil”
Rep. Boehner feared would bring “irreparable harm to the institution.”
At this point, many of the men and
women I am privileged to represent in
American Maritime Officers — and many
other readers — are asking: “Why does
John Boehner’s retirement matter to the
U.S. shipping industry or to American merchant mariners working in domestic and
international trades?”
This is a fair question under the circumstances. Rep. Boehner — Speaker of
the House of Representatives and second in
the line of succession to the presidency
since January 2011 — was never identified
publicly with legislation intended to help
sustain a strong, privately owned and operated U.S. merchant fleet. He never chaired a
Congressional committee or subcommittee
with influence over maritime policy, and he
never carried our cause in open debate on
the House floor.
But, having known and supported
John Boehner since his election to the
House in 1990, and having appreciated the
characteristically graceful and reserved
style he applied to his job, we understand
better than any other maritime interest in
Washington just how quietly helpful Rep.
Boehner was to us all.
A fresh example: one week before
Christmas, the President signed an omnibus
appropriations bill to fund the federal government through the balance of fiscal year
2016, and the maritime community celebrated the measure’s provision authorizing
substantial increases in Maritime Security
Program funding.
Beginning in fiscal 2017 next October
1, stipends paid to U.S.-flag shipping companies participating in the MSP will rise
from $3.5 million per vessel in fiscal 2016*
to $5 million per ship in fiscal years 20172020; these payments will increase to $5.2
chief of staff now serving as legislative consultant to AMOS, coordinated daily with the
Speaker’s office on strategy and timing.
The omnibus appropriations package
cleared the House in a 316-113 vote and the
Senate in a 65-33 vote, with the MSP provision drawing little or no challenge.
For AMO, this legislative triumph
means continued employment on at least 15
of the 60 MSP ships — all of which operate
in commercial international trade, all of
which are available immediately to the
Department of Defense for strategic sealift
service in national security emergencies.
For AMOS, it means greater stability
and easier long-term business planning for
the vessel operators.
An equally important consideration is
what this means to John Boehner, a proud
million per ship in fiscal 2021.
This new MSP funding schedule in
fiscal 2017— nearly a year in the making
— was the exclusive work of Speaker John
Boehner and his transportation policy staff.
AMO and American Maritime Officers
Service (AMOS, the lobbying arm of deepsea, Great Lakes and inland waters merchant vessel operating companies that
employ AMO members) were the first maritime interests alerted to this initiative.
Rep. Boehner’s proposal earned early
support from Republican and Democratic
leaders in the House and in the Senate, and
in the key committees with MSP jurisdiction in each chamber. AMO and AMOS led
the industry-wide effort to broaden this
bipartisan support base and to keep the
MSP language intact as the spending bill
moved through Congressional channels;
Brenda Otterson, a longtime Congressional
and avowed small government conservative.
He sees the Maritime Security Program as
an example of effective public-private partnership, as a real value to taxpayers and as a
critical element of defense strategy. He
knows that the modest annual U.S. investment in the MSP ensures a quality fleet of
reliable cargo ships and an intermodal and
logistics support network with worldwide
reach — assets that would cost DOD multiple billions to build, buy and maintain.
Rep. Boehner also understands that
the MSP helps perpetuate a highly skilled,
loyal civilian American seagoing workforce
— private sector merchant mariners dedicated without question to the military mission at hand.
On another front, Rep. Boehner was
with us behind the scenes in defense of the
Jones Act, the law that holds all waterborne
commerce between and among U.S. points
I thank everyone who has contributed
to the AMO El Faro Disaster Relief Fund,
and I ask those who have not yet contributed to the fund to consider making a
donation in support of the El Faro families.
The AMO El Faro Disaster Relief
Fund — approved by the American
Maritime Officers National Executive
Board — is intended to mitigate financial
loss to the families and to help dependents
meet unforeseen expenses as they cope with
grief and prolonged recovery.
Distributions from the fund to the El
Faro families are in addition to benefits due
from the AMO Medical, Vacation, Pension,
401(k) and Money Purchase Benefit Plans.
The joint union-employer trustees of these
AMO benefit funds have approved expedited claims processing and benefit payment
for
the
dependent
beneficiaries.
Distributions from the fund are also in addition to refunds issued by AMO to El Faro
families for dues paid for the fourth quarter
or later by AMO members lost in the sinking of the El Faro.
The AMO El Faro Disaster Relief
Fund is a separate entity from the AMO
Membership Assistance Program, which
helps AMO families who suffered property
damage during hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other natural disasters.
Any individual, organization or business can contribute to the AMO El Faro
Disaster Relief Fund, which is administered
by Paradise Bank in Fort Lauderdale.
The fund has applied for tax-exempt
status under 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Service Code, which could make
contributions to the fund tax deductible,
depending on individual circumstances.
Payments to dependent beneficiaries may
also be tax-free to the extent allowed by law
under recent precedent.
American Maritime Officers provided an initial contribution to the fund
in memory of Captain Michael C.
Davidson, Chief Engineer Richard J.
Pusatere, Chief Mate Steven W. Shultz,
Chief Engineer Jeffrey A. Mathias,
Second Mate Danielle L. Randolph, First
Assistant Engineer Keith W. Griffin,
Third Mate Jeremie H. Riehm, Second
Assistant Engineer Howard J. Schoenly,
Third Assistant Engineer Michael L.
Holland, Third Assistant Engineer
Mitchell T. Kuflik and Third Assistant
Engineer Dylan O. Meklin.
AMO Inland Waters Vice President
Dave Weathers and AMO Dispatcher
Robert Anderson serve without compen-
sation as trustees of the AMO El Faro
Disaster Relief Fund, along with AMO
Controller Thomas Heaton and Marie
Doruth, my special assistant at AMO
headquarters in Dania Beach.
Checks and money orders payable
to the AMO El Faro Disaster Relief Fund
can be sent to:
The following amendment to the
American Maritime Officers National
Constitution was approved by a majority
vote of the AMO National Executive
Board in January and was approved by a
majority vote of AMO members attend-
ing the regular monthly membership
meeting at AMO National Headquarters
on January 4, 2016. The complete text of
the AMO National Constitution containing this amendment will be distributed
with the February 2016 edition of
American Maritime Officer.
The first sentence of Article VI
Section 4 (a) now reads: Effective
January 4, 2016, there shall be a National
Executive Board consisting of the
National President, National Secretary-
Treasurer, National Executive Vice
President, National Vice President, Deep
Sea, National Vice President, Inland
Waters, National Vice President, Great
Lakes, and National Vice President,
Government Relations.
‘This new MSP funding schedule in fiscal 2017
was the exclusive work of Speaker John Boehner’
for merchant vessels owned, built, flagged
and crewed in the United States.
On at least three occasions in the last
four years, the Speaker informed me as
AMO’s legislative director that he had been
approached by lawmakers seeking leadership support for amendment to or outright
repeal of this domestic shipping law.
Each time, Rep. Boehner told me no
legislative attack on the Jones Act would
advance in the House on his watch — he saw
merit in the law as providing additional ships
and dependable merchant mariners for military support services, as accounting for some
500,000 jobs nationwide, and as representing
billions in private capital investment.
Early in the Presidential campaign
season in 2008, Rep. Boehner — minority
leader in the House at the time — took me
aside one afternoon to ask how the shipping
industry would fare with a Republican in
the White House. We spoke at length about
possibility and potential, and Rep. Boehner
assured me that he would address any policy concerns personally and privately at the
highest levels in a GOP administration.
As the Honorable John Boehner
eases into retirement, we in AMO are
pleased to give unsought credit where it is
long overdue, to report gratefully on the
Congressman’s subtle but strong support
of the U.S. merchant fleet and American
merchant mariners over many years. We
wish “Mr. Speaker” and his family fair
winds and following seas at this new juncture in their lives.
