Volume 43, Number 5 May 2013

Page 6: During a hearing in April on the Obama administration’s budgetrequests for the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Administration and FederalMaritime Commission, members of the House Subcommittee on CoastGuard and Maritime Transportation blasted the administration’s plan toshift as much as 45 percent of the funding away from the purchase ofU.S. food-aid from U.S. producers in order to buy from foreign interests.

Congressional panel blasts planto eviscerate PL-480 program

Copyright © 2013 American Maritime Officers ■ editorial@amo-union.org

Page 2: When it comes to long-term job and benefit security for theseagoing AMO membership, it’s necessary to think in uncommon,untraditional ways, to take advantage of emerging trends and to antici-pate varied career options. This is more critical now than ever, withkey elements of U.S. maritime policy at real risk, and with severe fed-eral budget cuts limiting jobs for American merchant mariners.

Media drive could mean new AMOjobs in unconventional trades

Page 12: AMO-manned ships serve in MSC missions

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The Obama Administration in April released its budget pro-posal for fiscal year 2014. Among other things, the admin-istration is seeking to reduce funding for PL-480 shipmentsof U.S. food-aid purchased from American producers by asmuch as 45 percent. The administration has proposed shift-ing that funding to use for the “regional” purchase of food-aid from foreign producers and expansion of the USAID’scash-based emergency assistance account.

Under current cargo preference requirements, 50percent of U.S. food-aid shipments must be carried byU.S.-flagged merchant vessels. The loss of 45 percent ofthe cargo base from the Food for Peace program wouldresult in the permanent withdrawal of numerous vesselsfrom the U.S.-flag fleet and the disappearance of the jobbase for U.S. merchant mariners who work in the PL-480trades, and who are needed to man military sealift anddefense reserve vessels in times of war, conflict and crisis.

Many lawmakers from both houses of Congress —as well as defense experts and a broad range of companiesand organizations from various sectors in the U.S. econo-my — strongly oppose the administration’s proposal.Coverage is included in this edition.

New jobs for AMO on the way as Navychristens USNS Maury for T-AGS fleet

Military Sealift Command’s USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) is launched at VT HalterMarine in Moss Point, Miss. the USNS Maury is named in honor of Cmdr.Matthew Fontaine Maury, known as the “father of modern oceanography.” Theship — expected to be delivered in 2014 — will be the seventh vessel in the T-AGS fleet, which is operated for MSC by Maersk Line, Limited subsidiary 3PSCand is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.

U.S. Navy photo: David Stoltz

The Military Sealift Command T-AGS fleet will return to a count of sevenoceanographic survey ships with the chris-tening of the USNS Maury (T-AGS 66).

The T-AGS vessels are operated forMilitary Sealift Command by 3PSC, awholly-owned subsidiary of Maersk Line,Limited, and are manned in all licensedpositions by American Maritime Officers.The USNS Maury is expected to be deliv-ered in 2014 and will add new jobs for theAMO membership.

“AMO joins the Navy in welcomingthe USNS Maury to the MSC fleet,” saidAMO National President Tom Bethel.“AMO officers have traditionally doneexceptional work in the T-AGS fleet andwe’re very pleased with the opportunity tocontinue this tradition aboard the newestship in the class.”

Christened by the U.S. Navy March27 at VT Halter Marine’s ship yard in MossPoint, Miss., the USNS Maury is 24 feetlonger than its six sister ships in the T-AGSfleet to accommodate a 300 square-foot

moon pool for easier deployment andretrieval of unmanned underwater vehicles.

The 350-foot ship is named for Cmdr.Matthew F. Maury, considered to be thefather of oceanography — nicknamed the“Pathfinder of the Seas” — and the firstsuperintendent of the U.S. NavalObservatory.

The USNS Maury will survey theworld’s oceans, collecting ocean data forthe Naval Meteorology and OceanographyCommand (NAVMETOCCOM), continu-ing the work in the 21st century thatMatthew Maury started in the 19th.

NAVMETOCCOM directs theNavy’s meteorology, oceanography andhydrography programs, operates the Navy’satomic clock for precise time and tracks thepositions of the stars for navigation. Navaloceanography enables the safety, speed andoperational effectiveness of the fleet.

The T-AGS vessels operated by3PSC include the USNS Bowditch, USNS

Heezen, USNS Henson, USNS Mary Sears,USNS Pathfinder and USNS Sumner.

Media drive could mean new jobsfor AMO in unconventional trades

2 • American Maritime Officer May 2013

By Tom Bethel

National President

During anApril 15 interviewon FOX NewsNetwork’s FOXand Friends, I saidconfidently thatthe U.S.-basedi n t e r n a t i o n a lcruise industrycould minimizethe risk of under-way incidents andimprove its publicimage by employing U.S. merchantmarine officers in key bridge and engineroom positions. I pointed out that theseofficers are trained more completely andvetted more thoroughly than the foreignnationals now filling these jobs, and thata visible American presence at sea wouldreassure the U.S. citizens who accountfor nearly all cruise ship ticket salesworldwide.

My remarks in this interview — alive feed from the unique 360-degree-view ship’s bridge simulator at theAmerican Maritime Officers Safety andEducation Plan’s STAR Center in DaniaBeach FL — did not address the legalstatus of foreign-flagged cruise shipsoperating exclusively from U.S. ports,the issue of cost and competition or theprospects of a U.S.-flagged ocean-goingcruise fleet thriving on the U.S. East,Gulf and West Coasts. I was focusedinstead on raising the possibility of pro-ductive agreements like the ground-breaking contract under which AMOmembers work in some senior billetsalongside foreign officers and crewsaboard liquefied natural gas tankersoperated worldwide by Shell Oil.

Since this three-minute FOX spot,I’ve had many phone calls and emailsfrom AMO members pleased that I hadacknowledged the worldwide first-classstanding of U.S. merchant marine officersin general and of AMO members in par-ticular. This is, of course, one of my fun-damental responsibilities as national pres-ident of American Maritime Officers, andI have done it publicly many times. Butthis was especially gratifying because mycomments were carried to a large, nation-wide audience, many of whom were hear-ing the phrase “U.S. merchant marine offi-cers” for the first time.

I’ve also been approached byreporters and producers from cable andbroadcast television, radio, Internet andprint media, asking for more information

about the work that AMO members do,why this work matters, and the differenceAMO members can make — not only incruise markets, but in all international drycargo and energy trades. If these media arewilling to give American MaritimeOfficers the airtime, the bytes and the inkto tell our story, I’m willing to take advan-tage of the opportunities — with threespecific goals in mind.

New jobs for AMO

When it comes to long-term job andbenefit security for the seagoing AMOmembership, it’s necessary to think inuncommon, untraditional ways, to takeadvantage of emerging trends and to antic-ipate varied career options. This is morecritical now than ever, with the Jones Actand U.S.-flag cargo preference laws at realrisk, with severe federal budget cuts limit-ing jobs for American merchant marinersunder government contract, and withMaritime Security Program funding inlong-haul doubt.

But there is plenty of seagoing workto be had in this world, and media contactscan help American Maritime Officers getmuch of it. A lot of prospective employersnow understand the practical advantagesof having highly skilled U.S. citizen mer-chant marine officers aboard their vessels,especially in safety-sensitive areas likecruising and offshore energy explorationand recovery — and news segments likethe one I participated in on FOX andFriends can help persuade these prospec-

tive employers that AMO is a responsibleand realistic source of the skilled, licensedseagoing professionals cruise lines andenergy companies would welcome.

Just days after the FOX segmentaired, I received serious inquiries aboutthe number of AMO members withDynamic Positioning training and experi-ence, along with questions about theunique DP training available at STARCenter. I will pursue this credible lead,and I hope to report soon on a new break-through agreement for AMO.

Telling the merchant marine story

Having represented AmericanMaritime Officers on Capitol Hill foreight years, I know from direct experi-ence that federal lawmakers andCongressional staffers value the private-ly owned and operated U.S. merchantfleet and American merchant mariners aseconomic and defense assets when theindustry is explained clearly and con-cisely to them. And I believe that theAmerican public at large would under-stand and appreciate U.S.-flagged cargoships and U.S. citizen vessel officers andcrews as well if they knew what we do inpeacetime and in war.

The average American does not con-nect the U.S. merchant fleet with the massmovement of tanks, vehicles, helicoptersand heavy defense equipment to U.S.troops halfway around the world. Mostpeople assume that mobilization is justanother government function to be taken

for granted, or they believe all that hard-ware gets to a war zone by air.

