Volume 41, Number 10 October 2011

Copyright © 2011 American Maritime Officers 601 S. Federal Highway Dania Beach, FL 33004 (800) 362-0513 editorial@amo-union.org

AMO Planssummary annualreports for fiscalyear 2010

Pages 4, 10: The fiscal year2010 summary annual reportsfor the AMO Pension, DefinedContribution, Medical andVacation Plans are published inthis edition of the newspaper.

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Maersk Line, Limited andRickmers-Linie (America) Inc. inSeptember announced a partnershipthat will bring two newly-built multi-purpose cargo ships under the U.S.-flag, providing new jobs for membersof American Maritime Officers andnew tonnage to the U.S.-flag project

cargo fleet.The new 19,000 deadweight ton

ships, Maersk Illinois and Maersk Texas,each have combined maximum lift of 480metric tons. The service will operate asMaersk-Rickmers U.S. Flag ProjectCarrier, Maersk-Rickmers for short. AMOwill represent all licensed officers workingaboard both ships.

“This investment demonstrates theconfidence of the companies in U.S.-flagmarkets and in the professionalism andcapabilities of AMO officers,” said AMONational President Tom Bethel. “The re-flagging of these new ships is exciting

See Maersk-Rickmers Page 7

New jobs asMaersk Pearychristened forU.S.-flag fleet

U.S. maritime industry, labor and govern-ment leaders Sept. 30 welcomed the Maersk Pearyinto U.S.-flag service.

“We’re putting our money where our heartis,” said Maersk Line, Limited President and CEOJohn Reinhart.

The ice-strengthened tanker will deliver fuelworldwide and is expected to service the researchcenter at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and ThuleAir Base, Greenland. The Maersk Peary represents

See Maersk Peary Page 6

New AMO jobs with Liberty MaritimeUnion secures contract covering five bulk carriers in U.S.-flag fleet

American Maritime Officers mem-bers Oct. 1 manned four ships owned andoperated by Liberty Maritime Corporationas a collective bargaining agreement withthe company was being finalized. A fifthvessel is currently undergoing maintenancein a shipyard overseas.

The Marine Engineers’ BeneficialAssociation (MEBA District 1) had previ-ously represented the officers on the fiveships. MEBA District 1 reported Sept. 30

that it had been negotiating with the compa-ny “for several months,” but failed to securea new agreement with Liberty prior to theexpiration of that union’s contract at mid-night.

AMO officers went aboard Liberty’sbulk carriers — the M/V Liberty Glory, M/VLiberty Sun, M/V Liberty Spirit and M/VLiberty Eagle — on the U.S. Gulf CoastOct. 1 and prepared to begin work with anew AMO-contracted company. AMO will

also be manning the M/V Liberty Grace inall licensed positions.

AMO signed a contract with Libertycovering the five bulk carriers later in theweek retroactive to Oct. 1.

“Liberty expressed strong confidencein the caliber and professionalism of AMOofficers, and took particular notice of theAMO Defined Contribution Plan, whichprovides AMO members with a substantialself-directed retirement investment benefit

while eliminating the liability and loss riskassociated with traditional defined benefitpension plans,” said AMO NationalPresident Tom Bethel.

“There is a lot of heated rhetoric beingslung about at this point, and I expect therewill be more to come,” Bethel said. “Thefact remains the MEBA leadership wasunable to come to terms with the company

New jobs for AMO aboard USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheatunder Military Sealift Command charter award to MLLPage 6: AMO members mannedthe USNS LCPL Roy M. WheatSept. 30 for the first time since theship’s delivery to MSC in 2002.The operating charters for fiveBobo Class prepositioning ships,as well as the USNS GYSGT FredW. Stockham, have been awardedto Maersk Line, Limited.

See Liberty Page 2

2 • American Maritime Officer October 2011

AMO and Liberty: one more time for the recordBy Tom BethelNational President

During hissuccessful cam-paign last year forthe presidency ofthe MarineE n g i n e e r s ’B e n e f i c i a lAssociation, MikeJewell made anissue of MEBA’sstatus as a “rogueunion” — Jewell’swords, not mine — because of punitivesanctions imposed upon MEBA by theExecutive Council of the AmericanFederation of Labor-Congress of IndustrialOrganizations. The Executive Council con-cluded in May 2007 that MEBA had twiceviolated the “no-raid” Article XX of theAFL-CIO Constitution in connection withits July 2003 stealth contract with InterlakeSteamship Co., a longtime employer ofAmerican Maritime Officers on the GreatLakes.

Jewell’s specific campaign complaintwas that the incumbent MEBA presidenthad made no attempt to settle the InterlakeSteamship jurisdictional dispute with AMO,a prerequisite to removing the sanctions andrestoring MEBA’s damaged reputation inthe labor community. Jewell pointed out cor-rectly that, under the sanctions, MEBA wasfair game for devastating “raids” by otherunions.

While Jewell was right about thepotential consequences of the labor sanc-tions, he was dead wrong about his prede-cessor’s actions on this issue. The incum-bent, Don Keefe, met with me often to dis-cuss ending the dispute and moving on, butthe settlement terms Keefe proposed wereunacceptable to me as national president ofAMO — I wanted a settlement to be in rea-sonable and just proportion to the damagedone to our union by the secretive, conces-sionary Interlake-MEBA contract, andKeefe never came close.

But at least Keefe tried. Jewell, whoas a candidate in 2010 had promised to“resolve these Article XX issues,” has saidnothing at all to me about the sanctions or asettlement since he took office in January2011 after what was in fact a nine-year cam-paign.

This is relevant because Jewell nowpaints me publicly as a predator, and hecharacterizes American Maritime Officersas a “scab” union, all because I did my jobwhen he did not or could not do his. I signeda collective bargaining agreement withLiberty Maritime Corp. after MEBA failedto secure a successor agreement to a MEBA-Liberty contract that expired Sept. 30.Negotiations between MEBA and Libertybroke down at the deadline over a key eco-nomic issue.

Jewell presents MEBA’s loss of jobs

to AMO on five oceangoing bulk carriersnot as a consequence of inexperience andinept bargaining, but as a consequence ofAMO aggression; however, he refuses toacknowledge that it is MEBA — not AMO— that is blacklisted in the AFL-CIO.

But the labor sanctions themselveswere not even a factor here. There was no“raid” of the MEBA membership becausethere was no contract between MEBA andLiberty when Liberty signed with AMO, andthere was no organizing of Liberty’s engineand deck officers by AMO. Liberty wasunder no legal obligation to sign a successoragreement with MEBA, and AMO wasunder no ethical obligation to turn down anew employment opportunity.

The same cannot be said for the cir-cumstances under which MEBA andInterlake came to terms eight years ago. TheMEBA-Interlake contract was the result ofcollusion, not collective bargaining.

Ron Davis, the president of MEBA atthe time and Mike Jewell’s initial politicaltarget, met secretly with Interlake executivesover several weeks in the summer of 2003 todiscuss ways of displacing AMO from theInterlake fleet.

One week before the AMO-Interlakecollective bargaining agreement expired onAugust 1, 2003, Davis and other MEBAofficials joined James Barker, the principalowner of Interlake Steamship Co., atBarker’s home to sign a 10-year contractestimated at 35 to 40 percent less expensivethan the legitimate AMO-Interlake agree-ment. This contract was concealed from theAMO members in the Interlake fleet untilAugust 1, when MEBA officials andInterlake executives swarmed the fleet’s ves-sels at anchor in Lake Michigan and coercedthese engineers, mates and stewards underthreat of dismissal into signing MEBApledge cards and withdrawing from AMOmembership.