* Separate legislation, the
National Defense Authorization Act,
authorized a fiscal 2016 Maritime
Security Program stipend increase from
$3.1 million per ship to $3.5 million per
ship. California Republican Rep. Duncan
Hunter, chairman of the House Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation
Subcommittee and a member of the
House Armed Services Committee, had
the lead on this initiative.
AMO fund supports families of El Faro officers
AMO El Faro Disaster Relief Fund
P.O. Box 38
Dania Beach FL 33004
Online contributions can be
made through PayPal via a link on the
AMO Web site home page at
www.amo-union.org.
Paul Doell
National President
Amendment to AMO National Constitution approved
Maritime Security Program funding increased for
this fiscal year; future MSP increases authorized
as appropriations act is signed into law
January 2016
On December 18, President Obama
signed the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2016 — legislation that funds the
federal government for the remainder of
this fiscal year. Included in the act are an
increase in funding for each of the ships
enrolled in the Maritime Security Program
for this fiscal year, as well as authorization
to increase funding for the MSP fleet in
subsequent years above previously prescribed levels.
The appropriations act provides $210
million for the Maritime Security Program,
an amount that will raise the allotment for
each ship from $3.1 to $3.5 million in fiscal
year 2016. The funding increase was authorized in the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which was signed
into law on November 25.
Separately, the appropriations act
provides approximately $273 million from
the National Defense Sealift Fund to the
Maritime Administration for the Ready
American Maritime Officer • 3
Reserve Force fleet. Additionally, the
appropriations act provides MARAD with
$5 million for the National Security MultiMission Vessel Design, which in the future
could be used to produce new multi-purpose training ships for the state maritime
academies and the U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy — ships that could also be used in
defense sealift and humanitarian crisis missions domestically and abroad.
The appropriations act provides the
Department of Agriculture $1.466 billion
for Food for Peace Title II, the program
governing shipments of U.S. food-aid to
nations in need. The act provides an additional appropriation of $250 million under
Food for Peace Title II that “may be prioritized to respond to emergency food needs
involving conflict in the Middle East and to
address other urgent food needs around the
world.” Under cargo preference requirements, at least 50 percent of U.S. government impelled food-aid shipments must be
carried by U.S.-flagged vessels.
The appropriations act also includes
language from H.R. 702, which was
approved by the House of Representatives
on October 9. This language authorizes
future increases in Maritime Security
Program funding.
Although funding for the MSP will
need to be appropriated separately each
year, the language in the appropriations act
authorizes increases in MSP funding to
nearly $300 million in fiscal year 2017; to
$300 million for fiscal years 2018, 2019 and
2020; and to approximately $314 million
for fiscal year 2021.
Inclusion of the authorization for
increased funding of the MSP was made
possible by the support of both the
Republican and Democratic leadership in
the Senate and House of Representatives,
the leaders of the Appropriations
Committees in both the House and Senate,
and the support of key members on the
MARAD influences policy change to boost
cargo preference for U.S.-flagged vessels
A Department of Transportation
memo dated December 8 recommends
prompt implementation of a policy change
that would require at least 50 percent of
equipment, materials and commodities
imported for use in U.S. domestic road construction projects funded with the assistance
of the federal government to be carried by
U.S.-flagged vessels, in accordance with a
law passed in 2008.
Implementation of this policy would
increase cargoes for U.S.-flagged vessels
operating in international trade, reopening a
freight valve for the U.S. merchant fleet that
has been closed since 1988.
Separately, as previously reported, a
five-year funding authorization plan for federally assisted surface transportation projects, including road construction, was
signed into law December 4. The five-year
highway bill provides a roadmap for
domestic surface transportation construc-
tion projects to proceed in the immediate
future, potentially generating greater
demand for materials and commodities
from overseas, as well as domestically produced raw materials, which are among the
cargoes carried by U.S.-flagged bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes.
In the memo, Thomas Echikson,
chief counsel for the Department of
Transportation’s
Federal
Highway
Administration, wrote: “On October 14,
Armed Services Committee in the House
and the Commerce Committee in the
Senate.
American Maritime Officers and
American Maritime Officers Service held
lead roles on Capitol Hill in advocating
increased funding for the Maritime Security
Program fleet and Food for Peace Title II, as
well as keeping the funding in the Title II
program dedicated to providing U.S. foodaid to nations in need, as opposed to cash
transfers and vouchers.
As was stated in H.R. 702: “The 60ship Maritime Security Fleet is a vital element of our military’s strategic sealift and
global response capability. It assures United
States-flag ships and United States crews
will be available to support the United
States military when it needs to mobilize to
protect our allies, and is the most prudent
and economical solution to meet current
and projected sealift requirements for the
United States.”
2008, the President signed the Duncan
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act
of 2009. Section 3511 of that Act amended
the CPA (Cargo Preference Act of 1954) by
stating that the requirements apply to cargoes financed ‘in any way with Federal
funds for the account of any persons unless
otherwise exempted’.”
After consulting with the Maritime
Administration (MARAD), it was determined this provision of the NDAA of 2009
does apply to state, local and tribal governments, Echikson wrote.
The amendment to the Cargo
Preference Act contained in the NDAA of
2009 applies to all federal agencies, not
See Cargo Preference ◆ Page 12
U.S. Coast Guard implements policy recognizing military sea
service within seven-year period toward recent experience
requirement for obtaining a Merchant Mariner Credential
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a policy letter enhancing recognition of recent military and government sea service toward obtaining a Merchant Mariner Credential. Under
AMO aboard the Liberty Eagle
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Liberty Eagle in
November, here in Orange, Texas, included Chief Engineer Gunter Meza,
First Assistant Engineer John Brooks, Third Assistant Engineer Nick Chase,
Captain Jeff Powell, Chief Mate Paul Mallory, Third Mate Carolina Klein,
Second Assistant Engineer Monte Pryor and Second Mate Mike Parks.
With them are Kings Point Cadets Gabriel Marsan and Matthew Staats.
the policy, individuals can meet the recent experience requirement (“recency”) with three
months of qualifying sea service within the seven-year period immediately preceding submission of an application to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Individuals applying for a U.S. Coast Guard credential or endorsement must meet all
other requirements for the credential or endorsement, including the requisite number of days
of credited sea time in the position for which they are applying.
Recognition of recency within a seven-year period for sea service veterans is an issue
American Maritime Officers and American Maritime Officers Service have been working
to advance for several years.
While meeting the requirements for a U.S. Coast Guard credential may remain challenging for members of the military, the implementation of this policy will aid sea service
veterans seeking to make the transition to a career in the U.S. merchant marine in obtaining
the required credentials and endorsements for work.
The basis for this policy was enacted with the Howard Coble Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. The section of this public law entitled “Opportunities
for sea service veterans” stipulates that military sea service can be credited so long as a sea
service veteran has at least three months of qualifying service within a seven-year period.
The Coast Guard policy provides for the recognition of sea service aboard uniformed
vessels — regardless of whether the vessel is active duty military or civilian mariner — of
the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NOAA and Public Health Service.
The policy calls for recognition of recent sea service for applicants who have three
months of qualifying service on uniformed service vessels within the seven years immediately preceding the submission of their application.
The policy contains additional guidance for evaluating vessel horsepower and tonnage, and qualifying sea service.
The complete policy letter (15-03) is available on the U.S. Coast Guard website:
www.uscg.mil/hq/cgcvc/cvc/policy/policy_letters/CVC/CG-CVC_pol15-03.pdf.