Nor does the average American linkthe consumer goods they buy with theU.S.-flagged containerships that bring atleast some of these products to the U.S., orwith the tankers that carry gasoline, homeheating oil and other refined petroleumproducts in domestic markets.

What better, easier way to get thepublic’s attention than through a series oftelling news program and talk show soundbites replayed repeatedly for 24 hours ormore? If American families understoodthe political hostilities directed all toooften at the U.S. merchant fleet, theycould be inspired to contact the WhiteHouse and Congress to express legitimateconcern — and the laws that sustain thefleet as we know it today would be far lessvulnerable.

A reliable source of information

American Maritime Officers couldthrough media contacts become the princi-pal source of important, accurate informa-tion about the U.S. merchant fleet andAmerican merchant mariners, the U.S.policies and international conventions thataffect these ships and mariners and theconsequences — unintended or otherwise— of what the President and Congress door don’t do.

Such standing would allow for sus-tained outreach to prospective employers,enhance AMO’s reputation as a peerlessadvocate of U.S. merchant marine officersand strengthen our already solid growthposition in diverse trades on the high seas,along the U.S. coasts and on the GreatLakes and inland waterways.

As always, I welcome your com-ments and questions. Please feel free tocall me on my cell at (202) 251-0349.

American Maritime Officer(USPS 316-920)

Official Publication of American Maritime Officers601 S. Federal HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 921-2221

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American Maritime OfficersATTENTION: Member Services

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Thomas Bethel, National PresidentJosé Leonard, National Secretary-TreasurerRobert Kiefer, National Executive Vice PresidentJoseph Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep SeaJohn Clemons, National Vice President, Great LakesCharles Murdock, National Vice President, Inland WatersMichael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations

American Maritime Officers National Executive Board

Published Monthly

American Maritime Officer • 3May 2013

USA Maritime opposes President’s budget requestto effectively end PL-480 Food for Peace program

The following article was released by

USA Maritime — a coalition of ship owning

companies, maritime labor organizations

and maritime trade associations of which

American Maritime Officers and American

Maritime Officers Service are members.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — USAMaritime Chairman James L. Henry issuedthe following statement in response to therelease April 10 of the President’s FY 2014budget proposal. Included in the proposalwas a recommendation that the Food forPeace Title II humanitarian assistance pro-gram be significantly altered, with almosthalf its funding diverted to another program.

“USA Maritime is severely disap-pointed that the Obama Administration hasmoved forward with this misguided propos-al to effectively eliminate the long-standingand successful Food for Peace program,”said James L. Henry, chairman of USAMaritime. “Despite recent letters fromCongress to the White House that demon-strate strong, bipartisan support for this pro-gram, the Administration is still advocatingan unnecessary and harmful change to ourflagship international aid program. We con-tinue to view this proposal as shortsightedand seriously damaging to both nationalsecurity and merchant mariner jobs.

“Since 1954, Food for Peace alonehas benefited more than 3 billion people in150 countries and is an important symbol ofAmerica’s goodwill. Unlike other foreignaid programs, this time-tested program doesmore than just send aid overseas. Food forPeace is a point of pride for the 44,000American farmers, shippers, processors,

longshoremen, and merchant marinerswhose jobs depend upon the program. Foodfor Peace leverages private and publicresources to make a meaningful differencefor millions of people in a way thatGovernment cash handouts simply cannot.

“Food for Peace is not only one of ourpremiere diplomatic tools, but it is also animportant component of our national securi-ty. By ensuring a steady flow of Americancargo shipped by Americans on U.S.-flagships, PL-480 helps maintain our MerchantMarine, which is critical for our ability tosupport our troops and first responders intime of war or national emergency. In fact,American mariners on commercial U.S.-flag vessels delivered more than 90 percentof defense cargo to military posts in Iraqand Afghanistan. According to the

Department of Defense, without the base offood aid cargoes to help sustain the com-mercial U.S.-flag fleet, we will not be ableto sustain the national defense sealift capa-bility our military needs without significantadditional Federal expenditures.

“The Administration’s proposals toshift funding to a system of global foodstamp-vouchers, or to shift to purchases offood aid from allegedly cheaper foreignsuppliers instead of donating wholesomecommodities grown by American farmerswill be harmful to our US MerchantMarine, harmful to our national defensesealift capability, harmful to our farmersand millers, and bad for our economy. USAMaritime strongly encourages Congress toreject the Administration’s misguided pro-posal, maintain the current program and

sustain PL 480 Food for Peace funding.Doing so will ensure that this program con-tinues to focus on the reliable export of safeand nutritious U.S.-grown commodities tothose in need overseas.

“We all agree on the importance ofreducing spending during these trying eco-nomic times, but the Food for Peace pro-gram has already been cut 35 percent since2008 despite increased need among themost vulnerable populations in the world.Now is not the time to drastically alter themost dependable tool we have to fight glob-al hunger — a tool that has been workingfor over 50 years. And in a time whenunemployment remains a major obstacle toeconomic growth, shipping American jobsoverseas is the last thing any Administrationshould be proposing.”

AMO aboard Liberty Eagle in PL-480 trades

American Maritime Officers mem-bers working aboard the Liberty

Eagle in March, here in Houston,Texas, included Captain JeffPowell, Chief Mate Jarrett Podaskiand Third Mate Jaime Barretty.The U.S.-flagged Liberty MaritimeCorp. ship is manned in alllicensed positions by AMO.

Congressional support for sustaining PL-480 Title II

The following article was released

April 5 by the office of Congressman

Elijah Cummings (D-MD).

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), ranking member of the HouseCommittee on Oversight andGovernment Reform, and DuncanHunter (R-CA), chairman of the HouseCoast Guard and MaritimeTransportation Subcommittee, led 28 oftheir colleagues in sending a letter toPresident Obama urging him to supportU.S. humanitarian food aid, strengthenU.S. farm production, and preserve the

U.S.-flagged merchant fleet by maintain-ing level funding for the Food for Peaceprogram in his fiscal year 2014 budget.

“The purchase of food from U.S.farmers and its subsequent shipment onU.S.-flagged vessels has helped supportU.S. farm production and preserve theU.S. merchant marine,” the memberswrote. “Reductions in funding for thisprogram — or changes in how it oper-ates — would significantly reduce theamount of U.S. farm products ournation could provide to those in needaround the world. It would also threatenour national security preparedness by

reducing the domestic sealift capacityon which our U.S. military depends.”

Since 1954, the United States hasprovided vital food aid to the world’spoorest communities through the Food forPeace program, which ships U.S. agricul-tural products on U.S.-flagged merchantvessels to food-insecure nations. For sixdecades, this critical program has fed mil-lions at risk of starvation and strengthenedthe capacity of local communities aroundthe world to respond to natural and man-made disasters.

In recent years, there have been sig-nificant cuts to the Food for Peace budget.

Any additional budget cuts — or changesin the way the program is implemented —would reduce U.S. food aid to vulnerablepopulations while putting jobs in our agri-cultural and maritime sectors at risk.

The complete text of the letter, as

well as the names of the congressional

representatives signing the letter, are as

follows:

We write today to affirm our strongsupport for the continuation in its currentform of the “Food for Peace” program cre-ated by Public Law 480, and we ask thatyou maintain level funding for this pro-gram in the budget request you present toCongress for the Department ofAgriculture for fiscal year 2014.

Since 1954, Food for Peace hasenabled the United States to play a leadingrole in responding to international foodassistance needs and ensuring global foodsecurity. In recent years, Title II of Foodfor Peace, which is administered by theU.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment, has become the largestvehicle for U.S. international food aidshipments. Under Title II, U.S. agricultur-al commodities are shipped to developingcountries to provide emergency relief tothose facing food shortages and to supportbroader development objectives. In fiscalyear 2011, Food for Peace donated

Bipartisan group of House members urges Presidentto maintain full funding for U.S. domestic procurement

See PL-480 ◆ Page 4

AMO aboard Liberty Grace in PL-480 trades

American Maritime Officers mem-bers working aboard the Liberty

Grace in March, here in CorpusChristi, Texas, included Second

Mate Andrew Gillilan, Third MatePhil Parisi, Chief Engineer MattShea, Third Assistant EngineerSanfa Conteh, First A.E Todd

Hopkins, Chief Mate James Hook,Captain Jack Cunningham and

Second A.E. James Furby.

4 • American Maritime Officer May 2013

approximately 1.5 million metric tonsof U.S.-grown Title II emergency anddevelopment food aid to more than 46million food-insecure people in 48countries including Kenya, Ethiopia,Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Food for Peace is also critical tosupporting employment among U.S.farmers and merchant mariners. Thepurchase of food from U.S. farmersand its subsequent shipment on U.S.-flagged vessels has helped supportU.S. farm production and preserve theU.S. merchant marine. Reductions infunding for this program – or changesin how it operates – would signifi-cantly reduce the amount of U.S. farmproducts our nation could provide to

Food for Peace supportstwo vital economic sectors,thousands of U.S. jobs

The following letter dated April

8 was sent by Congressman Brian

Higgins (D-NY) to President Obama.