AMO later secured an arbitrator’s rul-ing against Interlake in a class action griev-ance, won a civil court financial judgmentagainst MEBA for interfering with a validAMO contract and pursued the Article XXsanctions against MEBA.

But the damage had been done —AMO lost 160 jobs in the Interlake fleet andthe dues revenue that resulted from thesejobs, and the AMO benefit funds lost hun-dreds of millions of dollars in employer con-tributions. All other deep-sea, Great Lakesand inland waters employers under AMOcontract were left with an unfunded pensionliability totaling tens of millions of dollars tocover benefits earned by Interlake engineers,mates and stewards vested at the time in thedefined benefit AMO Pension Plan.

And the harmful fallout from theInterlake-MEBA contract continues.Interlake’s steep cut-rate cost advantage andthe company’s clear intent to monopolizeGreat Lakes dry bulk markets was the mostsignificant barrier this year to a successoragreement between our union and American

Steamship Co., Interlake’s principal com-petitor. AMO members in the ASC fleetreturned to work two months ago under anextended contract following a brief strike,and negotiations between AMO and ASCwill resume soon.

Instead of clinging to a dishonest,hypocritical public relations strategy inresponse to the contract between AMO andLiberty Maritime, Mike Jewell ought to giveserious thought to what caused the MEBA-Liberty negotiations to collapse — thedeclining state of the once-overfundedMEBA Pension Trust and the staggering,unsustainable sum MEBA demanded from

Liberty to help cover the large and growinggap between the trust’s assets and its benefitcommitments to vested participants.

Instead of pushing the myth that AMOhad meddled in MEBA matters, Jewell andhis associates should develop a credible planto restore the MEBA Pension Trust. Jewellshould be honest, direct and comprehensivewith the MEBA membership on this critical,turning-point issue — an issue certain to arisein MEBA’s subsequent contract negotiations.

As always, I welcome comments andquestions from AMO members on this or anyother matter — feel free to call me on my cellat (202) 251-0349.

American Maritime Officer (USPS 316-920)Official Publication of American Maritime Officers

601 S. Federal HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 921-2221Periodical Postage Paid at

Dania Beach, FL, and Additional Mailing OfficesPublished Monthly

American Maritime Officers National Executive Board

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

National Assistant Vice Presidents:Brian Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice PresidentDonald Nilsson, National Assistant Vice PresidentDaniel Shea, National Assistant Vice PresidentDavid Weathers, National Assistant Vice President

Representatives: Stan Barnes

Editor: Matt BurkeAssistant Editor: Amber WilkieContributing Editor: Paul Doell

POSTMASTER—Send Address Changes To:American Maritime Officers

ATTN: Member ServicesP.O. Box 66

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LibertyContinued from Page 1

and secure an agreement despite having, asthey said, several months to resolve theissues on the table. Liberty simply choseAMO as the superior option.

“I am proud to be bringing these jobsto the AMO membership, proud that ourunion is manning these ships for continuedservice in the U.S.-flag fleet,” Bethel said.“The licensed engineering and deck officersrepresented by AMO are second to noneacross the board. With experienced leader-

ship, the best training resources, and reward-ing, realistic and well-managed benefit plans,there is present prosperity and a promisingfuture for the AMO membership.”

AMO members will be manning thefive Liberty bulk carriers in every licensedposition. As a new AMO-contracted operat-ing company, all jobs in the LibertyMaritime bulk carrier fleet will qualify forthe AMO Defined Contribution Plan atSchedule 2 rates.

Liberty’s bulk carriers operate pri-marily in the PL-480 cargo preferencetrades, carrying U.S. government impelledcargoes to ports around the world.

Flashback: The Interlake-MEBA contract

American Maritime Officer • 3October 2011

USCG reauthorization could signal improvementsfor mariner medical evaluations, short sea shipping

The House Transportation andInfrastructure Committee in Septemberapproved Coast Guard reauthorization leg-islation that would if enacted help promoteshort sea shipping, improve the marinetransportation system and possibly stream-line the merchant mariner medical evalua-tion program.

The Coast Guard and MaritimeTransportation Act of 2011 (H.R. 2838)was submitted in September by CoastGuard Subcommittee Chairman Rep. FrankLoBiondo (R-NJ) and Transportation andInfrastructure Committee Chairman Rep.John Mica (R-FL).

The bill uses legislative language toremind the Maritime Administration of itsmission: “to foster, promote and developthe domestic merchant maritime industry

of the United States.”Several changes to the merchant

marine medical evaluation will be consid-ered with the passage of this legislation.The Coast Guard will “examine the ade-quacy of the program for making medicalcertification determinations.” The legisla-tion suggests a national registry of doctorsfor medical evaluations may be a usefulalternative to the current model, an ideasupported by American Maritime Officers.

The bill also asks the Coast Guard toevaluate how upcoming STCW changeswill impact the merchant mariner medicalevaluations program. AMO National VicePresident for Government RelationsMichael Murphy, as the International

AMO shipboardinformational

meetings

POWER Act would clear way forU.S. maritime jobs in emergingrenewable energy markets

RAMP Act would promote U.S.job creation, competitivenesswith basic port maintenance

U.S. Rep. JeffLandry (R-LA)is the principalsponsor of theProviding forOur Workforceand EnergyResources(POWER) Act.

U.S. Rep.CharlesBoustany (R-LA) is the prin-cipal sponsor ofthe RealizeAmericaʼsMaritimePromise(RAMP) Act.

U.S. Congressman Jeff Landry (R-LA) has introduced legislation clarifying therole of American mariners in the developingoffshore renewable energy market, creating

huge potential for mariner employment. The bill, the Providing for Our

See POWER Act Page 12

U.S. Congressman Charles Boustany(R-LA) sees the maritime industry as a crit-ical component of job creation and U.S.competitiveness.

In order to get the nation’s ports andwaterways the funding and attention they

See RAMP Act Page 12

American Maritime Officers offi-cials conducted shipboard infor-mational meetings in Septemberaboard ships in San Diego, Calif.;San Francisco, Calif.; Portland,Ore.; Bremerton, Wash.; andTacoma, Wash. An area informa-tional meeting is scheduled forOct. 17 in Portland, Maine (seePage 11 for more information).

Participating in the shipboard infor-mational meeting for the officers ofthe Cape Island and Cape Intrepid

in Tacoma, Wash., Sept. 21 were(left to right) Chief Mate Maik

Darley, AMO National PresidentTom Bethel, Third A.E. Scott

Williams, Second A.E. Chris Davis,First A.E. Brian Sinausky, First A.E.Raymond Gurerrero, Second A.E.

Ray Chapman, Chief Mate JerryJones, Chief Engineer Chris Baril,

Third A.E. Gary Ranne, ChiefEngineer Micah Salkind, AMO

National Vice President forGovernment Relations Michael

Murphy and AMO NationalSecretary-Treasurer José Leonard.

See Authorization Page 12

Rep. LoBiondo applauds committeepassage of USCG reauthorization

U.S. Rep. FrankLoBiondo (R-NJ), chairmanof the House Coast Guardand Maritime InfrastructureSubcommittee, applaudedthe Transportation andInfrastructure Committee’sapproval of a three-yearCoast Guard reauthorizationmeasure.

“At my direction, theCoast Guard subcommitteehas fully focused on

strengthening our nation’smaritime sector, a criticalsource of jobs and econom-ic output,” Rep. LoBiondosaid.

The Coast Guard andMaritime TransportationAct of 2011, introduced byRep. LoBiondo, must nowbe approved by the Houseand the Senate and besigned by the Presidentbefore it becomes law.