AMO Plans: STAR Center adapts to
meet STCW demand and expense
4 • American Maritime Officer
Training scholarship suspended effective January 1, 2016
The Subcommittee of the AMO Plans
Board of Trustees met in December to
review the progress of the required training
as related to STCW 2010 Gap Closing and
the impending deadline of December 31,
2016. The budget for the STAR Center was
reviewed against the expectation of requirements for 2016. The topics related are as
follows:
•The fall off of Gap Closing training
that occurred over the summer and what
will be required to ensure that all affected
members are able to receive the required
training in order to maintain their licenses;
•The expected requirement to pay for
the booking of hotel rooms to accommodate
the last minute rush to provide Gap Closing
training;
•Additional adjunct instructor salaries
to accommodate the last minute rush;
•The increased scholarship expenditure experienced during 2015 (scholarship
expenditure increased to $444,000 in 2015);
•The requirement to implement the
new Engineering Management-Level
Upgrade Program for First Assistant and
Chief Engineers;
•The requirement to upgrade and
install a new engineering simulator; and
•Review of course development
requirements for 2016.
The training numbers for 2015
reflected a shortfall of training to meet
Gap Closing requirements of at least 20
percent. This means the 2016 training
requirements will not only have to fulfill
STAR Center is receiving a large number of applications from AMO members and
applicant members to attend classes this winter. Many of these applications are for enrollment in STCW Gap Closing training.
STAR Center is doing everything possible to meet all of the training requests, but
please be aware that housing onsite is limited, and housing for families is in very short
supply. Housing is being assigned strictly in
the chronological order of receipt of applications. In accordance with standing policy,
STAR Center always gives priority to AMO
members and applicant members when
assigning onsite housing.
Each AMO member and applicant
applying to attend courses who has indicated
that immediate family members will be
accompanying them at STAR Center will be
advised upon registration whether or not
family housing is available during their
January 2016
what was originally required but also
cover the shortfall of 2015.
After the review of the budget and
of the requirements facing the STAR
Center, the Trustees are acting to minimize the impact by suspending the scholarship payment of $200 per member
attending class.
The Trustees regret having to take
this action in light of the expectations of
2016 and beyond; however, effective
January 1, 2016, the STAR Center will no
longer provide the scholarship payment of
$200 per member attending class. As in the
past, all training expenses at STAR Center,
as well as room and board, will continue to
be paid fully by the Plans for all eligible
AMO members.
Steven Nickerson
Executive Director
AMO Plans
AMO Plans: Limited availability of onsite housing for families
at STAR Center due to enrollment surge for winter courses
scheduled training event. However, no travel
arrangements should be made until formal
confirmation is received from STAR Center
Student Services that appropriate housing is
available and has been assigned.
We apologize for any inconvenience
this may cause.
Submitting gap closing courses to the USCG and removing
STCW 2010 limitations on your Merchant Mariner Credential
In order to remove the limitations on the STCW endorsement as part of your
Merchant Mariner Credential — including the expiration date of December 31, 2016 — and
to ensure your STCW 2010 gap closing courses are included in your U.S. Coast Guard file,
you must submit an application to the USCG. Additional information can be found on the
STAR Center website: www.star-center.com/stcw2010-remove.limits.html.
The following steps outline a simplified procedure for submitting gap closing course
completion certificates and removing STCW 2010 limitations ONLY:
1. Complete gap closing courses required for your license (see STAR Center website: www.star-center.com/stcw2010.html)
2. Complete USCG 719B application (www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_719B.pdf) with
the following:
•Transaction box: check ‘STCW Certificate’ and ‘Endorsement’ boxes
•In the ‘Applying For’ section write: “Remove STCW 2010 limitations” (Section II:
Requested Coast Guard Credential(s), Credential or Endorsement Type(s) Requested >
Description of Endorsement(s) Desired)
3. Submit application and copies of gap closing certificates to any USCG REC
(www.uscg.mil/nmc/recs/default.asp)
4. Applications can be submitted via e-mail, FAX, mail or in person
5. If submitting by e-mail:
•The 719B form and gap closing certificates must be scanned at a resolution not
exceeding 300 dpi, saved in PDF format, and the files must not exceed 8 megabytes (MB)
total in size. If e-mail size (including file attachments) exceeds 8 MB, send the documents
in multiple e-mails.
•Select your desired REC from the list on the left hand side of the REC page on the
NMC website (www.uscg.mil/nmc/recs/default.asp) and then select the ‘E-mail Application’
button at the top left of that REC’s webpage, or you may use the list of REC e-mail addresses
provided (www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/pdfs/industry_notice_e_submission.pdf).
•The subject line of your e-mail must be: last name, first name, middle initial,
mariner reference # (for example: Smith, Jonathan, A, 12345).
•Ensure all required files are attached to the e-mail and the total file size of the e-mail
with attachments does not exceed 8 MB prior to sending.
6. Once your application is processed by the U.S. Coast Guard, one of two
things will happen:
•If your current MMC contains the STCW limitation “NOT VALID AFTER
12/31/16,” you will receive a sticker back from the USCG with no limitations in the STCW
section. Place the sticker in your MMC; or
•If your current MMC does not contain the above noted limitation, the USCG will
send you a letter stating that your current MMC is in order and the gap closing certificates
you submitted will be included in your file for your next MMC renewal.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact STAR Center
Director of Member Training and Officer Development Jerry Pannell at (800) 942-3220
Ext. 7507 or via e-mail: [email protected].
The following bulletin was released December 17 by the U.S. Coast Guard’s
National Maritime Center. As was reported, prior to this notice, the National Maritime
Center intended to require all CG-719K forms signed by a physician after December 31,
2015 to be the new version of the form.
applications for medical certificates submitted via the U.S. Coast Guard form CG-719K
Rev. (01-09) with an expiration date of June 30, 2012. Note that this form is not required;
it is an alternative to the current version, form CG-719K Rev. (01-14), with an expiration
date of January 31, 2016.
Mariners and other providers should contact the NMC Customer Service Center
using our chat function, by e-mail to [email protected], or by calling 1-888IASKNMC (427-5662) with any questions regarding these forms.
USCG changes course on acceptance of old version of CG-719K
form (Application for Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate)
Application for Medical Certificate for Officer and Qualified Rating Endorsements:
Until further notice, the National Maritime Center (NMC) will continue to accept
POSTMASTER—Send Address Changes To:
American Maritime Officers — ATTENTION: Member Services
P.O. Box 66
Dania Beach, FL 33004
American Maritime Officer
(USPS 316-920)
Official Publication of American Maritime Officers
601 S. Federal Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(954) 921-2221
Periodical Postage Paid at
Dania Beach, FL and Additional Mailing Offices
Published Monthly
ISO 9001:2008
Certificate #33975
January 2016
AMO-contracted vessels, companies
recognized for environmental excellence
More than 90 vessels operated under
contract with American Maritime Officers
were among those recognized in 2015 by
the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA)
with Environmental Achievement Awards
for attaining at least two years of environmental excellence in operations, with 22
vessels achieving 10 years or more without
an incident.
“These awards celebrate the dedica-
tion to environmental excellence of our seafarers and the company personnel shoreside who operate our vessels to the highest
standards,” said CSA President Kathy
Metcalf. “In today’s world, it seems our
industry only gets front-page news when
spills or other environmental problems
occur. It is encouraging to see how many
vessels go for years achieving environmental excellence. It should be clear to the
American public that we in the maritime
industry take our stewardship of the marine
environment very seriously.”
The awards were presented during a
ceremony held November 4 in Washington,
D.C. CSA awarded Certificates of
Environmental Achievement to a total of
1,601 vessels, both domestic and foreign,
that achieved a total of 13,409 years of
operation without incident.
American Maritime Officer • 5
U.S. Coast Guard Assistant
Commandant for Prevention Policy Rear
Adm. Paul Thomas participated in the
award ceremony and congratulated award
recipients and the industry as a whole for
their extraordinary performance.