I respectfully write today to addmy support for the continuation of theFood for Peace program and ask thatyou maintain level funding for thisprogram in your fiscal year 2014 bud-get request to Congress.

The United States has been aglobal leader in recognizing the criti-cal necessity of nutrition, food securi-ty, and humanitarian aid in the face ofdisaster. Food for Peace has providedfood and assistance to more than 3 bil-lion people worldwide and provenitself to be one of our nation’s mosteffective tools of diplomacy.

In addition to providing humani-tarian aid worldwide, Food for Peace

supports thousands of American jobs.By using food sourced by U.S. farmersand shipped to every corner of the globeby U.S. merchant mariners, Food forPeace not only demonstrates ourAmerican values, it supports two vitalsectors of our economy, in addition tonumerous logistical and administrativesupport staff needed to effectively carryout this humanitarian mission.

As continued U.S. leadership andinvestment is vital to providing foodand assistance worldwide, maintainingAmerican jobs, and even leveragingdeveloping countries and private indus-try to invest their resources in thiseffort, thank you for your considerationof maintaining level funding for theFood for Peace program in your FY14budget request to Congress.

Eliminating Food for Peacewould be ‘disastrous’ forU.S. sealift capability

The following letter dated April 5

was sent by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-

Lehtinen (R-FL) to President Obama. In

the letter, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen stated:

“Eliminating in-kind food assistance will

be disastrous for many U.S. jobs and the

domestic sealift capacity provided by the

U.S. Merchant Marine, on which our U.S.

military depends. The Food for Peace

Program can, and should, continue to both

benefit numerous communities throughout

the U.S. while helping meet humanitarian

food needs across the globe.”

I write today to express my concernover your Administration’s latest proposalsto change the U.S. Department ofAgriculture’s Food for Peace Program, alsoknown as Public Law 480, away from in-kind food assistance. Although I supportthe United States’ role in combating faminearound the world, I am concerned that thereported changes your Administration isconsidering making to this vital programwill do more harm than good.

As you know, the United States is thesingle largest donor of food aid in the world,providing considerable humanitarian assis-tance to those who are poor and hungry. Yet,along with saving millions of lives over-seas, the Food for Peace Program is alsocritical to supporting employment amongU.S. farmers and merchant mariners. Infact, when President Eisenhower signedinto law legislation authorizing the pro-gram, he explained that the purpose was to“lay the basis for a permanent expansion ofour exports of agricultural products withlasting benefits to ourselves and peoples ofother lands.” However, your Administrationis reportedly considering changing the Foodfor Peace Program from in-kind food assis-tance to cash grants, or purchasing foodfrom foreign suppliers. While it is impera-tive that measures be taken to improve theprogram, your Administration should

instead focus on greater coordination,transparency, and accountability amongthe agencies that administer this program.Eliminating in-kind food assistance willbe disastrous for many U.S. jobs and thedomestic sealift capacity provided by theU.S. Merchant Marine, on which our U.S.military depends. The Food for PeaceProgram can, and should, continue to bothbenefit numerous communities through-out the U.S. while helping meet humani-tarian food needs across the globe.

I urge your administration toreconsider shifting the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture’s Food for Peace Programaway from in-kind food assistance, andinstead make proper and adequateadjustments so that the United States cancontinue to help those overseas whilealso protecting jobs here at home.

PL-480Continued from Page 3

those in need around the world. It wouldalso threaten our national security pre-paredness by reducing the domesticsealift capacity on which our U.S. mili-tary depends.

We look forward to working withyou to support U.S. farms, U.S. jobs, theU.S.-flagged merchant fleet, and ournation’s ability to provide much neededhumanitarian and emergency food assis-tance to the world’s least-developedcountries by maintaining the Food forPeace Program.

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD)Duncan Hunter (R-CA)John Garamendi (D-CA)Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV)Corrine Brown (D-FL)Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA)

Janice Hahn (D-CA)Gary G. Miller (R-CA)Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA)Michael M. Honda (D-CA)Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ)Renee L. Ellmers (R-NC)Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)David P. Joyce (R-OH)Tom Latham (R-IA)Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA)Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA)Stephen Lee Fincher (R-TN)Bob Gibbs (R-OH)Michael G. Grimm (R-NY)Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH)C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)Don Young (R-AK)Richard M. Nolan (D-MN)Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA)Rick Larsen (D-WA)Cheri Bustos (D-IL)Kathy Castor (D-FL)

Government Accountability Office report: U.S. national securityand military preparedness heavily depend on the Jones Act

The following article was released

by the American Maritime Partnership, an

organization of which American Maritime

Officers Service is a member, and which

American Maritime Officers supports.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letterdated April 3, 2013, to the HouseSubcommittee on Seapower andProjection Forces Chairman RandyForbes (R-VA) and Ranking MemberMike McIntyre (D-NC), the American

Maritime Partnership (AMP) highlighteda new Government Accountability Office(GAO) report on Puerto Rico andAmerican shipping that says U.S. nationalsecurity and military preparedness heavilydepend on the Jones Act.

The Jones Act is a U.S. maritimelaw that mandates the use of vessels thatare American-crewed, -built, and -ownedto move cargo between two U.S. ports.

“A decline in the number of U.S.-

flag vessels would result in the loss ofjobs that employ skilled mariners need-ed to crew the U.S. military reserve andother deep-sea vessels in times of emer-gency,” the GAO said. “According to(Department of Defense) officials, tothe extent that Jones Act markets areunable to sustain a viable reserve fleet,DOD would have to incur substantialadditional costs to maintain and recapi-talize a reserve fleet of its own.”

The GAO also said that loss of theJones Act could result in “significanteffects on shipyards and the shipyardindustry base needed by DOD.”

The GAO report explained theimportant role of the American domesticshipping industry for the Department ofDefense. In finding that “the original goalof the [Jones] Act remains important tomilitary preparedness,” GAO made threeparticular points about the Americandomestic fleet:

• A strong domestic fleet is neces-sary to ensure an available supply of sea-farers for times of national crisis.

• The American domestic fleet is acost-efficient way to provide militarysealift.

• A strong national shipyard base isessential to military preparedness, particu-larly today.

“As you know, DOD and the U.S.Navy heavily rely on commercialmariners, including many from the U.S.domestic fleet, for a variety of criticalnational security roles,” AMP wrote.“DOD has previously estimated thatreplacing the commercial maritime indus-try with military vessels, seafarers andshipyards would cost billions of dollars.”

AMO aboard the Maersk Virginia in MSP fleet

American Maritime Officers mem-bers working aboard the Maersk

Virginia in January, here inHouston, Texas, included FirstAssistant Engineer Tody Vo,

Second A.E. Robert Norris andThird A.E. George Schneider. Theship is operated in the Maritime

Security Program fleet by MaerskLine, Limited and is manned in all

licensed positions by AMO.

American Maritime Officer • 5May 2013

AMO aboardsteamer Arthur

M. AndersonAmerican Maritime Officers mem-

bers fitting out the Key Lakessteamer Arthur M. Anderson at thebeginning of March included ChiefEngineer Steven Thompson, First

Assistant Engineer Michael Hartley,Second A.E. David Keppard, Third

A.E. Dale Miller and Third A.E.Andrew Morgan. With them is AMO

Senior National Assistant VicePresident Brian Krus.

March cargo float on Great Lakes down from previous yearU.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighters

carried 2.2 million tons of dry-bulk cargoin March 2013, a decrease of 7 percentcompared with March 2012.

The 2013 float was marginallyahead of the month’s five-year average forU.S.-flagged lakers, the Lake Carriers’Association reported.

Iron ore shipments moved in U.S.bottoms rose slightly by 25,000 tons com-pared with last year. However, in the firstquarter of 2013, iron ore cargoes weredown from the same period last year.

Loadings of coal declined more than60 percent for the month compared withMarch 2012, and more than 50 percent forthe first quarter of the year. The limestonetrade in U.S.-flagged hulls nearly doubledfor March, and the numbers were ahead by60 percent for the quarter compared withthe previous year.

GLMTF urges House members to include RAMP Actprovisions in new Water Resources Development Act

The House Transportation andInfrastructure Committee’s Subcommitteeon Water Resources and the EnvironmentApril 16 convened the “first of what will bemultiple hearings on the United States ArmyCorps of Engineers and the next WaterResources Development Act.”