Rep. FrankLoBiondo (R-NJ)

4 • American Maritime Officer October 2011

Pension PlanThis is a summary of the annual report for American Maritime Officers Pension Plan,

EIN 13-1936709, Plan No. 001, for period October 01, 2009 through September 30, 2010.The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S.Department of Labor, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial StatementBenefits under the plan are provided by insurance and a trust fund. Plan expenses

were $60,758,855. These expenses included $5,494,450 in administrative expenses, and$55,264,405 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 6,083 persons wereparticipants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all ofthese persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $343,412,143 asof September 30, 2010, compared to $345,018,440 as of October 01, 2009. During the planyear the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $1,606,297. This decrease includesunrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the differencebetween the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at thebeginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The plan had totalincome of $59,152,558, including employer contributions of $25,947,612, realized gains of$2,404,666 from the sale of assets, and earnings from investments of $30,800,280.

Minimum Funding StandardsAn actuary’s statement shows that enough money was contributed to the plan to keep

it funded in accordance with the minimum funding standards of ERISA.

Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on

request. The items listed below are included in that report:• an accountant’s report; • financial information; • information on payments to service providers; • assets held for investment; • transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets; • actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan; To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office

of The Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Pension Plan at 2 West DixieHighway, Dania Beach, FL 33004, or by telephone at (954) 922-7428. The charge to covercopying costs is $.15 per page or for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at nocharge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or astatement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If yourequest a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statementsand accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copy-ing costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of thereport because these portions are furnished without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the mainoffice of the plan (The Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Pension Plan, 2 WestDixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S. Department of Labor inWashington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment ofcopying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: Public DisclosureRoom, Room N1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department ofLabor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

Defined Contribution Plan

AMO Plans Summary Annual Reports: Fiscal Year 2010

of, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:• an accountant’s report; • financial information; • information on payments to service providers; • assets held for investment; • insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance

carriers; To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the

office of Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Defined Contribution Plan at2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004, or by telephone at (954) 922-7428.The charge to cover copying costs will be $.15 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request andat no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes,or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administra-tor, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of thatreport. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a chargefor the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnishedwithout charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at themain office of the plan (Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers DefinedContribution Plan, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S.Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S.Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Departmentshould be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20210.

This is a summary of the annual report for American Maritime Officers DefinedContribution Plan, EIN 27-1269640, Plan No. 001, for period January 01, 2010through September 30, 2010. The annual report has been filed with the EmployeeBenefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, as required under theEmployee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial StatementBenefits under the plan are provided by insurance and a trust fund. Plan expens-

es were $225,059. These expenses included $210,326 in administrative expenses, and$14,733 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 203 persons wereparticipants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not allof these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $1,369,767as of September 30, 2010, compared to $0 as of January 01, 2010. During the planyear the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $1,369,767. This increaseincludes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is,the difference between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and thevalue of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during theyear. The plan had total income of $1,594,826, including employer contributions of$1,561,254, realized gains of $119 from the sale of assets, and earnings from invest-ments of $33,453.

Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part there-

Medical Plan Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part there-

of, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:• an accountant’s report; • financial information; • information on payments to service providers; • assets held for investment; • transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets; • insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance

carriers; To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the

office of Board of Trustees of the American Maritime Officers Medical Plan at 2 WestDixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004, or by telephone at (954) 922-7428. Thecharge to cover copying costs is $.15 per page or for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and atno charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes,or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both.If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these twostatements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The chargeto cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of theseportions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at themain office of the plan (Board of Trustees of the American Maritime Officers MedicalPlan, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S. Department ofLabor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Laborupon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to:Public Disclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration,U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

This is a summary of the annual report of the American Maritime OfficersMedical Plan, EIN 13-5600786, Plan No. 501, for period October 1, 2009 throughSeptember 30, 2010. The annual report has been filed with the Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, as required under the EmployeeRetirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Insurance InformationThe plan has a contract with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and

affiliates to pay stop loss and indemnity claims incurred under the terms of the plan.The total premiums paid for the plan year ending September 30, 2010 were $86,081.

Basic Financial StatementThe value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was

$18,681,360 as of September 30, 2010, compared to $19,480,647 as of October 1,2009. During the plan year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of$799,287. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in thevalue of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’s assets at theend of the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost ofassets acquired during the year. During the plan year, the plan had total income of$36,478,072, including employer contributions of $35,381,344, employee contribu-tions of $366,123, realized losses of $-249,171 from the sale of assets, earnings frominvestments of $796,134, and other income of $183,642.

Plan expenses were $37,277,359. These expenses included $6,483,175 inadministrative expenses, and $30,794,184 in benefits paid to participants and benefi-ciaries.

The SAR for the AMO Vacation Plan for fiscal year ʻ10 is printed on Page 10. The 401(k) Plan SAR for calendar year ʻ10 will be printed at a later date.

American Maritime Officer • 5October 2011

Great LakesNew five-yearagreementreached withArcelorMittal

American Maritime Officershas reached a new five-year agree-ment with ArcelorMittal, for whichCentral Marine Logistics operatesthree Great Lakes vessels, two ofwhich are in active service. Thefive-year agreement — the sameagreement that has been acceptedby other AMO-contracted operatorson the Great Lakes — was ratifiedin September by AMO membersworking in the company’s fleet.AMO represents the licensed offi-cers and stewards in theArcelorMittal fleet.

Congressional representatives seekuniform U.S. standard for ballast water

Three U.S. representatives haveintroduced legislation that if passed wouldcreate national standards for ballast waterdischarges and prevent states from enact-ing stricter standards, clearing the way forefficient and reasonable compliance fromvessel owners and operators.

The “Commercial VesselDischarges Reform Act of 2011” (H.R.2840) was introduced in September byRepresentatives John Mica (R-FL),Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Bob Gibbs(R-OH). If passed, the legislation wouldamend the Clean Water Act to create anationwide ballast water discharge stan-dard equal to that of the InternationalMaritime Organization (IMO).Individual states would be prohibitedfrom passing their own laws or regula-tions regarding ballast water.

Rep. Gibbs, chairman of the Waterand Environment ResourcesSubcommittee, during a recent hearing

warned against burdening the maritimesector “with unobtainable, unrealistic,expensive regulations that have notdemonstrated a significant environmentalbenefit. Instead we need a common senseapproach that can be enacted quickly, pro-tects the environment, reduces red tape,grows maritime jobs and opens the flow ofmaritime commerce.”

The legislation follows action byCalifornia and New York to adopt ballastwater standards up to 1000 times more strin-gent than IMO standards. During a hearingbefore a subcommittee of the HouseTransportation and Infrastructure committeeto examine ballast water standards, expertstestified that no technology exists to meetthese requirements.

“We have to overcome this mindsetthat mandating a dozen different, unachiev-able standards, each more stringent than thenext, somehow protects our environment. Itdoes not,” said Rep. LoBiondo, chairman of

the Coast Guard and MaritimeTransportation Subcommittee. “The time hasfinally come to enact a clear, effective, anduniform national standard that utilizes avail-able and cost effective technology to reducethe risk of future aquatic invasions. We can-not afford to delay any longer as ballast watercontinues to threaten our environment andour economy.”

Separately, Rep. Steven LaTourette(R-OH), introduced an amendment to the fis-cal year 2012 Department of the Interiorappropriations bill that would denyEnvironmental Protection Agency funding toany Great Lakes state that enacts a ballastwater standard more stringent than theIMO’s. The legislation was debated on theHouse floor but awaits a vote.

“I take a backseat to no one in thisCongress on the issue of invasive species inthe Great Lakes,” Rep. LaTourette said dur-ing House debate. “But this particular provi-sion by [New York] would cripple and per-

haps eliminate commerce on the GreatLakes.”