AMO-contracted companies operating
vessels recognized for environmental excellence included Crowley Liner Services;
General Dynamics American Overseas
Marine; Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning
(Crowley); Keystone Shipping Company
(Key Lakes); Maersk Line, Limited; Ocean
Duchess, Inc.; Ocean Ships, Inc.; OSG Ship
Management, Inc.; Seabulk Tankers, Inc.;
Seabulk Towing, Inc.; TOTE Services, Inc.;
and U.S. Shipping Corporation.
Attending the CSA’s Environmental Achievement Awards Dinner and accepting
awards on behalf of U.S. Shipping Corp. were (in no particular order) Raymond
Marquardt, manager SEQ; Albert Bergeron, CFO; Michael Ryan, President; AMO
member Captain Paul Schwartz and his wife, Andrea; AMO member Captain
Robert Meier and his wife, Nelvida; and Samuel Cermak, COO.
Attending the CSA’s Environmental Achievement Awards Dinner and accepting
awards on behalf of the SEACOR Holdings family of companies were AMO members Chief Engineer George Hutchins (third from left) and Captain Paul Johnson
(center). With them are CSA Board Member Bruce Fernie; Seabulk Fleet
Director Greg Doyle; Angello Dibello, director of HSSEQ, DPA for Seabulk; U.S.
Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Thomas; and CSA President Kathy Metcalf.
AMO member Chief Engineer Jack Andrews accepts an award on behalf of
Crowley Technical Management at the Chamber of Shipping of America’s
Environmental Achievement Awards Dinner in November.
AMO member Chief Engineer Keith Montpas accepts an award on behalf of
Crowley Petroleum Services at the Chamber of Shipping of America’s
Environmental Achievement Awards Dinner in November.
AMO aboard the American Courage for winter work on the Great Lakes
AMO members working aboard the American
Courage in December, here at the Bay Shipbuilding
Co. shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., included Chief
Engineer Jeffrey Severin, Third Assistant Engineer
Gregory Jardine, First A.E. Kevin Pearl, Second
A.E. Frederick Springman and Third A.E. Wayne
Strickler. With them is AMO Senior National
Assistant Vice President Brian Krus.
The American Courage was undergoing winter
work in December at the Bay Shipbuilding Co.
shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. American Maritime
Officers represents all licensed officers aboard the
American Steamship Company vessel.
AMO members working aboard the American
Courage in December, here in Sturgeon Bay,
Wis., included Captain John Chidester. With him
is AMO Senior National Assistant Vice President
Brian Krus.
Crowley takes delivery of second of four Jones
Act product tankers from Philly Shipyard, Inc.
January 2016
6 • American Maritime Officer
The following is excerpted from an
article released by Crowley. American
Maritime Officers will represent all licensed
officers aboard the tankers being built for
Crowley Maritime Corp. by Philly
Shipyard, Inc.
December 23, 2015: PHILADELPHIA — Crowley Maritime Corp. has
taken delivery of Texas, the second of four
new Jones Act product tankers from Philly
Shipyard, Inc. (PSINC), the sole operating
subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA.
The 50,000 dead-weight-ton (dwt)
330,000-barrel-capacity Texas joins sister
ship Ohio, which was received by
Crowley in October, as the first ever
tankers to receive the American Bureau of
Shipping’s (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1
approval, meaning Crowley has the option
to convert the tanker to liquefied natural
gas (LNG) propulsion in the future. The
remaining two product tankers being built
by PSINC (formerly known as Aker
Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.) for Crowley
are under construction with planned deliveries in 2016.
“We are excited to close out 2015
with the addition of this technologically
advanced vessel to our fleet of U.S. coastwise product tankers,” said Crowley’s
Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum and chemical
transportation. “We constantly strive for
ways to enhance the services we provide
to our chemical and petroleum customers.
The introduction of vessels like Ohio and
Texas, with their advanced technology and
environmentally friendly fuel options,
prove that we are innovating the industry
and we are doing it with American built,
Photo: Crowley Maritime Corp.
Jones Act vessels.”
“We are proud to deliver another
ship to Crowley and the first under our
new name, Philly Shipyard. The Texas,
like our 21 previously delivered vessels,
continues the long tradition of men and
women building quality vessels in
Philadelphia,”
remarked
Philly
Shipyard’s President and CEO Steinar
Nerbovik. “As we continue to build the
eight ships in our backlog, we are always
looking for more skilled men and women
to add to our team.”
The new 50,000 dwt product tankers
are based on a proven Hyundai Mipo
Dockyards (HMD) design which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features,
flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. The vessel is 600 feet
long and is capable of carrying crude oil or
refined petroleum products.
Crowley’s Seattle-based, naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary
Jensen Maritime is providing construction
management services for the product
tankers. Jensen now has an on-site office
and personnel at the Philadelphia shipyard
to ensure strong working relationships with
shipyard staff and a seamless construction
and delivery program.
nificant opportunity for LNG fueling in the
U.S., and Eagle LNG is well-positioned to
build the necessary infrastructure and provide the specialized logistics to facilitate
this energy transformation,” said Dick
Brown, CEO, Eagle LNG. “It takes companies like Crowley to lead that wave of
change. Eagle LNG is proud to work with
such a pioneering organization.”
“This project is an important investment in our community from both economic and environmental perspectives,” said
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. “It clearly
demonstrates the leadership role our region
is playing in LNG development and progression, while strengthening our commitment to leaving a smaller footprint through
cleaner-burning fuel.”
The supply agreement between Eagle
LNG and Crowley will provide LNG fuel
for the El Coquí and Taíno, which are
expected to be in service in the second quarter and fourth quarter of 2017 respectively.
The Jones Act ships will replace Crowley’s
towed triple-deck barge fleet, which has
served the trade continuously and with dis-
tinction since the early 1970s. These new
ships, will offer customers fast ocean transit
times, while accommodating the company’s
diverse equipment selection and cargo handling flexibility — benefits customers have
enjoyed for nearly 60 years. The LNG plant
is separate from the previously announced
Eagle LNG Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) export terminal located along the St. Johns River, in
Jacksonville, which will continue to focus
on export markets in the Caribbean and
Atlantic Basin.
Crowley selects Eagle LNG as marine fuel provider
for Commitment Class LNG-powered ships
The following is excerpted from an
article released by Crowley. American
Maritime Officers will represent all
licensed officers aboard the Commitment
Class ships, El Coquí and Taíno.
JACKSONVILLE: December 16,
2015 — Crowley Puerto Rico Services, Inc.
has selected Eagle LNG Partners (Eagle
LNG) as the liquefied natural gas (LNG)
supplier for the company’s new LNG-powered Commitment Class ships, which will
be delivered in 2017 for use in the U.S.
mainland to Puerto Rico trade. To support
Crowley’s LNG needs, Eagle LNG will
build a natural gas liquefaction plant (LNG
plant) offering a capacity of 200,000 gallons
per day (87,000 gallons per day initially) in
Jacksonville. The state-of-the-art facility is
slated to be operational by early 2017.
The decision to partner with Eagle
LNG was made by Crowley in part because
of the companies’ shared commitment to
the environment.
“Crowley is proud to take a leadership
position in the industry’s shift to cleanerburning, natural gas fuel solutions,” said
Crowley’s John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services. “The partnership with Eagle LNG is
an important first step in developing sustainable supply infrastructure to ensure these
highly technical, environmentally friendly
vessels operate to their full capability.”
“The marine sector represents a sig-
Lone Star State, first of five APT tankers, delivered
January 2016
On December 4, General Dynamics
NASSCO delivered the company’s first
ECO Class tanker, the Lone Star State, to
American Petroleum Tankers (APT). The
new ECO Class tanker symbolizes the
emerging direction of the shipping industry in the U.S. toward cleaner, more fuelefficient modes of transporting product.