Subcommittee Chairman Rep. BobGibbs (R-OH) addressed the significant inef-ficiencies in terms of duration and expensethat have developed in the project studyprocess, as well as the regulatory burdensunder which the Army Corps is operating.

“It is critical to accelerate these stud-ies,” Rep. Gibbs said. “But it is alsoextremely important that we better priori-tize the Corps of Engineers program tofocus the agency on those projects andactivities that protect life, promote safety,have an economic return on the investment,

and have local support.”In prepared testimony, and in remarks

during the hearing, the panel was urged toincorporate full and proper use of HarborMaintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) revenuesfor their intended purpose — maintenancedredging of U.S. ports and waterways — inthe next Water Resources Development Act.

Separately, in the Senate, the WaterResources Development Act of 2013 (S.601) has been introduced and placed on theSenate’s legislative calendar. S. 601includes provisions of the RealizeAmerica’s Maritime Promise (RAMP) Actof 2013 and the Harbor Maintenance Actof 2013. S. 601, as reported by the SenateCommittee on Environment and PublicWorks, seeks to ensure, among otherthings, that all HMTF revenues areexpended every year for port maintenance.

Chairman of the full HouseTransportation and InfrastructureCommittee Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA)addressed the panel, emphasizing the needto improve efficiency in the project assess-ment and execution process, and the urgencyof improving the nation’s waterborne trans-portation infrastructure. He echoed the frus-tration expressed by members of the sub-committee regarding the time and costinvolved in these projects, and discussed,among other things, the importance of aviable and efficient waterborne transporta-tion system for U.S. economic competitive-ness and effectiveness in the marketplace.

In testimony submitted for the hearing,the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, ofwhich American Maritime Officers is amember, noted the critical need for water-borne transportation infrastructure improve-

ments in the Great Lakes Navigation System.These include bringing an end to the dredg-ing crisis and construction of a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

“The Water Resources DevelopmentAct of 2013 can end the dredging crisis with-out requiring one additional dollar in federalrevenue,” the task force stated.

“As noted, lack of adequate fundingfor dredging has left 18 million cubic yardsof sediment clogging the Great Lakes portsand waterways,” the task force wrote. “Theamount varies from port to port. InAshtabula, Ohio, near the chairman’s district,the backlog tops 900,000 cubic yards.

“The Corps estimates it will cost about$200 million to restore the Great LakesNavigation System to functional dimen-

The AmericanSteamship Company

ATB Ken Boothe

Sr./Lakes Contender

unloads iron ore pel-lets at the TORCO

iron ore transfer facil-ity in Toledo, Ohio in

April. The ATBloaded its first cargo

of the season inMarquette, Mich.

American MaritimeOfficers membersworking aboard theATB in April includedSenior Mate MichaelTanner and JuniorMate ScottTomlinson. Withthem is AMO SeniorNational AssistantVice President BrianKrus.

See WRDA ◆ Page 12

American Maritime Officers aboard ATB Ken Boothe Sr./ Lakes Contender

The Arthur M. Anderson is preparedfor the season in Toledo, Ohio.

U.S.-Flag Carriage Year-to-Date (March) 2008-2013 — net tons

Commodity 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Average

2008-2012

Iron Ore 4,767,858 990,849 3,952,326 4,481,865 4,952,277 4,288,997 1,942,207

Coal 1,297,077 356,295 824,012 1,116,997 775,245 368,427 850,968

Limestone 122,151 0 16,920 15,049 171,975 276,489 27,814

Cement 241,699 127,589 155,308 194,341 257,678 216,512 170,081

Salt 101,324 0 102,620 54,808 214,093 24,020 43,432

Sand 0 0 0 0 0 13,892 27,046

Grain 0 0 0 0 15,764 0 94,851

Total 6,530,109 1,474,733 5,051,186 5,899,060 6,387,032 5,188,337 2,620,550

Source: Lake Carriers’ Association

During a hearing held by theSubcommittee on Coast Guard andMaritime Transportation in the House ofRepresentatives April 16, members of thepanel voiced powerful criticism of theObama administration’s proposal to cut byup to 45 percent in-kind shipments of food-aid purchased from U.S. producers underPL-480. Lawmakers also emphasized theirstrong support for the Food for Peace pro-gram in its current form, which providesthousands of American jobs in the farming,agriculture and maritime transportation sec-tors, and sustains a job base for U.S. mer-chant mariners, who are vitally important tothe nation’s defense sealift capability ofmanning military- and government-ownedvessels in times of war, conflict and crisis.

The hearing was convened toaddress the administration’s fiscal year2014 budget proposals for the U.S. CoastGuard, Maritime Administration andFederal Maritime Commission, and wit-nesses from all three agencies testifiedbefore the panel.

“The budget request for theMaritime Administration represents a 3.6percent increase over current levels. Butthe increase comes as a result of thePresident’s misguided effort to effectivelyeliminate the hugely successful Food forPeace program,” said SubcommitteeChairman Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA).“Since 1954, the Food for Peace programhas provided agricultural commoditiesgrown by U.S. farmers and transported byU.S. mariners on U.S.-flagged vessels tothose threatened by starvation throughoutthe world. The President’s restructuring ofFood for Peace will eliminate a vital pro-gram for our farmers, put U.S. marinersout of work and undermine our nationalsecurity by reducing the domestic sealiftcapacity on which our military depends.”

Proposed cut to U.S. food-aid shipments

The administration’s budget propos-al for fiscal year 2014 seeks to shift morethan $1.4 billion away from theDepartment of Agriculture for PL-480Title II and reallocate the funding to theU.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID).

In a statement posted on the USAIDwebsite, the agency announced its inten-tions to spread the funding over threeassistance accounts, resulting in the use ofas much as 45 percent of the money to pur-chase food-aid from “regional” producers(foreign interests) rather than U.S. farmersand food producers, and to expand theFood for Peace International DisasterAssistance (IDA) cash-based account fromthe fiscal year 2012 level of $300 millionto a total of $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2014.

According to USAID, “the food aidreform proposal guarantees that in 2014 noless than 55 percent of the requested $1.4billion in total funding for emergency foodassistance in IDA will be used for the pur-chase, transport, and related costs of U.S.commodities.”

Under current cargo preferencerequirements, 50 percent of U.S. food-aidshipments must be carried by U.S.-flaggedmerchant vessels.

During the hearing, SubcommitteeRanking Member Rep. John Garamendi(D-CA) voiced severe skepticism regard-ing the administration’s proposal. “I thinkthat’s a mistake, having spent 40 years ofmy life working on famine and food issuesaround the world,” he said. “I don’t think

this is the rightway to go aboutsolving that prob-lem.

“I also comeat this from a dif-ferent perspective,and that is theavailability offood in those partsof the worldwhere there ishunger,” Rep.Garamendi said.“And the proposalby the administration is essentially one ofpurchasing food regionally, rather thanusing American commodities on Americanships to be delivered to those areas.

“I’ve been at this some 40 yearsand I don’t think it works,” he said. “I’mtrying to figure out where the regionalfood purchasing is available.Presumably, there’s a shortage of food inthat area, so what is the region?”

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) alsopresented pointed criticism of the propos-al. “The administration’s decision torestructure the Food for Peace program, Ithink, is absolutely wrong,” he said.“These are American jobs that will be lost.This is American capacity that will belost.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)emphasized the need to do more to expandthe U.S.-flag merchant marine, rather thanto put forth policies that will drive U.S.-flagged ships out of the industry and U.S.merchant mariners out of work. During thehearing, Rep. Cummings addressed boththe administration’s budget proposal andthe reduction in the U.S.-flag cargo prefer-ence requirement for U.S. food-aid ship-ments enacted last year.

“I am also deeply concerned by mea-sures proposed in the administration’s bud-

get that would have devastating conse-quences for our merchant marine,” Rep.Cummings said.

“Recent policy developments threat-en only to drive more vessels away fromour flag,” he said. “As we’re all aware,section 100124 of the MAP-21 legislation,a provision slipped into a highway bill inthe dead of night, reduced the amount ofU.S. food aid required to be carried onU.S.-flagged ships from 75 percent to just50 percent.”

A Band-Aid for a bullet wound

In its FY 2014 proposal for USAID,the administration stated: “The budget alsoprovides $25 million per year through theDepartment of Transportation’s MaritimeAdministration for additional targetedoperating subsidies for military-useful ves-sels and incentives to facilitate the reten-tion of mariners. Worker adjustment assis-tance would be available for remaining eli-gible mariners.”