Lakes task force lauds Rep. Cravaackʼs challenge toNew York EPAʼs impossible ballast water regulations

The Great Lakes Maritime TaskForce (GLMTF) recently thankedCongressman Chip Cravaack (R-MN)for his Aug. 30 letter to theEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA) calling for a remedy to pro-posed ballast water standards thatthreaten to cripple Great Lakes ship-ping.

“We deeply appreciate that youwrote the EPA expressing your con-cern that New York’s ballast regula-tions will cripple shipping on theLakes and Seaway,” wrote the task

force. “We share your concern.”Rep. Cravaack, who represents

Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District,called on the EPA to review its ownScience Advisory Board’s conclusion thatthere is no technology available to meetballast water regulations set to take effectAug. 1, 2013.

“The maritime industry has indicat-ed that no technology exists to meet” therequirements set by the New York EPA —“100 times stronger than the standardsestablished by the International MaritimeOrganization (IMO) in 2004,” wrote Rep.

Cravaack.Not only will these regulations affect

vessels operating in New York, but alsovessels transiting through the state’swaters, including the St. LawrenceSeaway, impacting Rep. Cravaack’s dis-trict more than 1,000 miles to the west.

The task force recognized the needfor regulation to prevent the introductionand spread of non-indigenous species,adding the “Great Lakes shipping industryhas been extremely proactive in battlingballast-borne exotics.” However, setting a“standard that cannot be achieved in the

foreseeable future will only result injob losses at a time our country needsevery paycheck it can generate.”

The Great Lakes Maritime TaskForce is the largest coalition ever topromote shipping on America’s FourthSea Coast. Task force members includerepresentatives of labor, maritime andshoreside industry, and port authori-ties, among others. AMO Great LakesSpecial Assistant to the NationalPresident Don Cree serves (withoutpay) as 2nd vice president of the taskforce.

U.S.-flag floatimproves onstrength ofore cargoes

AMO aboardthe M/V Boland

Members of American MaritimeOfficers working aboard AmericanSteamship Companyʼs M/V John J.Boland in September, here inToledo, Ohio, included StewardRobert Stark and Capt. Tim Crowe.

Members of American MaritimeOfficers working aboard the M/VBoland in September included FirstAssistant Engineer Richard Everettand Second A.E. James Pazak.With them here is AMO NationalRepresentative Stan Barnes. AMOrepresents the licensed deck andengineering officers and stewardsaboard the M/V Boland.

U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighterscarried 10.4 million tons of dry-bulk cargoin August, an increase of 3.7 percent com-pared with a year ago, the Lake Carriers’Association reported.

The total float for the month was onpar with the five-year average, but 6.6 per-cent less than July’s totals.

The iron ore float increased 8 per-cent compared with a year ago, whilelimestone totals increased by nearly 21percent to 2.89 million tons, the LCAreported. Coal movement was downagain in August, more than 16 percent off2010 totals.

The year-to-date U.S.-flag float onthe Lakes totaled 55.1 million tons, anincrease of 3.2 percent compared with thesame point last year. The iron ore floatwas up 9.4 percent, while coal was down7.5 percent and limestone is largely in linewith 2010 figures, the LCA reported.

6 • American Maritime Officer October 2011

Maritime Trades Department outraged about deluge ofJones Act waivers, shifting U.S jobs to foreign crews

The Maritime Trades Department,AFL-CIO, in a statement published Aug. 30expressed shock, disappointment and out-rage regarding “recent waivers of the JonesAct that have allowed foreign-flag, foreign-crewed vessels to transport oil from the U.S.Strategic Petroleum Reserve. These waivers— nearly 50 in all — have been issueddespite the ample availability of American-flag tankers and barges with well-trained,highly qualified American citizen crews.”

The MTD pointed out: the “adminis-tration is giving away American jobs to for-eigners. When it comes to transporting thereserve oil, U.S. mariners and U.S. ships areready and able — yet they’ve been left tied atthe docks.”

The MTD added: “the U.S. MaritimeAdministration has issued more Jones Actwaivers than have been issued by all pastMaritime Administrations combined.”

MTD President Michael Sacco noted:“At this time of high unemployment, we areappalled that the government would takesuch actions. This is completely contrary tothe stand then-Senator Obama expressed inAugust 2008 to America’s maritime unions.

In a letter signed by the then-candi-date, Barack Obama stated: “America needsa strong and vibrant U.S.-Flag MerchantMarine. That is why you and your memberscan continue to count on me to support theJones Act.”

The MTD joined with the U.S.-flagmaritime industry to overturn a blanketwaiver of the Jones Act when the WhiteHouse announced in June its intention torelease oil from the reserves. Within 24hours, the blanket waiver was retracted.

However, the Department of Energy laterrewrote the specifics regarding how the oilwas to be sold, thereby all but eliminatingany participation by any tanker or barge fly-ing the U.S. flag.

“This was oil owned by America foruse by Americans in a time of emergency,”Sacco added. “Instead we see the work andprofits go overseas. This sends the wrongsignal at the wrong time to American work-

ers struggling to make ends meet. We willfight to make sure this doesn’t happenagain.”

In its statement, the MTD commend-ed legislators on both sides of the aisle fortheir criticism of the administration’snumerous Jones Act waivers during theSPR draw down.

“A joint letter from Senators MaryLandrieu (D-LA) and David Vitter (R-LA)

and Representatives Charles Boustany (R-LA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Peter King(R-NY), Candice Miller (R-MI) BennieThompson (D-MS) and Pete Visclosky (R-IN), as well as a separate message fromRepresentative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH),reinforce and amplify our concerns,” theMTD stated. “We sincerely applaud themfor speaking out on behalf of Americanworkers.”

Great Lakes Maritime Task Force thanks Rep.Kucinich for steady support of Jones Act

The Great Lakes Maritime TaskForce in a letter dated Aug. 30 thankedCongressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) for his support of the Jones Actand his criticism of a slew of recentwaivers to the cabotage law in theongoing draw down of the U.S.Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

In a press release posted Aug.25, Rep. Kucinich — whose district ison the south shore of Lake Erie — wascritical of the administration’s decisionto waive the Jones Act 46 times in theSPR draw down, effectively givingaway work to foreign crews thatshould have been done, and shouldstill be done, by American marinersaboard U.S.-flagged vessels.

“We deeply appreciate yourstatement decrying the repeatedwaivers of the Jones Act of late that

have denied American mariners the oppor-tunity to move millions of barrels of crudefrom the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,”the task force wrote. “Like you, we areappalled that foreign workers and compa-nies are benefitting from domestic water-borne commerce, especially at a timewhen American mariners are un- or under-employed. There never has been any needfor these waivers.

“This is not the first time you haverallied behind the Jones Act,” the taskforce continued. “Back in the mid 1990s,you were among the first to sign H. Con.Res. 65, a statement of full support for thelaw. Your hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, isone of the most important maritime cen-ters on the Great Lakes because Americanmariners skillfully guide giant freightersup and down the twisting Cuyahoga Riverwhile longshoremen efficiently unload

cargo from the oceangoing vessels thathave reached America’s heartland viathe St. Lawrence Seaway.

“Again, thank you for your con-tinued support for the Jones Act and allthe jobs it creates — nearly 500,000nationwide,” the task force concluded.“Our members are ever ready to helprebuild our economy and keep ournation safe.”

The Great Lakes Maritime TaskForce is the largest coalition ever topromote shipping on America’s FourthSea Coast. Task force members includerepresentatives of labor, maritime andshoreside industry, and port authori-ties, among others. American MaritimeOfficers Great Lakes Special Assistantto the National President Don Creeserves (without pay) as 2nd vice presi-dent of the task force.