American Maritime Officers will
represent all licensed officers aboard the
five tankers being built for APT.
The tanker is the first of a fivetanker contract between NASSCO and
APT, which calls for the design and construction of five 50,000-deadweight-ton,
American Maritime Officer • 7
LNG-conversion-ready product tankers
with a 330,000-barrel cargo capacity. The
610-foot-long tankers are a new “ECO”
design, offering significantly improved
fuel efficiency and the latest environmental protection features including a ballast
water treatment system.
“We are very excited to be taking
delivery of the Lone Star State. This stateof-the-art tanker is a welcome addition to
our growing fleet and will provide safe,
reliable and efficient transportation service to our customers for many years to
come,” said Robert Kurz, vice president of
Kinder Morgan Terminals and president of
AMO aboard the Seabulk Trader
American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Seabulk Trader in
December included Third Assistant Engineer Kristina Walz and First Assistant
Engineers Jim O’Leary and Jay Fernald. With them is TECH Program
Apprentice Engineer Brandon Mackie.
Independence
Continued from Page 1
Jayne Rathburn, former CEO/owner
of US Joiner, pulled the trigger to release
the ship into the San Diego Bay.
“General Dynamics NASSCO shipbuilders are revolutionizing the future of
American shipping with the concept and
construction of innovative, cost-saving, and
environmentally-sound vessels,” said Kevin
Graney, vice president and general manager
for General Dynamics NASSCO. “When
delivered, these ECO Class, Jones Act-qualified tankers will be among the most fuelefficient and environmentally-friendly
tankers anywhere in the world.”
SEA-Vista is a partnership between
SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Avista
Capital Partners.
American Petroleum Tankers, a Kinder
Morgan, Inc. subsidiary. “We thank
NASSCO for their tremendous support in
achieving this important milestone.”
“The delivery of this new vessel
symbolizes the future of American shipping: innovative, cost-effective, and
green. The Lone Star State, along with the
four others we are currently building for
APT, will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly
tankers anywhere in the world,” said Fred
Harris, president of General Dynamics
NASSCO. “These tankers are 33 percent
more fuel efficient than the previous five
tankers built by NASSCO for APT. We are
proud to be leading the charge in building
this next generation of tankers.”
Between 2007 and 2010, NASSCO
built five similar State Class product
tankers for APT.
Since the cut of the first piece of
steel, local dignitaries have been
involved in the build process of the
tanker. In September 2014, City of San
Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer signaled
the start of construction, citing it as “a
great example of innovative technology
... and a symbol of jobs and opportunity
...” In March 2015, San Diego’s First
Lady and wife of Mayor Faulconer,
Katherine Faulconer, laid the keel. Two
months ago, NASSCO shipbuilders
christened the vessel.
The ships were designed by DSEC,
a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding &
Marine Engineering (DSME) of Busan,
South Korea. The design incorporates
improved fuel efficiency concepts through
several features, including a G-series
MAN Diesel & Turbo ME slow-speed
main engine and an optimized hull form.
The tankers will also have the ability to
accommodate future installation of an
LNG fuel-gas system.
The construction and operation of
the new tankers are aligned with the
Jones Act, which requires that ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in
U.S. shipyards.
Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO
AMO members working aboard the Seabulk Trader in December included
Second Mate James Wade, Chief Mate Kitty Siegert, Third Mate Ryan Miller
and Captain Tom Liebsch. With them is SIU Bosun Bob Coleman. The group
posed with the Robert Brantley Memorial Ping Pong Tournament trophy,
which honors the longtime AMO member who sailed as third mate on the
Seabulk Trader. He passed away in June of 2015. His shipmates are dedicating future ping pong tournaments in his honor.
As a complement to its government
new construction business segment, NASSCO maintains an extensive history of commercial shipbuilding. In the past decade,
NASSCO delivered 13 commercial ships
and currently has eight commercial ships in
its backlog — with an additional ship, an
Expeditionary Mobile Base, for the U.S.
Navy under construction.
For its commercial work, NASSCO
partners with Daewoo Shipbuilding &
Marine Engineering (DSME) for access to
state-of-the-art ship design and shipbuilding
technologies.
At left: AMO members Captain Mike
Parker, Captain Mark Maxim and
Chief Engineer Jason Kast attended
the christening and launch ceremony
for the Independence at General
Dynamics NASSCO.
January 2016
8 • American Maritime Officer
AMO Safety and Education Plan — Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research Center
(954) 920-3222 / (800) 942-3220 — 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004
STCW 2010 Gap Closing Courses — Required by all existing STCW credentialed officers by 1 January 2017
Leadership & Management (required by ALL management level Deck
and Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017)
5 days
18, 25 Jan
Management of Electrical, Electronic Controllers (Engineers) (Required
by ALL management level Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017)
5 days
5 days
25 January
Engine Room Resource Management — Classroom (Engineers)
(Required by ALL Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017)
Leadership & Teamwork (Engineers) (Only required by those Engineers
who completed old ERM class)
Basic Training & Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation (Required by first
credential renewal AFTER 1 Jan 2017)
1, 8, 15, 22
Feb
8, 22 Feb
18 January
1, 15, 29 Feb
7, 14, 28 March
7, 28 March
14 March
4, 11, 18, 25
April
11, 25 April
4, 18 April
2, 9, 16, 23 May
9, 23 May
2, 16 May
6, 13, 20, 27
June
13, 27 June
6, 20 June
1, 2, 4, 5 Feb
25, 26 April
7, 8 July
1 day
3 Feb
27 April
6 July
IGF Code Training
5 days
11 January
18 January
27 June
15 February
28 March
16 May
20 June
Basic Safety Training — All 4 modules must be completed within 12
months: Personal Safety Techniques (Mon/Tues — 1.5 days), Personal
Safety & Social Responsibility (Tues pm — .5 days), Elementary First Aid
(Wed — 1 day), Fire Fighting & Fire Prevention (Thurs/Fri — 2 days) — not
required. if Combined Basic & Adv. Fire Fighting completed within 12 months
5 days
25 January
8, 22 February
25 April
23 May
29 August
Basic Safety Training — Refresher
3 days
27 January
25 May
31 August
ECDIS
5 days
8, 15 February
7 March
18 April
9 May
8 August
29 March
18 April
2 May
27 June
25 July
31 May
15 August
General Courses
Advanced Fire Fighting
Chemical Safety — Advanced
Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator)
Fast Rescue Boat
5 days
8 February
5 days
3 days
20 January
6 July
16 May
8 February
4 days
GMDSS — Requires after-hour homework
10 days
15 February
LNG Simulator Training — Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator course
is given to qualified member candidates for employment and/or observation
opportunities with AMO contracted LNG companies. In all cases successful
completion of the LNG PNC classroom course is prerequisite.