Rep. Hunter remarked on the pro-posal at the opening of the hearing: “thePresident’s attempt to placate the concernsof U.S. mariners by throwing some addi-tional money at the Maritime SecurityProgram for one year will not work. I hopemy colleagues will join me in rejecting thePresident’s misguided proposal.”

During the hearing, MaritimeAdministrator David Matsuda said: “Werecognize that we have to do whatever wecan to retain those vessels and those crews.Mariners are extremely valuable, both tothe commercial industry and to the U.S.when we need them to crew up govern-ment-owned reserve vessels.”

However, as discussion of this provi-sion progressed, no explanation was pro-vided as to how the one-time, one-year $25million subsidy would replace the cargobase that would be lost in the proposedrestructuring of Food for Peace, or how it

would prevent numerous non-MSP com-mercial U.S.-flagged merchant vesselsfrom leaving the fleet, eradicating a sub-stantial portion of the job base for U.S.merchant mariners who work in the PL-480 trades and who man military sealiftand defense reserve vessels that rendercrucial mission support in times of war andconflict, and vital assistance duringdomestic and international emergenciesand natural disasters.

Questioning Matsuda during thehearing, Rep. Cummings asked: “Whydoes the administration believe it will besufficient to subsidize seafarers to allowthem to maintain their unlimited deep-ocean credentials if there is no cargo orship for them to sail on?”

Rep. Garamendi presented a similarassessment. “It’s kind of like a short-termunemployment insurance program with nojob in the future,” he said.

When questioned by Rep. Hunterregarding the number of ships that wouldbe affected by the budget proposal to cutU.S. food-aid shipments, as well as thenumber of ships that could be supportedwith an additional $25 million, Matsudasaid 20 U.S.-flagged ships enrolled in theMaritime Security Program, and 30 shipsnot enrolled in the MSP, carry some U.S.food-aid cargoes.

“For comparison purposes, theMaritime Security Program currentlyapportions $3.1 million per vessel, so thatwould be about eight vessels,” Matsudasaid. “However, that does rely upon avail-able cargoes to ensure that these vesselscan stay commercially viable.”

Rep. Hunter responded: “I think yourealize — from the committee and thefeedback — that we’re going to try to savethe Food for Peace program for our basicindustrial capability and capacity, for ourshipbuilders, our operators, our marinersand industry in general.”

6 • American Maritime Officer May 2013

AMO aboard tanker Pelican State in Jones Act trades

American Maritime Officers mem-bers working aboard the JonesAct tanker Pelican State in March,here in Corpus Christi, Texas,included Chief Mate Bobby Cates,Third Mate Erik Matthews, CaptainMike Lamb and Third Mate PatDowhan. The Pelican State isoperated by Intrepid Personneland Provisioning and is manned inall licensed positions by AMO.

American Maritime Officers mem-bers working aboard the JonesAct tanker Pelican State in March,here in Corpus Christi, Texas,included Third Assistant EngineerAndrew McDermott, First A.E. DanPetrocelli and Chief Engineer JohnNoyes. With them is AMO NationalAssistant Vice President DavidWeathers.

House members blast administration’s 2014 budgetproposal to cut food-aid shipments by 45 percent

Rep. DuncanHunter (R-CA)

American Maritime Officer • 7May 2013

AMO members upgrade licenses

American Maritime Officers members Bartolome Romero and MatthewSanford in March successfully completed all exams to upgrade their licens-es after preparing at STAR Center. Romero upgraded to second mate,oceans/any gross tons, and Sanford upgraded to chief mate, oceans/anygross tons.

Rep. Cummings to receive 2013Salute to Congress Award

The International Propeller Club of theUnites States will honor Congressman ElijahCummings (D-MD) at the annual Salute toCongress dinner, to be held on May 7 at theArmy Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va.

For more than a quarter century, thePropeller Club and its members have recog-nized congressional representatives whohave demonstrated consistent support for themaritime industry and the U.S.-flag mer-chant marine.

“The Propeller Club considers it anhonor to recognize Representative ElijahCummings,” said Propeller Club PresidentSonny Smith. “We look forward to the

opportunity tothank him for hissupport for themaritime sector ofthe U.S. economythrough his ser-vice on theSubcommittee onCoast Guard andMaritime Trans-portation and hiscommitment tothe education ofthe next genera-tion of mariners.”

Congressional support for full MSP funding FY 2014Led by House Armed Services

Committee Chairman Howard “Buck”McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking MemberAdam Smith (D-WA), a total of 46 con-gressional representatives urged col-leagues to fully fund the MaritimeSecurity Program in the fiscal year 2014appropriations bill for the Departments ofTransportation, Housing and UrbanDevelopment, and Related Agencies.

In a letter to Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA)— chairman of the AppropriationCommittee’s Subcommittee onTransportation, Housing and UrbanDevelopment, and Related Agencies — and

Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ), ranking member onthe subcommittee, the representativesrequested $186 million for the MaritimeSecurity Program (MSP) in fiscal year 2014— the “amount necessary to ensure that theU.S. Maritime Administration, in conjunc-tion with the Department of Defense, has thenecessary funds available to fully implementthe MSP in FY 2014.

“The MSP was originally enacted toensure that the United States has the U.S.-flag commercial sealift capability andtrained U.S. citizen merchant mariners avail-able to crew the government and privately-owned vessels needed by the Department of

Defense in time of war or other internation-al emergency,” the representatives wrote.“Most importantly, the Maritime SecurityProgram and the uninterrupted operation ofits maritime security fleet of 60 U.S.-flagmilitarily-useful commercial vessels ensuresthat America will in fact be able to supportand supply our troops overseas. It guaran-tees that American flag vessels andAmerican crews will continue to be avail-able to transport the supplies and equipmentour troops need to do their job in behalf ofour nation.

“Without having the MSP and its mar-itime security fleet to rely on, the optionsavailable to the Department of Defense andto our country to meet America’s commer-cial sealift capability requirements are total-ly unacceptable,” they wrote.

“On the one hand, our country wouldbe faced with the option of giving foreignflag shipping interests and their foreignmariners, interests who may not shareAmerica’s goals, objectives and values, theresponsibility for supporting and advancingAmerica’s security interests overseas.These foreign flag shipping services willhave to be paid for by the United States andit means our country will be encouragingthe outsourcing of American maritime jobsas we spend taxpayer dollars on foreignflag ships and their foreign crews,” the rep-resentatives noted.

“On the other hand, our countrywould be faced with the option of havingthe Department of Defense build, maintainand operate the requisite vessels itself, at atremendous cost to the American taxpayer.In fact, a 2006 report prepared for theNational Defense TransportationAssociation — Military Sealift Committee

concluded that ‘the likely cost to the gov-ernment to replicate just the vessel capaci-ty provided by the MSP dry cargo vesselswould be $13 billion.’ In addition, theUnited States Transportation Commandhas estimated that it would cost the U.S.Government an additional $52 billion toreplicate the ‘global intermodal system’that is made available to the Department ofDefense by MSP participants who are con-tinuously developing, maintaining andupgrading their systems.”

Signing the letter wereRepresentatives Howard “Buck” McKeon(R-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), DuncanHunter (R-CA), Don Young (R-AK), RickLarsen (D-WA), Corrine Brown (D-FL),Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Gary Miller (R-CA), C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD),Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Albio Sires (D-NJ),Michael Grimm (R-NY), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), ElijahCummings (D-MD), John Duncan (R-TN),Chris Gibson (R-NY), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), RobertAndrews (D-NJ), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Lois Frankel(D-FL), Howard Coble (R-NC), WalterJones (R-NC), Robert Wittman (R-VA),Brian Higgins (D-NY), Scott Peters (D-CA), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Sean Maloney(D-NY), William Enyart (D-IL), BlakeFarenthold (R-TX), Scott Rigell (R-VA),Marc Veasey (D-TX), Dan Maffei (D-NY),Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Alan Lowenthal(D-CA), Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), TimBishop (R-UT), Cedric Richmond (D-LA),David McKinley (R-WV), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Jim Langevin (D-RI),Randy Forbes (R-VA), Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).AMO aboard Alliance Fairfax in

Maritime Security Program fleet

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Alliance Fairfax inApril, here in Beaumont, Texas, included Captain Lee Dixon and Chief MateDan Lunny. The ship — operated by Argent Marine Operations, Inc. —recently replaced the Alliance Charleston in the Maritime Security Programfleet. The Alliance Fairfax is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.

AMO members working aboard the Alliance Fairfax in April included FirstAssistant Engineer Dave Nance, Third A.E. Kenny Jordan and ChiefEngineer Matt Desmond. Not in the picture is Second A.E. Alex Armstrong.