New AMOjobs aboardUSNS Wheat

Maersk Line, Limited Sept. 30 tookdelivery of the USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat,providing new jobs for members ofAmerican Maritime Officers under a con-tract awarded to the company by MilitarySealift Command.

MSC has also awarded the contractfor the USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham toMaersk. The USNS Stockham and USNSWheat were awarded as Lot 2 and Lot 3 ofan MSC request for proposals covering atotal of 11 maritime prepositioning ships.

“It is with great pleasure that I canreport that (Sept. 30) we hoisted the MaerskLine, Limited colors as they took over theoperation and maintenance of the USNSLCPL Roy M. Wheat,” said AMO memberCapt. Christopher Begley, master of theUSNS Wheat. “This milestone marks thefirst time the officers of AMO have been onthe deck plates of this vessel since it enteredMilitary Sealift Command in 2002.”

MSC originally awarded the chartersfor 10 MPS ships to Maersk Line, Limited.Three companies filed protests and MSCrebid Lots 4 and 5. Lot 4 covers the USNS2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, USNS Sgt. William R.Button, USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, USNSPFC Dewayne T. Williams, and USNS 1stLt. Baldomero Lopez, and was later award-ed to Maersk. Lot 5 covers three KocakClass ships and has not yet been awarded.Lot 1 covering the USNS 1st Lt. Harry L.Martin, which had not been operated underAMO contract, was awarded to a non-AMOcompany as a small business set aside.

Maersk PearyContinued from Page 1

Maersk Line, Limited’s first polar oper-ations.

“AMO is excited by the new jobsand continued investment in the U.S.-flag fleet this ship represents,” saidAMO National President Tom Bethel.“I’m pleased and proud that AMO mem-bers will continue to serve in theseimportant missions, and I congratulateMaersk Line, Limited on their successwith this charter and the re-flagging ofthe Maersk Peary.”

The vessel was christened duringa ceremony in Norfolk, Va. Addressingthe audience, MLL Senior VicePresident of Maritime Services StephenCarmel said the Maersk Peary is “anexample of MLL’s commitment to theU.S. flag.”

Also speaking at the christeningceremony, Virginia TransportationSecretary Sean Connaughton said thecollaboration among government, mili-tary and industry inherent in the ship’sre-flagging “is what the maritime indus-try is all about.”

The Maersk Peary is named afterAdm. Robert Erwin Peary, who discov-ered the North Pole in 1909. “This is agreat name, a great ship, and it will pro-vide a great service,” Connaughton said.

Seafarers International UnionPresident Michael Sacco reminded theaudience of the military, humanitarianand economic importance of the U.S.-flag fleet. “Maersk deserves a ton ofcredit for creating jobs in these tougheconomic times,” he said.

AMO members working aboard the Maersk Peary as it was re-flagged into U.S.registry included Chief Engineer Cedric Harkins, Capt. Mike Hatton, ChiefOfficer Thua Pham, Second Mate Lukas Sunkler, Third Mate Jared Hill, ThirdAssistant Engineer Pary Palinisamy and Third A.E. Ashlee Stannard.

Attending the renam-ing and re-flagging

ceremony wereMaersk Line, Limited

President and CEOJohn Reinhart, AMOmember Capt. Mike

Hatton, master of theMaersk Peary, and

AMO NationalExecutive Vice

President RobertKiefer.

American Maritime Officer • 7October 2011

Anti-Piracybill wouldcombatepidemicon severalfronts

The House Transportation andInfrastructure Committee in Septemberapproved legislation that would if enactedenhance anti-piracy training, expand pun-ishment for convicted pirates, encourageforeign-flag participation in anti-piracyefforts and seek to better infiltrate piratefinancial networks.

“H.R. 2839 protects American sea-farers and property, enhances the legaltools available to prosecutors, providesincentives to other nations to suppresspiracy, and examines ways to better trackpirate finances,” said Rep. FrankLoBiondo (R-NJ), who submitted the leg-islation with Transportation andInfrastructure Committee Chairman JohnMica (R-FL).

The “Piracy Suppression Act of2011” would improve the current trainingprogram for U.S. mariners on the use offorce against pirates, including tactics fordefense of a vessel and firearm safety forthose mariners working on vessels carry-ing U.S. government impelled cargo.

The legislation would authorize theSecretary of Defense to seek reimburse-ment for U.S. Naval or Coast Guardactions to protect foreign-flagged vesselsfrom pirate attacks. The legislationspecifically targets those flag states thatdo not currently contribute to anti-piracyefforts.

“The U.S. continues to lead an inter-national naval force in combating piracyand it has been successful in preventingattacks and rescuing hostages,” Rep.LoBiondo said. “However, many nationsare reaping the benefits of our presencewithout pulling their own weight. To rec-tify this situation, my legislation allowsthe U.S. to seek reimbursement from ves-sel flag states for the protection theyreceive from the U.S. military.”

H.R. 2839 clarifies the definition ofpiracy to include “attempted” pirateattacks. It also expands the possiblepenalties for piracy to include capital pun-ishment.

Finally, the legislation directs theComptroller General of the U.S. to trackransom payments paid to pirates operatingoff the coast of Somalia. The committeein March discussed how disrupting piratefinancial networks could be an effectivemeans to combat piracy.

The legislation now moves to thefull House for consideration.

American Maritime Officers main-tains it is the responsibility of the U.S.government to provide protection for U.S.vessels carrying U.S. cargo transitingareas at high risk for incidents of piracy.AMO and other U.S. seagoing unionshave repeatedly recommended limitedU.S. military detachments with one ormore high-caliber weapons be assigned toU.S.-flagged merchant vessels transitinghigh-risk areas for piracy under certaincircumstances, such as when those vesselsare carrying U.S. government impelledcargoes, such as food aid.

Lexington Institute: American shipbuilding,maritime infrastructure deserve investment

In response to President Obama’sSeptember announcement of a new jobsinitiative, the Lexington Institute – athink-tank focused on national security– called for increased funding for mar-itime transportation, the Title XI ship-building loan guarantee program andmarine highways.

“The American maritime industrymoves about one-quarter of our domes-tic commerce for about 3 percent of thedomestic freight bill,” wrote Dr. DanielGoure in an editorial on the Institute’sWeb site. “The President should spendsome [of his jobs program funding] tosustain and expand America’s maritimetransportation system … This nation’sinland waterways could be modernizedand expanded. This would speed trans-

portation, lower costs and even improve theenvironment.”

Goure praised the Jones Act — whichreserves domestic transportation for vesselsowned, built, operated and crewed byAmericans — for helping provide the busi-ness shipyards need. “These same yardsproduce new ships for the U.S. Navy andrepair and overhaul existing ones,” he wrote.

The Institute also called for continuedfunding for the Title XI shipbuilding loanguarantee program, which provides loanguarantees for domestic shipbuilding pro-jects. “Title XI encourages the maintenanceof commercial facilities and a skilled work-force that can also be employed in con-structing and maintaining Navy vessels,”Goure wrote.

He also encouraged further develop-

ment of America’s marine highways.Expansion of domestic waterbornetransportation would reduce congestionon land, he said, and “the results wouldbe a double boost to the economy (shipconstruction and reduced freight costs),the creation of jobs and support fornational security.”

The mission of the LexingtonInstitute, based in Arlington, Va., readsin part: “It is the goal of the LexingtonInstitute to inform, educate and shapethe public debate of national priorities inthose areas that are of surpassing impor-tance to the future success of democracy,such as national security, educationreform, tax reform, immigration andfederal policy concerning science andtechnology.”