5 days
11 April
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
11 January
21 March
Tankerman PIC DL — Classroom
5 days
14 March
11 July
LNG Tankerman PIC
Safety Officer Course
Vessel/Company Security Officer — Includes Anti-Piracy
Deck Courses
Advanced Bridge Resource Management — Meets STCW 2010
Leadership & Management gap closing requirements
Advanced Shiphandling for Masters — (No equivalency) Must have
sailed as Chief Mate Unlimited
22 February
2 May
13 June
25 July
5 days
11 January
29 February
4, 25 April
18 July
29 August
3 days
14 March
13 June
10 days Please call
Please call
5 days
18, 25 January
5 days
29 February
5 days
Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates — 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rd
Mates
10 days 29 February
Bridge Resource Management Seminar
3 days
Please call
Dynamic Positioning — Advanced
5 days
7 March
Advanced & Emergency Shiphandling — First Class Pilots, Great Lakes
Dynamic Positioning — Basic
Watchkeeping Standardization & Assessment Program
STCW Deck Officer Refresher — Great Lakes
TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) — Third Mate (Unlimited or
Great Lakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required
Tug Training — ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive)
Engineering Courses
Basic Electricity
Diesel Crossover
Gas Turbine Endorsement
High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom)
Hydraulics/ Pneumatics
Ocean Ranger Program
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
Refrigeration (Operational Level)
Refrigeration (Management Level)
1 February
5 days
1 February
5 days
8 February
2 May
11 July
22 August
18 July
1, 29 August
5 days
18 January
2, 23 May
5 days
Please call
18 April
10 days
1 February
10 days
Please call
4 weeks
3 days
5 days
22 February
28 March
Please call
5 days
7 March
5 days
4 weeks
Instrumentation (Management) — NEW
10 days
1 week
20 June
8 February
6 days
5 days
18, 25 April
25 July
4 April
3 days
7 March
9 May
5 days
Steam Endorsement
Electronics (Management) — NEW
16 June
25 January
Train the Trainer
Train the Trainer — Simulator Instructors
17 March
2 days
10 days
Tankerman PIC DL — Accelerated Program
30 March
8 days
Tankerman PIC DL — Simulator
11, 25 July
4, 18 July
Leadership & Teamworking assessments, in the few cases required, should be completed and signed off onboard.
1 day
2 days
EFA (Scheduled with Basic Training Revalidation BUT NOT REQUIRED
FOR STCW 2010)
4, 11, 18, 25
July
6 June
11 July
27 June
27 June
15 February
20 June
14 March
15 August
11 January
Please call
8 August
6 June
Please call
Welding & Metallurgy Skills & Practices — Open to eligible Chief Mates and Masters on a space available
basis. Interested participants should apply and will be confirmed 2 weeks prior to start date.
2 weeks
1 February
25 April
23 May
13 June
8 August
8 August
1, 8, 15, 22 Aug
8, 22 August
1, 15 August
January 2016
American Maritime Officer • 9
Deck Upgrade — STCW 2010 — Management Level (NVIC 10-14)— If sea service or training towards management level (Chief Mate/Master) upgrade started ON OR AFTER 24 March 2014 you must adhere
to this new program of training. Completion of both required and optional courses listed below will include all Task Assessments required by NVIC 10-14 , providing ECDIS, GMDSS and ARPA have been previously completed.
Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level
10 days
4 April
18 July
15 August
Advanced Stability
5 days
25 January
25 April
8 August
Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology — Requires after-hours homework
Search & Rescue
Management of Medical Care
18 January
5 days
2 1/2 days
1 February
5 days
8 February
9 May
22 February
23 May
3 February
1/2 day
Leadership & Management
Advanced Cargo — Optional for task sign-off
15 February
5 days
Marine Propulsion Plants — Optional for task sign-off
5 days
Advanced Celestial — Optional for task sign-off
29 February
5 days
Advanced Navigation — Optional for task sign-off
18 April
7 March
5 days
1 August
2 May
15 August
4 May
17 August
22 August
16 May
29 August
30 May
6 June
Deck Upgrade at the Management Level (Policy Letter 04-02) — This upgrade program is for those who started sea service or training towards management level (Chief Mate/Master) upgrade BEFORE 24
March 2014. Failure to complete by 31 December 2016 will most likely result in significant delays and additional training or assessment requirements. 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) under previous. This program will complete ALL 53 Control Sheet assessments of the training requirements for STCW under policy letter
04-02. Course completion certificates and control sheets expire 12/31/16. Anyone using the previous regulations to upgrade in this manner must complete all requirements ,including USCG testing, by 12/31/16. Deck Management
Level gap closing training must also be completed by 12/31/16 in order for the new credential to valid after this date. SPECIFIC GUIDANCE CAN BE FOUND ON THE STAR CENTER WEBSITE AT https://www.star-center.com
Celestial Navigation — Requires after-hour homework
5 days
29 February
Cargo Operations
9 days
2 May
Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology — Requires after-hour homework
18 April
1 August
18, 25 January
25 April
8 August
Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level
5 days
28 March
20 June
10 days
4 April
18 July
15 August
Shipboard Management
5 days
16 May
29 August
ECDIS
5 days
Marine Propulsion Plants
5 days
5 days
Upgrade: Stability
5 days
Watchkeeping 1: BRM
3 days
Watchkeeping 2: COLREGS
Search and Rescue
Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator)
MSC Training Program
18, 25 January
30 May
23 May
22 March
2 days
2 May
13 June
5 days
7 March
6 June
15 February
14 March
Basic CBR Defense
1 day
26 February
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
1 day
20 April
Damage Control
1 day
Helicopter Fire Fighting
1 day
Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD)
1/2 day
Medical PIC Refresher — Note: MSC approved
3 days
Marine Sanitation Devices
1/2 day
MSC Readiness Refresher — Must have completed full CBRD & DC once in
career.
MSC Watchstander — BASIC — Once in career, SST grads grandfathered
MSC Watchstander — ADVANCED — Required for all SRF members
2 days
2 days
1 day
25 February
26 January
26 February
Please call
Please call
13 June
6 May
24 June
26 August
24 June
26 August
21 April
9 June
11 August
2 May
20 June
22 August
5 May
23 June
24 May
6 May
25 January
23 May
15 January
19 February
11 February
MSC Ship Reaction Force — Required every three years for SRF members
3 days
Small Arms — Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training — Open to
members & applicants eligible for employment through AMO (w/in 1 year) or
MSC on MARAD contracted vessels.
4 days
25 January
Water Sanitation Afloat
1/2 day
Please call
Medical Courses
15 June
22 February
4, 18 March
25 August
15, 29 April
13 May
17 June
15, 29 July
19 August
13, 27 June
11, 25 July
15, 29 August
15, 29
February
14, 28 March
11, 25 April
9, 23 May
Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat
1 day
20 April
Medical Care Provider — Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12
months. Please fax EFA certificate when registering
23 February
5 April
10 May
27 June
26 July
3 days
24 February
6 April
11 May
28 June
27 July
Medical PIC — Please fax MCP certificate when registering
Urinalysis Collector Training
5 days
11 April
16 May
1 August
Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) — Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only
1 day
29 February
1 day
8 March
9 August
Elementary First Aid — Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months
Saliva Screening Test — QEDs only
1 day
1/2 day
Medical PIC Refresher — Note: MSC approved
3 days
22 February
9 March
Please call
7 March
9 May
25 July
8 August
10 August
Engine Upgrade - STCW 2010 - Management Level (NVIC 15-14) - If sea service or training Radar Courses
towards management level (1A/E - Chief Eng.) upgrade started ON OR AFTER 24 March 2014, you must adhere
to this new program of training. Completion of both required and optional courses listed below will include all Task
Assessments required by NVIC 15-14. By completing the series, no expiration limitation will be placed on your
STCW credential. See STAR Center's website for full details: https://www.star-center.com/stcw2010engine.upgrade.html
Leadership & Managerial Skills (G500 as amended) REQUIRED
ERM (E050 as amended) - REQUIRED (unless previously
taken for gap closing or original license)
Upgrade: Electrical, Electronics & Control Engineering
(Management Level) (E133 as amended) (UPGRADE with
tasks)
STCW Upgrade Task Assessment - General Engineering
& Procedure (E135 as amended) - OPTIONAL: Tasks can
be signed off onboard
STCW Upgrade Task Assessment - Motor (E120 as
amended) - OPTIONAL: Tasks can be signed off onboard
STCW Upgrade Task Assessment - Steam (E121 as
amended) - OPTIONAL: Tasks can be signed off onboard
STCW Upgrade Task Assessment - Gas Turbine (E122 as
amended) - OPTIONAL: Tasks can be signed off onboard
5 days
4 July
5 days
8 August
10 days
11 July
5 days
25 July
3 days
1 August
5 days
15 August
5 days
22 August
Radar Recertification
1 day
21, 22 January
ARPA
4 days
Please call
Radar Recertification & ARPA
5 days
Please call
Original Radar Observer Unlimited
5 days
Please call
29, 30, 31
March
2, 3 June
7, 8 July
Engine STCW / Original Engineer Training Routes — Engine STCW training routes are aimed
at Great Lakes members wishing to transition to deep sea. Original engineer training is available to members,
applicants and sponsored students seeking an original license.