Rep. ElijahCummings (D-MD)

Saving Essential AmericanSailors (SEAS) Act introduced

Congressmen Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Scott Rigell (R-VA) April 24announced the introduction of the SavingEssential American Sailors (SEAS) Act inthe 113th Congress. This legislation (H.R.1678) would repeal Section 100124 of theMAP-21 legislation enacted last year, whichreduced from 75 percent to 50 percent theportion of U.S. food aid required to be car-ried on U.S.-flagged vessels.

“The senseless cuts made to thecargo preference program in MAP-21dealt another blow to an already batteredU.S. merchant marine. It is essential thatthese cuts be reversed and that we beginimplementing policies that will strengthen

our merchant marine by increasing thecargoes carried on U.S.-flagged vessels,”Rep. Cummings said.

“Our region, indeed, our nationaleconomy, depends on a robust Americanshipping industry, and we must protect thosejobs,” said Rep. Rigell, who represents partof the Hampton Roads region and serves onthe House Armed Services Committee andthe House Committee on the Budget.“Further, we should not have to depend onforeign owned vessels to deliver cargo to ourtroops overseas. This legislation will ensurewe keep Americans employed while defend-ing the good men and women who aredefending our freedom around the world.”

8 • American Maritime Officer May 2013

American Maritime Officers Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research Center2 West Dixie Highway • Dania Beach, FL 33004 • (954) 920-3222

General Courses

ABS NS5 Fleet Management Software 3 days 5 June 16 October

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 13 May 10 June 15 July 19 August 16 September 14 October 18 November

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 3 June 8 July 9 September 28 October

Basic Safety Training — Refresher 3 days 5 June 10 July 11 September

Chemical Safety — Advanced 5 days 29 July 21 October

ECDIS 5 days 20 May 24 June 15 July 5 August 16 September 23 September 11 November

Effective Supervision 2 days Please call

Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator) 3 days 10 June 15 July 30 September 18 November

Fast Rescue Boat 4 days 24 June 15 July 3 September 12 November

GMDSS Note: Requires after hours homework! 10 days 30 September 11 November

LNG Tankerman PIC 8 days 5 June

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 17 June

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 28 May 16 September 21 October

Safety Officer Course 2 days 25 July 12 September 21 November

Tankerman PIC DL — Classroom 5 days 23 September

Tankerman PIC DL — Simulator 10 days 13 May 8 July 19 August 28 October

Train the Trainer 5 days 17 June 26 August 7 October

Train the Trainer — Simulator Instructors 5 days Please call

Vessel/Company Security Officer — Includes Anti-Piracy 3 days 3 June 22 July 12 August 9 September 28 October 18 November

Deck Courses

Advanced Bridge Resource Management 5 days 15 July (P.M.) 28 Oct (P.M.) 4 November

Advanced Shiphandling for Masters — (No equivalency) Must have sailed as

Chief Mate Unlimited5 days 24 June 26 August 30 Sept (PM)

Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates — 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rd Mates 10 days 13 May (P.M.) 12 August 16 September 11 November

Advanced Emergency Shiphandling — First Class Pilots, Great Lakes 5 days Please call

Bridge Resource Management Seminar 3 days Please call

Dynamic Positioning — Basic 5 days 3 June 16 September

Dynamic Positioning — Advanced 5 days 15 July 4 November

Integrated Bridge System (IBS) / Prodded Propulsion Training 5 days 7 Oct (P.M.)

STCW Deck Officer Refresher — Great Lakes 3 days Please call

TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) — Third Mate (Unlimited or Great

Lakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required5 days 17 June 26 August 30 September

Tug Training — ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive) 5 days 20 May (P.M.) 9 September

Visual Communications (Flashing Light) — Test only! 1 day Scheduled as required

Engineering Courses

Advanced Slow Speed Diesel 10 days 8 July 30 September

Basic Electricity 10 days 24 June 5 August 7 October 11 November

Diesel Crossover 4 weeks 3 June

Engine Room Resource Management 5 days 23 September

Gas Turbine Endorsement 10 days 13 May 17 June 19 August 14 October 11 November

High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom) 3 days 15 July 28 October

Ocean Ranger Program 6 days Please call

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) 5 days 8 July 19 August 21 October

Refrigeration (Operational Level) 5 days 19 August

Refrigeration (Management Level) 5 days 26 August

Steam Endorsement 4 weeks 1 July

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 19 August 28 October

Deck Upgrade at the Management Level — 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.

Celestial Navigation 5 days 20 May 8 July 19 August 14 October

Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology 5 days 20 May 8 July 2 September 21 October

Cargo Operations 9 days 17 June 5 August 23 September 12 November

Marine Propulsion Plants 5 days 10 June 29 July 16 September 4 November

Upgrade: Stability 5 days 3 June 22 July 9 September 28 October

Watchkeeping 1: BRM 3 days 15 May 17 July 4 September 16 October

Watchkeeping 2: COLREGS — Watchkeeping 1 & 2 must be completed within 12

months of each other5 days 20 May 22 July 9 September 21 October

Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level 10 days 3 June 29 July 16 September 25 October

Shipboard Management 5 days 17 June 12 August 7 October 18 November

Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator) 5 days 24 June 19 August 30 September 11 November

ECDIS — Advanced Navigation and the USCG approved ECDIS to be completed within

12 months of each other. Suggested dates follow. See also deck courses above.5 days 13 May 1 July 26 August 7 October 18 November

Self-Study License Exam Preparation A/R

American Maritime Officer • 9May 2013

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 theschool 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 theAmerican 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.

MARAD Training Program — (11 day package comprised of 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 — Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training — Open to

members and applicants eligible for employment through AMO (within 1 year) on MSC or

MARAD contracted vessels.

3 days 12 August

Elementary First Aid 1 day 15 August

Drug Collector Training 1 day 16 August

Breath Alcohol Test Collector 1 day 17 August

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 19 August

MSC Training Program

CMEO for Junior Engineers 5 days 22 July 7 October 22 November

Basic CBR Defense 1 day 28 June 19 July 30 August 18 October 4 November

Damage Control 1 day 27 June 18 July 29 August 17 October 21 November

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 28 May 19 August 3 September 21 October

Helicopter Fire Fighting 1 day 4 June 9 July 10 September 29 October

Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD) 1/2 day 28 June 19 July 30 August 18 October

Marine Sanitation Devices 1/2 day 13 June 18 July 3 October 21 November

Medical PIC Refresher — Note: Not MSC approved 3 days 4 September 16 October

MSC Readiness Refresher — Must have completed full CBRD & DC once in career. 5 days 3 June 8 July 9 September 28 October

MSC Watchstander — BASIC — Once in career, SST grads grandfathered 2 days 16 May 1 August 26 September 4 November

MSC Watchstander — ADVANCED — Required for all SRF members 1 day 20 May 5 August 30 September 11 November

MSC Ship Reaction Force — Required every three years for SRF members 3 days 21 May 6 August 1 October 12 November

SAMM — Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management 3 days 29 May

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. Remedial shoot will be afforded on Day 4 for at least 1

weapon if passing score not attained. STCW Endorsement required.

3 days 13, 28 May 10, 24 June 15, 29 July 12, 26 August 9, 23 Sept. 14, 28 October 6, 18 November

Water Sanitation Afloat 1/2 day 13 June 18 July 3 October 21 November

Medical Courses

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 28 May 19 August 3 September 21 October

Elementary First Aid — Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months 1 day 18 June 23 July 20 August 24 September 22 October 5 November

Medical Care Provider — Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12 months.

Please fax EFA certificate when registering3 days 19 June 24 July 21 August 25 September 23 October 6 November

Medical PIC — Please fax MCP certificate when registering 5 days 13 May 24 June 29 July 26 August 30 September 11 November

Urinalysis Collector Training 1 day 20 May 1 July 5 August 7 October 4, 18 November

Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) — Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only! 1 day 21 May 2 July 6 August 8 October 19 November

Saliva Screening Test — QEDs only! 1/2 day 22 May 3 July 7 August 9 October 20 November

Medical PIC Refresher — Note: Not MSC approved 3 days 4 September 16 October

Radar Courses

Radar Recertification 1 day 4 June 12 August 3 September 15 October 4 November

Radar Recertification at Toledo Maritime Academy — Non-Resident

Training, apply to Student Services, Dania Beach1 day 27 June 26 September 24 October 21 November

ARPA 4 days 5 November

Radar Recertification & ARPA 5 days 4 November

Original Radar Observer Unlimited 5 days 28 October

Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) — Completion of this program will satisfy the training requirements for STCW certification as Officer In Charge of a Navigation Watch (3M/2M) on vessels of 500

or more gross tonnage (ITC). This program will complete ALL Control Sheet assessments.