Training for diesel endorsement at STAR Center

U.S. subsidies for Mexican companies in crossborder trucking draw Congressional rebuke

The Department of Transportationhas announced its intention to allowMexican trucks unrestricted access to U.S.roadways, threatening the sovereignty ofU.S. domestic transportation, costingAmericans jobs and potentially creatingsafety hazards.

The announcement follows a two-year dispute centered on the national secu-rity and public safety concerns of allowingMexican trucks unlimited access toAmerican highways. Implementation ofthe program, required under the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA), has been devoutly opposed bytransportation labor, environmentalists,public interest groups and members ofCongress.

The agreement would allow someMexican carriers unrestricted access toU.S. highways, so long as they complywith federal motor vehicle safety standardsand are equipped with electronic monitor-ing devices, which has created the issue ofU.S. subsidization of foreign companies.

While this issue exclusively affects

ground transportation, it presents strongparallels with U.S. domestic waterbornetransportation under the Jones Act.

Among other outraged U.S. repre-sentatives, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) haschallenged DOT’s authority to purchase theelectronic devices that will be required aspart of the deal. Rep. DeFazio is the rank-ing Democrat on the House Transportationand Infrastructure Committee’s Highwaysand Transit Subcommittee.

“It is outrageous that we wouldspend tax dollars to pay for equipment onMexican trucks, equipment which eitherthe Mexican government or the Mexicancarriers themselves should be required topay,” Rep. DeFazio wrote to U.S.Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Ialso question the authority to grantMexican carriers permanent authority tooperate on American roads and highwaysbefore a pilot program is complete and theresults evaluated.”

In a report published in August, theDOT’s Inspector General stated the FederalMotor Carrier Safety Administration “has

not yet addressed certain issues for imple-menting the pilot program.”

In September, the Teamsters unionand the consumer advocacy organizationPublic Citizen filed suit against theDepartment of Transportation and itsFederal Motor Carrier SafetyAdministration (FMCSA), charging thatMexican carriers will displace Americantruckers from their jobs and create unnec-essary safety hazards.

Their concerns materialized whenthe Texas Department of Public Safetyreleased its safety violation figures for thelast four years. Between fiscal year 2007and the first six months of 2011, Mexicantrucks were cited for one million safety vio-lations, The El Paso Times reported. Thesetrucks had already passed Customs andBorder Protection inspection at the bordercrossing, but failed safety checks at Texasinspection stations.

Under the terms of the agreement,Mexican carriers granted U.S. operatingauthority would still be barred from trans-porting domestic freight within the U.S.

American Maritime Officers mem-bers training in the Diesel

Endorsement Course at STARCenter in October, here with

Instructor Andrew Davis (left),included Geoff Grossenbacher,

Ernest Hinson Jr., Paul Astrup Jr.and Gerry Atkins.

Maersk-RickmersContinued from Page 1

news for the AMO membership and for theU.S.-flag maritime industry. I congratulatethe companies on their achievement and

we look forward to working with them onthe new project cargo ships.”

The ships are currently under theMarshall Islands flag and are preparing fortheir maiden voyages. In November, thevessels are scheduled to complete theprocess to bring both under the U.S. flag.

“The introduction of these vesselsfurther signals Maersk Line, Limited’slong-term commitment to the U.S. flag,”said MLL President and CEO JohnReinhart. “The partnership with Rickmersforms a strong team that will deliver out-standing service to shippers worldwide.”

8 • American Maritime Officer October 2011

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

General Courses

ABS NS5 Fleet Mgmt Software 3 days 19 December 20 March

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 7 November 5 December 16 January 13 February 12 March 2 April 7 May

Basic Safety Training - All 4 modules must be completed within 12 months:Personal Safety Techniques (Mon/Tues - 1.5 days), Personal Safety & SocialResponsibility (Tues pm - .5 days), Elementary First Aid (Wed - 1 day), Fire Fighting &Fire Prevention (Thurs/Fri - 2 days) - not req. if Combined Basic & Adv. Fire Fightingcompleted within 12 months

5 days 12 December 9 January 6 February 5 March 23 April 21 May

Basic Safety Training - Refresher 3 days 14 December 11 January 8 February 7 March 25 April 23 May

Crowd Management 1 day Please call

Crisis Mgmt & Human Behavior 1 day Please call

ECDIS 5 days 24, 31 October 7, 28 November 5 December 9, 23 January 13, 27 February 9 April 21 May

Effective Supervision 2 days 6 February

Fast Rescue Boat 4 days 31 October 14 November 5 December 30 January 21 February 12 March 30 April

GMDSS 10 days 28 November 23 January 2 April

LNG Tankerman PIC 8 days 30 November 30 May

LNG Simulator Training - Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator course is given toqualified member candidates for employment and/or observation opportunities with AMOcontracted LNG companies. In all cases successful completion of the LNG PNCclassroom course is prerequisite.

5 days 12 December

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 24 October 19 December 17 January 14 May

Safety Officer Course 2 days 9 November 9 January 13 February 2 April 21 May

Tankerman PIC DL - Classroom 5 days 14 November 13 February

Tankerman PIC DL - Simulator 10 days 24 October 30 April

Train the Trainer 5 days 17 October 14 Nov - NEW 12 December 30 January 27 February 16 April

Train the Trainer - Simulator Inst. 5 days Please call

Vessel/Company Security Officer 2 days 7 November 19 December 11 January 8 February 14 May

VSO - Anti-Piracy Module 1 day 9 November 21 December 13 January 10 February 16 May

Deck Courses

Advanced Bridge Resource Management 5 days Please call

Advanced Shiphandling for Masters - (No equivalency) Must have sailed asChief Mate Unlimited

5 days 12 December 27 February 12, 26 March 7 May - PM

Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates - 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rd Mates 10 days 5 December 9 January 14 May

Adv. / Emerg. Shiphandling - First Class Pilots, Great Lakes 5 days 30 January

Bridge Resource Management Seminar 3 days Please call

Dynamic Positioning - Basic 5 days Coming soon

Dynamic Positioning - Advanced 5 days Coming soon

Integrated Bridge System (IBS) / Prodded Propulsion Trg 5 days 14 November

Locking & Docking for First Class Pilots - Great Lakes 5 days Please call

STCW Deck Officer Refresher - Great Lakes 3 days Please call

TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) - Third Mate (Unlimited or GreatLakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required

5 days 28 November 23 January 12 March PM 23 April 21 May

Tug Training - ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive) 5 days 24 October 14 November 14 May

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

Engineering Courses

Advanced Slow Speed Diesel 10 days 28 November 19 March 7 May

Basic Electricity 10 days 20 February 30 April

Diesel Crossover 4 weeks 13 February

Engine Room Resource Management 5 days 12 December 5 March 9 April

Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator) 3 days 7 November 19 December 17 January 2 April

Gas Turbine Endorsement 10 days 31 October 5 December 9 January 12 March 7 May

High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom) 3 days 31 October 12 March

Steam Crossover 5 Days Please call

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) 5 days 24 October 5 March 14 May

Refrigeration (Operational Level) 5 days 23 January 9 April

Refrigeration (Management Level) 5 days 30 January 16 April

Steam Crossover 4 weeks 9 January

Welding & Metallurgy Skills & Practices - Open to eligible Chief Mates andMasters on a space available basis. Interested participants should apply and will beconfirmed 2 weeks prior to start date.

2 weeks 28 November 30 January 9 April 14 May

Engine STCW / Original Engineer Training Routes - Engine STCW training routes are aimed atGreat Lakes members wishing to transition to Deep Sea. Original Engineer training is available to members,applicants and sponsored students seeking original license.