Advanced Fire Fighting
5 days
11 January
4 days
10 May
10 days
1 February
Basic Safety Training
5 days
Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat)
4 days
EFA/MCP
Basic Electricity (original engineers only)
Original 3 A/E Preparation and Exams
A/R
16 May
25 January
23 May
19 January
31 May
15 February
20 June
6 June
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.
January 2016
10 • American Maritime Officer
AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
DANIA BEACH, FL 33004-4109
601 S. Federal Highway
(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513
Paul Doell, National President
([email protected])
Extension 1001 / Mobile: (954) 881-5651 / FAX: (954) 926-5112
Charles A. Murdock, National Secretary-Treasurer
([email protected])
Extension 1004 / Mobile: (954) 531-9977 / FAX: (954) 367-1025
Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea
([email protected])
Extension 1009 / Mobile: (954) 673-0680 / FAX: (954) 367-1029
Marie Doruth, Special Assistant to the National President
([email protected])
Extension 1017 / Mobile: (954) 290-8109
FAX: (954) 926-5112
Dispatch: (800) 345-3410 / FAX: (954) 926-5126
Brendan Keller, Dispatcher ([email protected])
Extension 1061 / Mobile: (954) 817-4000
Robert Anderson, Dispatcher ([email protected])
Extension 1060 / Mobile: (954) 599-9771
Member Services: Extension 1050
FAX: (954) 367-1066
([email protected])
OFFICES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024
490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW, Suite 7204
(202) 479-1166
(800) 362-0513 ext. 7001
Paul Doell, National President
([email protected])
Extension 7004
Mobile: (954) 881-5651
J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations
([email protected] / [email protected])
Extension 7013
Mobile: (202) 560-6889
T. Christian Spain, National Assistant Vice President, Government Relations
([email protected])
Extension 7010
Mobile: (202) 658-9635
FAX: (202) 479-1188
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19113
2 International Plaza, Suite 336
FAX: (610) 521-1301
Chris Holmes, Contract Analyst
(cholmes@amo‐union.org)
(800) 362‐0513 ext. 4002
Mobile: (856) 693‐0694
UPDATE CREDENTIALS, DOCUMENTS, TRAINING RECORDS
Secure File Upload: https://securetransfer.amo-union.org/
E-mail: [email protected]
Questions: (800) 362-0513 ext. 1050
Cargo float for U.S.-flagged
vessels on the Great Lakes
down 15 percent in November
U.S.-flagged Great Lakes vessels carried a total of 7.9 million tons of cargo in
November, a decrease of 15 percent compared to the same period in the previous year
and the long-term average for the month, the
Lake Carriers’ Association reported.
Iron ore cargoes totaled approximately 3.6 million net tons in November, a drop
of 22 percent, more than one million net
tons, compared with November 2014. Coal
cargoes totaled approximately 1.56 million
net tons in November, a decline of 16 per-
cent compared with November 2014.
Limestone loadings dipped 5 percent.
Year-to-date at the end of November,
U.S.-flagged cargoes totaled 79.8 million
tons, a decrease of 1 percent compared with
the same point in 2014, and a drop of 3 percent compared to the long-term average for
the January-to-November timeframe. Iron
ore cargoes had decreased 8 percent compared with the previous year. Coal shipments were up 4 percent. Limestone loadings had increased 8 percent.
TOLEDO, OH 43604
The Melvin H. Pelfrey Building
One Maritime Plaza, Third Floor
(800) 221-9395
FAX: (419) 255-2350
John E. Clemons, Special Assistant to the National President (Great Lakes)
([email protected]) / Mobile: (419) 205-3509
Brian D. Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice President
([email protected]) / Mobile: (216) 571-9666
Michelle Moffitt, Dispatcher
([email protected]) / Mobile: (419) 481-3470
GALVESTON, TX 77551
2724 61st Street, Suite B, PMB 192
David M. Weathers, National Vice President, Inland Waters
([email protected])
(800) 362-0513 ext. 2001
Mobile: (409) 996-7362
FAX: (409) 737-4454
SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND, CA 94607
1121 7th Street, Second Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
Daniel E. Shea, National Executive Vice President
([email protected])
(510) 444-5301 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 5001 / Mobile: (415) 269-5795
FAX: (954) 367-1064
NEW ORLEANS / COVINGTON, LA 70434
P.O. Box 5424
Covington, LA 70434
Daniel J. Robichaux, National Assistant Vice President
([email protected])
(954) 367-1036
Mobile: (985) 201-5462
FAX: (954) 367-1062
STAR CENTER
STUDENT SERVICES/LODGING AND COURSE INFORMATION
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004-4312
(954) 920-3222 ext. 201 / (800) 942-3220 ext. 201
Course Attendance Confirmation: (800) 942-3220 ext. 200
24 Hours: (954) 920-3222 ext.7999 / FAX: (954) 920-3140
SERVICES
FINANCIAL ADVISERS: THE ATLANTIC GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY
(800) 975-7061 / www.morganstanleyfa.com/theatlanticgroup
MEDICAL CLINIC
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004-4312
(954) 927-5213
FAX: (954) 929-1415
AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid
Program
Michael Reny
Mobile: (419) 346-1485
(419) 243-1105
(888) 853-4662
[email protected]
AMO PLANS
2 West Dixie Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004-4312
(800) 348-6515
FAX: (954) 922-7539
LEGAL
Joel Glanstein, General Counsel
David Glanstein
437 Madison Ave. 35th Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 370-5100
(954) 662-9407
FAX: (212) 697-6299
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 AMO National Headquarters (on
Tuesday when Monday is a contract holiday). The next meetings will
take place on the following dates:
AMO National Headquarters: February 8, March 7
January 2016
AMO members train at STAR Center
Above and below: AMO members attending the Engine Room Resource
Management course at STAR Center in October included Gerald Atkins, Adam
Brown, John D’Alessandro, Tommie Davis, Todd Desrosiers, Lucas Franco,
Christopher Gay, Michael Hagan, Bryan Hoffman, Toby Kessler, Timothy Nagle,
Jerry Oliver, Steven Pankow, Jr., Daniel Petrocelli, Vance Sisco, Randolph
Sutton and Michael Wyant.
American Maritime Officer • 11
AMO members attending the Advanced Bridge Resource Management course
at STAR Center in Dania Beach, Fla. in October included John Fink, Lisa Burke,
James Chedister and Richard Horne.
Women on the Water Conference
scheduled for March 2016
The California Maritime Academy (CMA), with the support of the Maritime
Administration (MARAD), will host the eighth annual Women on the Water (WOW)
Conference on the CMA campus in Vallejo, Calif., March 17 to 19.
The WOW Conference will be held in conjunction with CMA’s Pearls of Power
(POP) Conference. The combined WOW and POP Conference will bring cadets from the
state maritime academies and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy together with professional women and men who are leaders in various sectors of the maritime industry.
The event will provide opportunities for the cadets to learn about the exciting careers
that are available to them directly from the professional women and men in the maritime
industry. The conference addresses current issues and provides industry connections while
developing strategies for success in an educational environment.