Celestial Navigation 10 days 3 June

Ship Construction & Stability 5 days 17 June

Emergency Procedures & SAR 4 days 1 July

Meteorology 5 days 15 July

Cargo Handling & Storage 5 days 24 June

Magnetic & Gyro Compass 3 days 24 June

Electronic Navigation 5 days 22 July

Terrestrial Navigation 10 days 29 July

Watchkeeping 10 days 12 August

Basic Shiphandling at the Operational Level 5 days 26 August

Self-Study License Exam Preparation A/R Available to those students who completed their courses at STAR Center. Please call to schedule.

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 10 June 14 October

Basic Safety Training 5 days 3 June 28 October

EFA/MCP 4 days 18 June 5 November

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 28 May 21 October

Basic Electricity (original engineers only) 10 days 24 June 11 November

Original 3 A/E Preparation and Exams A/R 8 July 25 November

Original License Courses

RFPNW Assessments 1 day 12 July

Marlin Spike 1 day 27 June

40-hour Able Seaman 5 days Please call

Self-Study CDs and Online Programs — Available for use when attending other approved classroom courses

Afloat Environmental Protection Coordinator CD DoT — Hazardous Material Transportation Training CD

Anti-Terrorism Level 1 Online EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification Examination Self-study

Crew Endurance Management CD Prudent Mariner’s Guide to Right Whale Protection CD

Vessel General Permit — EPA CD

10 • American Maritime Officer May 2013

AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

DANIA BEACH, FL 33004601 S. Federal Highway(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513Thomas J. Bethel, National President tommybethel@aol.com / tbethel@amo-union.org / Mobile: (202) 251-0349José E. Leonard, National Secretary-Treasurer (jleonard@amo-union.org)Jack Branthover, Special Assistant to the National President(jbranthover@amo-union.org)FAX: (954) 926-5112Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea(jgremelsbacker@amo-union.org)Charles A. Murdock, National Vice President, Inland Waters (cmurdock@amo-union.org)Mobile: (954) 531-9977 / FAX: (954) 367-1025Dispatch: (800) 345-3410FAX: (954) 926-5126Brendan Keller, Dispatcher (bkeller@amo-union.org)Robert Anderson, Dispatcher (randerson@amo-union.org)Member Services: Extension 1050 (memberservices@amo-union.org)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW, Suite 7204(202) 479-1166 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 7001Thomas J. Bethel, National President tommybethel@aol.com / tbethel@amo-union.orgMobile: (202) 251-0349J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relationsmmurphy@amo-union.orgMobile: (202) 560-6889Paul Doell, Legislative Director pauldoell51@yahoo.com / Mobile: (954) 882-4297FAX: (202) 479-1188

PORTS

PHILADELPHIA, PA 191132 International Plaza, Suite 422Robert J. Kiefer, National Executive Vice President (rkiefer@amo-union.org)(800) 362-0513 ext. 4001 / 4002Mobile: (215) 859-1059FAX: (610) 521-1301

GALVESTON, TX 775512724 61st Street, Suite BPMB 192David M. Weathers, National Assistant Vice President(dweathers@amo-union.org)(800) 362-0513 ext. 2001Mobile: (409) 996-7362FAX: (409) 737-4454

TOLEDO, OH 43604The Melvin H. Pelfrey BuildingOne Maritime Plaza, Third Floor(419) 255-3940(800) 221-9395FAX: (419) 255-2350John E. Clemons, National Vice President, Great Lakes (johnclemons@amo-union.org)Brian D. Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice President(bkrus@amo-union.org)Donald Cree, Great Lakes Special Assistant to the National President(dcree@amo-union.org)Stan Barnes, National Representative (wbarnes@amo-union.org)Bruce DeWerth, Dispatcher (bdewerth@amo-union.org)

SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND, CA 946071121 7th Street, Second FloorOakland, CA 94607(510) 444-5301(800) 362-0513 ext. 5001Daniel E. Shea, National Assistant Vice President(dshea@amo-union.org)FAX: (954) 367-1064

STAR CENTER

STUDENT SERVICES/LODGING AND COURSE INFORMATION2 West Dixie HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004(954) 920-3222 ext. 201 / (800) 942-3220 ext. 201Course Attendance Confirmation: (800) 942-3220 ext. 200FAX: (954) 920-314024 Hours: (954) 920-3222 ext.7999

TRAINING RECORDS SYSTEMLisa Marra(954) 920-3222 ext. 7118 FAX: (954) 925-5681TRS@star-center.com

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

MEDICAL CLINIC AMO PLANS2 West Dixie Highway 2 West Dixie HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004 Dania Beach, FL 33004(954) 927-5213 (800) 348-6515FAX: (954) 929-1415 FAX: (954) 922-7539

LEGAL

AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid ProgramMichael RenyMobile: (419) 346-1485(419) 243-1105 / (888) 853-4662MikeReny@BEX.NET

Joel Glanstein, General Counsel437 Madison Ave.35th FloorNew York, NY 10022(212) 370-5100FAX: (212) 697-6299

New EPA vessel generalpermit will take effect inDecember 2013

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final vessel general permit (VGP) regulating

discharges from commercial vessels, including ballast water. The final VGP covers commercial vessels

greater than 79 feet in length, excluding military and recreational vessels, and will replace the 2008 vessel

general permit due to expire on Dec. 19, 2013.

More information is available on the EPA website (www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels). An overview of the

final 2013 VGP is available online (www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/vgp_overview2013.pdf).

American Maritime Officers members train at STAR Center

American Maritime Officers members completing the Senior Deck Officers’Advanced Shiphandling Course for Maersk Line, Limited at STAR Center in Aprilincluded Shaun Hughes, Vince Radkins, Horatiu Vintila and Philip Solito.

American Maritime Officers members completing Engine Room ResourceManagement training at STAR Center in April included Wendell Sprague, StevenThatcher, Brian Kelly and Gary Gilbert.

American Maritime Officer • 11May 2013

AMO ocean rangers prepare for Alaska’s 2013 cruise season

American Maritime Officers members completing Ocean Ranger training atSTAR Center in April in preparation for the 2013 Alaska cruise season included(in no particular order) Tim Nelick, James Ham, Richard Fowler, SteveChouinard, Peter Gorman, Casey Cooper, Tom Guiney, Todd Stafford, JesseRoberts, Roman Jarmula, Terry Gerth and Chris Schneider.

AMO members completing Ocean Ranger training at STAR Center in April inpreparation for the 2013 Alaska cruise season included (in no particular order)Mark Farley, Nicholas Bruen, Paul Maitoza, Richard Ekstrom, Bob Layko, DavidFournier, Jonathan Driggers, Matthew Sunderland, John Webb, Robert Glenn,Mark Frechette, Jimmy Brackett and Steve Rochester.

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: June 3, July 8

Monthly Membership Meetings

STAR Center schedules additional Vessel Security Officer coursesto assist AMO members in meeting new STCW requirement

As a reminder to all individuals sail-ing on a Merchant Mariner Credential(MMC) in trades for which STCW applies,the 2010 amendments to the STCW codenow require a specific security endorsementfor the MMC prior to Jan. 1, 2014.

The three STCW ‘95 vessel securityendorsements are: VSO — VI/5 — VesselSecurity Officer, VPDSD — VI/6 —Vessel Personnel with DesignatedSecurity Duties, and SA — VI/6 —Security Awareness. These endorsementsare hierarchal, meaning VSO covers andincludes VPDSD and SA, and VPDSDcovers and includes SA. These endorse-ments must actually appear on yourSTCW/MMC, and you must apply to theU.S. Coast Guard to obtain the requiredendorsement unless VSO has already beenplaced on your STCW/MMC.

Most officers will require the new

VPDSD endorsement, which can beobtained if an individual can submit appro-priate documentation showing six monthsof security duties in the previous threeyears. STAR Center has provided specificinstructions, a sample service letter and asample U.S. Coast Guard application toobtain the endorsement on the STAR Centerwebsite at http://www.star-center.com/stcw2010guidance.html. Under the 12-06policy letter information, there are linksdirectly to the USCG policy letter, direc-tions, sample letter and sample USCGapplication.

It is recommended all affected AMOmembers apply to the USCG to obtain theendorsement as soon as possible and havethe endorsement placed on their MMCswell in advance of the implementation dateof Jan. 1, 2014. Without the security

endorsement, your MMC will become

invalid as of the implementation date and

you will be unable to sail on it.