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 5 December 13 Feb, 7 May

Basic Safety Training 5 days 12 December 9 Jan, 21 May

EFA/MCP 4 days 29 November 24 Jan, 1 May

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 19 December 16 Jan 14 May

Basic Electricity (for Original Engineers only) 10 days 20 February

Original 3A/E Preparation and Exams A/R 24 October 5 March

Galley Courses & Original License Courses

RFPNW Assessments 1 day 8 March

Marlin Spike 1 day 9 March

40-hour Able Seaman 5 days 23 April

Original License (Great Lakes) Courses - Deck & Engine A/R Please Call

Food Safety, Sanitation & Nutrition (ServSafe) 5 days 30 January

Culinary Fundamentals 10 days 6 February

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

American Maritime Officer • 9October 2011

NOTICE: AMO members planning to attend the unionʼs 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 contractedcompanies shall be made available to the membership on a chronological order basis.

Small Arms - Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training - Open to membersand applicants eligible for employment through AMO (within 1 year) on MSC or MARADcontracted vessels.

3 days 12 December 9 January 26 March

Elementary First Aid 1 day 15 December 12 January 29 March

Drug Collector Training 1 day 16 December 13 January 30 March

Breath Alcohol Test Collector 1 day 17 December 14 January 31 March

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 5 December 16 January 2 April

MSC Training Program

Basic CBR Defense 1 day 28 October 18 November 2 December 27 January 2, 30 March 20 April 18 May

Damage Control 1 day 27 October 17 November 1 December 26 January 1, 29 March 19 April 17 May

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 17 October 21 February 19 April 29 May

Helicopter Fire Fighting 1 day 12 December 10 January 7 February 6 March - NEW 24 April 22 May

Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD) 1/2 day 28 October 18 November 2 December 27 January 2, 27 March 20 April 18 May

Marine Sanitation Devices 1/2 day 10 November 22 Dec - NEW 20 January 5 April - NEW

Medical PIC Refresher - Note: Not MSC approved 3 days 8 November 22 February 16 April 30 May

MSC Readiness Refresher - Must have completed full CBRD & DC once in career. 5 days 12 December 9 January 6 February 23 April 21 May

MSC Watchstander - BASIC - Once in career, SST grads grandfathered 2 days 16 February 3 May

MSC Watchstander - ADVANCED - Required for all SRF members 1 day 20 February 7 May

MSC Ship Reaction Force - Required every three years for SRF members 3 days 21 February 8 May

Small Arms - Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training - Open to membersand applicants eligible for employment through AMO (within 1 year) or MSC on MARADcontracted vessels. Remedial shoot will be afforded on Day 4 for at least 1 weapon ifpassing score not attained.

3 days 24 October 14, 28 Nov. 12 December 9, 23 January 13, 27 February 12, 26 March 16, 30 April 14 May

Water Sanitation Afloat 1/2 day 10 November 22 Dec - NEW 20 January 5 April - NEW

Medical Courses

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 17 October 21 February 19 April 29 May

Elementary First Aid - Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months 1 day 18 October 14 November 19 December 24 January 28 February 30 April

Medical Care Provider - Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12 months. Pleasefax EFA certificate when registering

3 days 19 October 15, 30 Nov. 20 December 25 January 29 February 1 May

Medical PIC - Please fax MCP certificate when registering 5 days 24 October 5 December 30 January 5 March 7 May

Urinalysis Collector Training 1 day 12 December 18 January 12 March 14 May

Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) - Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only! 1 day 13 December 19 January 13 March 15 May

Saliva Screening Test - QEDs only! 1/2 day 14 December 20 January 14 March 16 May

Medical PIC Refresher - Note: Not MSC approved 3 days 8 November 22 February 16 April 30 May

Radar Courses

Radar Recertification 1 day 17 October 14 November 12 December 19, 20 January 21, 27 February 19 March 20 April 7 May

Radar Recertification at Toledo Maritime Academy - Non-Resident Training,apply to Student Services, Dania Beach

1 day 17 November 15 December 26 January 23 February 22 March 26 April

ARPA 4 days 18 October 8 May

Radar Recertification & ARPA 5 days 17 October 7 May

Western Rivers Recertification 1 day Please call

Original Radar Observer Unlimited 5 days 30 April

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 ChiefMate/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 completedwithin 12 months of each other to satisfy the Management Level upgrade course and assessment requirements.All 9 courses booked simultaneously (excluding Celestial Navigation) - 25% discount applied to individual rate. 5 courses booked simultaneously - 10% discount (group rate) will apply. Discount will apply on 8th and/or 9th courseas appropriate, after paying for and completing the first 5 courses. All 9 courses MUST be booked at STAR Center.

Celestial Navigation 5 days 17 October 5 December 6 February 9 April 14 May

Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology 5 days 24 October 28 November 20 February 2 April 21 May

Cargo Operations 9 days 12 December 9 January 27 February 16 April 29 May

Marine Propulsion Plants 5 days 31 October 12 December 23 January 12 March 30 April

Upgrade: Stability 5 days 7 November 12 December 13 February 19 March 7 May

Watchkeeping 1: BRM 3 days 30 November 11 January 29 February 18 April

Watchkeeping 2: COLREGS - Watchkeeping 1 & 2 must be completed within 12months of each other

5 days 5 December 16 January 5 March 23 April

Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level 10 days 17 October 13 February 19 March PM 2 April 14 May

Shipboard Management 5 days 31 October 23 January 12 March 30 April

Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator) 5 days 7 November 30 January 19 March 7 May

ECDIS - Advanced Navigation and the USCG approved ECDIS to be completed within12 months of each other. Suggested dates follow. See also deck courses above.

5 days 14 November 6 February 26 March 14 May

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

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

Celestial Navigation 10 days 23 January

Ship Construction & Stability 5 days 20 February

Emergency Procedures & SAR 4 days 13 February

Meteorology 5 days 27 February

Cargo Handling & Storage 5 days 6 February

Magnetic & Gyro Compass 3 days 5 March

Electronic Navigation 5 days 12 March

Terrestrial Navigation 10 days 19 March

Watchkeeping 10 days 2 April

Basic Shiphandling at the Operational Level 5 days 16 April

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

10 • American Maritime Officer October 2011

AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

DANIA BEACH, FL 33004601 S. Federal Highway(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513Thomas J. Bethel, National President (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)

PORTS

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)

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. 2001 / FAX: (409) 737-4452 Mobile: (409) 996-7362

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: (510) 444-5165

NORWOOD, NJ 07648463 Livingston Street, Suite 102PMB 60Donald R. Nilsson, National Assistant Vice President(dnilsson@amo-union.org)(800) 362-0513 ext. 3004Mobile: (201) 913-2209

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024490 LʼEnfant Plaza East SW, Suite 7204(202) 479-1166 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 7001Thomas J. Bethel, National President (tbethel@amo-union.org) / Mobile: (202) 251-0349J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations(mmurphy@amo-union.org) / Mobile: (202) 560-6889Paul Doell, Legislative Director (pauldoell51@yahoo.com)Phree Baker, Assistant Legislative Director (pbaker@amo-union.org)FAX: (202) 479-1188

STAR CENTER

STUDENT SERVICES/LODGING AND COURSE 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 SYSTEM:Lisa 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

Joel Glanstein, General Counsel Michael Reny437 Madison Ave. AMO Coast Guard Legal35th Floor Aid ProgramNew York, NY 10022 (419) 243-1105 / (888) 853-4662(212) 370-5100 Mobile: (419) 346-1485FAX: (212) 697-6299 MikeReny@BEX.NET

AMO Vacation Plan summary annual report: fiscal year 2010This is a summary of the annual report of the American Maritime Officers

Vacation Plan, EIN 11-1929852, Plan No. 501, for period October 01, 2009 throughSeptember 30, 2010. The annual report has been filed with the Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, as required under the EmployeeRetirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial StatementThe value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $938,583

as of September 30, 2010, compared to $617,578 as of October 01, 2009. During theplan year the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $321,005. This increaseincludes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is,the difference between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and thevalue of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired duringthe year. During the plan year, the plan had total income of $73,000,130, includingemployer contributions of $66,489,520, employee contributions of $6,395,124, real-ized gains of $46,944 from the sale of assets, and earnings from investments of$68,542.