More information is available on the CMA website (www.csum.edu/web/about/popconference). Information regarding registration and attendance is also available on the
MARAD website (www.marad.dot.gov/mariners/7th-women-on-the-water-conference).
Questions regarding the conference can be sent to: [email protected].
12 • American Maritime Officer
General Dynamics NASSCO completes
LNG bunkering for Perla del Caribe
January 2016
The following is excerpted from an
article released by General Dynamics
NASSCO. American Maritime Officers
represents all licensed officers aboard the
Marlin Class ships.
SAN DIEGO — On December 11,
General Dynamics NASSCO successfully
completed bunkering of liquefied natural
gas (LNG) for the Perla del Caribe, the
world’s second containership to be powered by LNG.
Bunkering services were provided
by the California-based company Clean
Energy as well as Baker Hughes and
Envent during a 48-hour period at the
NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
Representatives from NASSCO worked
collaboratively with several regulatory
agencies to prepare for the event, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the American
Bureau of Shipping, the San Diego Fire
Department, and the Air Pollution
Control District.
The Perla del Caribe received
210,000 gallons of LNG which is nearly
double the amount bunkered for its sister
ship, the Isla Bella, the world’s first LNGpowered containership. The Isla Bella was
built by NASSCO and delivered in
October 2015.
“This represents another milestone
amongst many in the advancement of
green, environmentally-friendly ship technology. This effort in particular demonstrates successful collaboration between
industry and several regulatory entities,
laying the groundwork for comparable
green projects in the future,” said Parker
Larson, director of commercial programs
at General Dynamics NASSCO.
“As Captain of the Port of San
Diego, I am grateful for the exceptional
preparation and cooperation involved
with this LNG bunkering operation,” said
Captain Jonathan S. Spaner. “Indeed,
these LNG-powered containerships are
unique in our Nation and the world. I
commend the team at NASSCO and all
interagency partners for their efforts to
ensure a safe, efficient, and successful
bunkering evolution.”
Upon delivery, the Perla del Caribe
will join the Isla Bella for its trade route
between Jacksonville, Florida, and San
Juan, Puerto Rico. The containerships are
part of a two-ship contract between NASSCO and TOTE, signed in December 2012.
Powered by LNG, this groundbreaking green ship technology will dramatically
decrease emissions and increase fuel efficiency when compared to conventionally
powered ships, which is equivalent to
removing nearly 16,000 motor vehicles off
the road. The 764-foot-long containerships
will be the longest dry cargo ships powered
by LNG, making them the cleanest cargocarrying ships anywhere in the world.
Crowley Puerto Rico Services in
November announced the groundbreaking
for a $48.5 million construction project for
a new pier at its Isla Grande Terminal in San
Juan, Puerto Rico. The project includes the
development of a new 900-foot-long, 114foot-wide concrete pier and all associated
dredging needed to accommodate
Crowley’s two new liquefied natural gas
(LNG) powered, Commitment Class ships,
which are scheduled for delivery in 2017.
American Maritime Officers will represent all licensed officers aboard the
Commitment Class ships.
The construction contract is being
executed by L.P.C. & D. Inc., of Las
Piedras, Puerto Rico. About 75 jobs have
been created during the construction phase
and about 100 new jobs will be created
when the construction is completed in mid2017 and Crowley begins service with its
new ships, the company reported.
“With the first pile driven, we look
forward to watching the coming transformation of our terminal into the most
modern and efficient port facility on the
island,” said Tom Crowley, company
chairman and CEO. “Our new terminal
infrastructure will help us reposition
Puerto Rico as a shipping and logistics
hub for the Caribbean Basin and
beyond, and open up many new oppor-
tunities for our customers.”
In all, Crowley is investing about
$500 million in its Puerto Rico service
with the construction of two new state-ofthe-art ships, the new pier, three new container cranes, new truck access gates,
reefer plugs, new containers and container
handling equipment, and more.
“This investment, which is resulting
in jobs, economic impact, a cleaner environment and significant service enhancements for Puerto Rico shippers, would not
be possible without the Jones Act,”
Crowley said.
The Jones Act requires that all
goods transported by water between U.S.
ports be carried on U.S.-flagged ships
constructed in the U.S., owned by U.S.
citizens, and crewed by U.S. mariners.
“While the act ensures that we have
a robust shipbuilding capability and
skilled merchant mariners in the U.S.
essential to our national defense, it has
also created a commercial shipping market between the mainland and Puerto Rico
that is highly competitive, customized and
dedicated,” Crowley said. “It is because of
this competition and the longstanding
rules of engagement spelled out in the
Jones Act that we have the confidence to
make this major investment for the benefit
of the people of Puerto Rico.”
Crowley Puerto Rico Services engaged in $48.5 million pier
and terminal construction project at Isla Grande in San Juan
Officers, crew of USNS Wheeler donate
gifts for children of Miewon Orphanage
Cargo Preference
Continued from Page 3
only the Department of Transportation.
In the memo, Echikson noted the
Cargo Preference Act of 1954 requires “at
least 50 percent of the gross tonnage of
equipment, materials, or commodities transported on ocean vessels be carried across
the ocean on U.S.-flag vessels whenever the
U.S. Government procured ‘for its own
account’ or furnished ‘to or for the account
of any foreign nation’ such equipment,
materials, or commodities.”
He noted the Federal Highway
Administration applied these requirements
to the “Federal-aid highway program” from
1979 until 1988.
“On February 2, 1988, the U.S.
Department of Justice’s Office of Legal
Counsel issued an opinion finding that
Congress did not intend the CPA to reach
federally-financed State procurements
and, therefore, CPA did not apply to
imported cement and clinker procured by
By Captain Glenn Macario
Master, USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler
The USNS VADM K.R. WHEELER has now
supported the Miewon Orphanage in Busan, Korea
at Christmas for three years in a row. In 2015, USNS
WHEELER and USNS CHARLTON crews donated
a total of over $2,200 worth of gifts to the orphanage
for Christmas. In the picture are officers and crew
from the USNS WHEELER and USNS CHARLTON along with 32 of the orphans holding many of
the presents the crews purchased for them, including
three flat screen TVs and a gaming system.
In the photo — taken at the MSC Office Korea
Christmas party held in conjunction with the
Miewon Orphanage, which MSCO-Korea sponsors
— are AMO members from the USNS WHEELER
Captain Glenn Macario, Chief Engineer Frank
Celino, Chief Mate Pat Leahy, First Assistant
Engineer Shannon Wilson, Third Assistant Engineer
Royce Dudley and Third Mate John Robbins. Other
AMO members who contributed but could not
attend the party were Second Mate Chris Kali,
Second Assistant Engineer Chris Rich, Third
Assistant Engineer Roy Coleman, Third Mate Teddy
Dodson, Third Assistant Engineer Scott Magin and
Third Mate Paul Adams.
highway construction contractors for the
account of States,” Echikson wrote. The
DOJ opinion was followed by a memorandum from the Federal Highway
Administration’s deputy administrator at
that time “revoking all instructions mandating the application of the cargo preference requirements to the Federal-aid highway program” and removing the application of these requirements from federal
plans and estimates.
“Our Agency has not applied the
cargo preference requirements to the
Federal-aid highway program since this
time,” Echikson wrote.
In the memo, Echikson stated: “We
agree with MARAD’s interpretation and
give deference to its position, as MARAD
is the lead agency for implementation of
(the) CPA. As a result, recipients of the
Federal-aid highway program must now
meet the requirements of the CPA and its
implementing regulations. The DOJ OLC
opinion, therefore, is no longer applicable
and the 1988 Farris memorandum is no
longer in effect.”