Aware of the impact of the new regu-lations, STAR Center is adding three-dayVessel Security Officer (VSO) classes tothose previously scheduled as follows:April 29, June 3 (new), July 22, Aug. 12

(new), Sept. 9, Oct. 28 (new), Nov. 18, andDec. 16.

Any questions regarding this trainingshould be directed to Director of MemberTraining and Officer Development JerryPannell at (800) 942-3220 ext. 7507 or viae-mail: jpannell@star-center.com.

Enrollment questions or applica-tions should be directed to StudentServices at (800) 942-3220 ext. 201 or viae-mail: register@star-center.com.

12 • American Maritime Officer May 2013

WRDAContinued from Page 5

sions,” the task force noted. “That’s a lot ofmoney, especially in this difficult financialclimate. The good news is that the Congressand the administration don’t need to divertfunds or pass a new tax to restore our ‘FourthSea Coast.’ The money is there. It has beenavailable for many years.

“In a typical year, the HMTF takes inabout $1.6 billion, but spends only about$800 million. This policy of spending onlyone out of every two dollars collected fordredging on dredging is the reason we have adredging crisis on the Great Lakes and sig-nificant dredging needs elsewhere.”

The task force pointed out the

HMTF currently has a greater than $7 bil-lion surplus.

“We cannot overestimate the debilitat-ing effects of the dredging crisis on theAmerican economy and the environment. Asnoted earlier, we just had a ship departDuluth 10,000 tons short of its capacity. Thisis what the industry calls ‘lightloading.’

“It is critical that the provisions of theRAMP Act be incorporated into a WRDA,”the task force stated. “The very future ofGreat Lakes shipping hangs in the balance.”

During the hearing, Rep. Gibbs voicedfrustration with the Obama administration’sbudget proposal, in which the amountrequested from the HMTF for the “operationand maintenance of these navigation chan-nels” will leave “an estimated balance of $9billion at the end of fiscal year 2014.”

AMO-manned ships serve in exercises‘Balikatan’ and ‘Freedom Banner’ 2013

The USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus andthe M/V Capt. Steven L. Bennett wereamong the ships transporting MarineCorps combat equipment and supplies insupport of exercises Freedom Banner andBalikatan in late March, Military SealiftCommand reported.

The USNS Lummus is operated forMSC by Maersk Line, Limited and theM/V Bennett is operated for MSC bySealift, Inc. Both ships are manned in alllicensed positions by American MaritimeOfficers.

Freedom Banner is an annual exer-

cise held in conjunction with a large-scaleexercise in the Pacific. Balikatan, con-ducted in April, was this year’s primaryexercise. A Marine Corps operation,Balikatan provided humanitarian civicassistance and live-fire field training in thePhilippines.

Designed to deliver military cargoand supplies in response to a contingency,the Marine Prepositioning Force shipUSNS Lummus and its crew transportedhundreds of tactical vehicles and amphibi-ous assault vehicles, culminating in a pier-side offload during Freedom Banner 2013,

MSC reported.The M/V Bennett delivered addition-

al Marine Corps cargo from Okinawa,MSC reported. The 687-foot container-ship offloaded 430 pieces of equipment,including vehicles, containerized equip-ment and break-bulk cargo.

The dry cargo and ammunition shipUSNS Sacagawea also provided supportby remaining offshore during the exercise,testing ship-to-shore sustainment oftroops and equipment, MSC reported.

MSC Reservists played an impor-tant role during the exercise, MSC report-

ed. Sailors from Expeditionary Port Units102 and 105, along with reservistsassigned to the Navy’s Strategic SealiftOfficer program, crewed a mobile sealiftoperations command center. They alsocrewed a portable communications facili-ty designed to operate and manage portoperations even if port infrastructure isdamaged or destroyed. Sailors assigned toMSC Office Korea deployed to Subic Bayin support of the exercises.

“We gained critical real-world mis-sion experience which will contributedirectly to our unit’s overall readiness,” saidLt. Cmdr. William Hartman, EPU 102.

At the conclusion of the Balikatanexercise, cargo was reconstitutedaboard the USNS Lummus and USNS

Sacagawea. The reconstitution of cargoalso concluded Freedom Banner 2013,MSC reported.

M/V Bennett delivers for exercise ‘Cobra Gold’ 2013

A U.S. Marine Corps utility vehicle is offloaded from the M/V Capt. Steven L.

Bennett at Chuk Sa Met, Thailand. The M/V Bennett is operated under charterto MSC by Sealift, Inc. and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.

U.S. Navy photo: Brian Tully

The M/V Capt. Steven L. Bennett —operated under charter to Military SealiftCommand by Sealift, Inc. and manned in alllicensed positions by American MaritimeOfficers — recently completed cargo opera-tions in support of exercise Cobra Gold2013 at the port of Chuk Sa Met, Thailand,Edward Baxter of MSCFE Public Affairsreported in the March edition of Sealift.

The M/V Bennett delivered more than520 pieces of 3rd Marine ExpeditionaryForce cargo for the exercise Feb. 8, Baxterreported in MSC’s official publication.

The cargo was transported to Thailandfor the exercise — a large-scale multination-al exercise held each year throughout theKingdom of Thailand — from ports on theJapanese island of Okinawa, Baxter wrote.

“MSC is often the first in and lastout,” said MSC Expeditionary Port Unit 115Executive Officer Cmdr. Ross Lee,deployed to Okinawa for the exercise. “Webring in cargo and supplies which enablesour forces to operate at their peak capacity.”

EPUs are MSC’s highly-mobile unitswhich can quickly deploy to a contingencyoperation, establish port operations andmanage the arrivals and departures of cargoships in port, MSC reported.

Starting Feb. 11, more than 13,000military personnel from Thailand,Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea,Indonesia, Malaysia and the U.S. fanned outacross Thailand to participate in the 10-dayCobra Gold exercise, which included live-fire training, computer-simulated scenarios,and humanitarian and civic assistance pro-grams. This year, military members fromBurma observed the exercise for the firsttime, Baxter noted.

At Okinawa, reserve Sailors fromHonolulu, Hawaii-based Expeditionary PortUnit 115, along with Sailors and civil ser-vice personnel from MSC’s permanent

based U.S. Army 835th TransportationBattalion and with 3rd MEF logistics spe-cialists, Baxter noted.

“Building relationships is a key goalof our Reserve personnel,” saidOperational Support Officer CharlieBrown, based at MSC Far East headquar-ters in Singapore. “We must work closelywith our partners and host nation personnelin order to be successful.”

In Thailand, Sailors from Bronx, N.Y.-based EPU 102 manned a highly-specializedmobile sealift operation command center, aportable facility that provides critical com-munications equipment for managing portoperations even when a port infrastructure isdamaged or destroyed, MSC reported.

The Bennett arrived at Thailand’sLaem Chabang International Terminal Feb.5, and shipping containers were offloaded.The ship departed later that afternoon for theshort transit to Chuk Sa Met, MSC reported.From Chuk Sa Met, Marines deployed cargoto the field for the live portion of Cobra Gold.

office on Okinawa, boarded the Bennett Jan.20 at Okinawa’s Naha Military port, meet-ing with the ship’s captain, ship’s agent, portauthorities and customs officials, MSCreported.

The Bennett loaded 495 pieces ofcargo, including Humvees, heavy trucks,crane trucks, trailers and tracked vehicles.After a short sail to Tengan pier, the remain-ing cargo — including shipping containersand some break-bulk cargo — was loadedaboard. All cargo was loaded by the ship’sthree heavy-lift cranes, MSC reported. Withall cargo safely stowed, the Bennett beganthe 1,700-nautical mile journey to the Gulfof Thailand Jan. 23.

Throughout the cargo deploymentmission, MSC personnel worked closelywith U.S. Army personnel from Okinawa-

MSC highlights roles ofMaersk Peary, Ocean Giant

in ‘Operation Deep Freeze’The roles of the tanker Maersk

Peary and the dry-cargo ship M/V Ocean

Giant in Operation Deep Freeze 2013were highlighted by Military SealiftCommand in articles published in theMarch and April editions of Sealift, andon MSC’s blog, which is available online(mscsealift.dodlive.mil/2013/04/03/).

“Operation Deep Freeze is a mis-sion of teamwork — teamwork betweenthe personnel and the climate,” saidMSC Military Transportation Specialist

Larry Larsson, who took this photo of theOcean Giant. “This season we achieveduncommon results, in a very challenginglocation. It was a fantastic effort by allthat supported ODF and a true exampleof our motto: MSC delivers.”

The Ocean Giant is operated byCrowley Liner Services, Inc. and theMaersk Peary is operated by MaerskLine, Limited. Both ships are mannedin all licensed positions by AmericanMaritime Officers.