Plan expenses were $72,679,125. These expenses included $1,451,998 inadministrative expenses, and $71,227,127 in benefits paid to participants and ben-eficiaries.

Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part there-

of, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:• an accountant’s report; • financial information; • assets held for investment; • transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets; To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the

office of Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Vacation Plan at 2 DixieHighway, Dania Beach, FL 33004, or by telephone at (954) 922-7428. The charge tocover copying costs is $.15 per page or for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request andat no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, orboth. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, thesetwo statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. Thecharge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copyingof these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at themain office of the plan (Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Vacation Plan,2 Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004) and at the U.S. Department of Labor inWashington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon pay-ment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: PublicDisclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S.Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.

American Maritime Officer • 11October 2011

Regular monthly membership meetings for AMO will be held during theweek following the first Sunday of every month at 1 p.m. local time.Meetings will be held on Monday at AMO National Headquarters (onTuesday when Monday is a contract holiday). The next meetings will takeplace on the following dates:

AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: November 7, December 5

AMO members train,upgrade at STAR Center

AMO area meeting in Mainescheduled for October 17

American Maritime Officers willhold an area informational meeting inPortland, Maine, Monday, Oct. 17beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting willbe held at: Embassy Suites Portland;1050 Westbrook St.; Portland, ME04102; Phone: (207) 775-2200.

All AMO members who areable are strongly encouraged to attendand participate in the informativebriefing on union business and AMObenefit plans, which will include anopen floor for any and all questionsand comments.

AMO member Kevin Connors in September successfully completed all exams toupgrade to an unlimited chief mateʼs license after preparing at STAR Center.With him here is Deck Instructor David Greenhouse.

American Maritime Officers members training and upgrading at STAR Center inSeptember included Donavon Baker — preparing to upgrade to chief engineer,Mike Stone — taking the Environmental Awareness/Vessel General PermitCourse, Adnan Nasser — preparing to upgrade to first assistant engineer, andRobert Hinkle — preparing to upgrade to first assistant engineer. With them hereare STAR Center Engineering Instructors Todd Christensen, Andrew Davis andRosemary Mackay.

12 • American Maritime Officer October 2011

Workforce and Energy Resources Act(POWER Act) H.R. 2360, was approvedunanimously Oct. 5 by the House Committeeon Natural Resources. H.R. 2360 wouldclose a loophole in existing law that allowsoffshore renewable energy resources to beinstalled or serviced by foreign workers.Specifically, the bill would amend the OuterContinental Shelf Lands Act to ensure all ofthe nation’s laws are applicable to the emerg-ing offshore renewable energy market on theOuter Continental Shelf.

“By applying the same set of laws toall energy development, we ensure our work-ers continue to be the safest in the world,increase job opportunities for those standingin the unemployment line, and improve reg-ulatory certainty — something every indus-try wants to see from its government,” Rep.Landy said.

There are many hurdles facing off-shore wind and solar projects, but as theindustry grows, there will be substantial needfor trained mariners to operate vessels toinstall, service and maintain offshore windturbines and other equipment. The POWERAct, if signed into law, would help ensurethose jobs go to American mariners.

The House Subcommittee on Energyand Mineral Resources in September held ahearing to examine the legislation.Subcommittee Chairman Doug Lamborn(R-CO) called the legislation a “small fixthat will spur job creation” by closing the“potential loophole” in the OuterContinental Shelf Lands Act. “By fixingthis current loophole, both the renewableand domestic maritime industries will havegreater certainty in the fair application ofour nation’s laws to all offshore alternativeenergy development,” he said.

POWER ActContinued from Page 3

need, Rep. Boustany this year introducedthe Realize America’s Maritime Promise(RAMP) Act. The legislation would requireCongress to each year appropriate fundsdeposited into the Harbor MaintenanceTrust Fund for their intended purpose:maintenance dredging of U.S. ports andnavigational channels.

In a recent letter, Rep. Boustanyurged Transportation Secretary RayLaHood to “embrace RAMP Act languageas a path to grow the domestic workforce,increase federal revenues and achieve thePresident’s goal of doubling exports.

“Our nation’s ports and harbors aregateways to domestic and internationaltrade,” Rep. Boustany wrote. “They allowfood grown in the United States to feed peo-ple throughout the country and the world.They also serve as the most energy efficientmeans of transporting our nation’s energysupplies, building materials and other com-modities, while relieving highways of con-gestion.

Speaking before the Propeller Club ofWashington, D.C. in September, Rep.Boustany criticized the country’s “hugeneglect of waterways, and general maritimeinfrastructure, from shipbuilding all the wayto our ports.”

Rep. Boustany considers the decliningmaritime infrastructure an issue of competi-tiveness. “This is a simple solution,” he said.“We have to have the maritime infrastruc-ture” if we as a nation are going to grow ourenergy and trade industries — “both areascritical to the U.S. economy, job growth andprivate sector advancement.”

The RAMP Act currently has 118Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, fiveof whom are House committee chairmen.

RAMP ActContinued from Page 3AMO aboard OSG Courageous

AMO members working aboard the new OSG America ATB OSGCourageous, here in Port Everglades Sept. 26, included AssistantEngineer Mike Tombolillo, Chief Engineer Tim De Freitas, AssistantEngineer Emmanuel Roldan, Chief Mate Jason Bannett, Capt. AllanVacha, Chief Engineer Dilbert Smith and AB Tankerman Bert Lapton.

The ATB OSG Courageous departs Port Everglades Sept. 27.

AuthorizationContinued from Page 3

Transport Workers’ Federation delegaterepresenting seafarers as part of theInternational Labor Organization, inSeptember travelled to Geneva to partici-pate in the finalization of these changes toSTCW.

“I am optimistic about the newinternational seafarer’s medical guidelinesif the U.S. Coast Guard adopts them,”Murphy said. “However, as with any inter-national convention, the devil is in thedetails of how the Coast Guard interpretsthe new guidelines into regulation or guid-ance. I will be watching carefully toensure the international rules are interpret-ed with the same spirit and intent that cre-ated them.”

If the legislation were enacted intolaw, it would establish a Committee on theMaritime Transportation System responsi-ble for assessing the adequacy of themarine transportation system and imple-menting policies to promote its efficiency.

The legislation would require theCoast Guard to provide several reports: onthe general condition of the system andsuggestions for how it might be improved,on the loss of shipyard jobs directly relatedto work on Jones Act vessels performed inforeign shipyards, and on enforcement ofthe Coast Guard’s foreign rebuild determi-nation regulations.

The legislation refocuses the debateon short sea transportation by highlightingthe need for increased use of waterbornetransportation to transport passengers orfreight. Additionally, $5 million in grantsfor each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017would be made available for short seatransportation projects.

STAR Center recommendations regardingU.S. Coast Guard documentation process

STAR Center instructors wouldlike to apprise the AMO membershipof the following items related to sub-mitting applications to the U.S. CoastGuard, based on recent input fromAMO members:

•Deck and engine: if you areapplying for a Raise in Grade (RIG) onyour application form (USCG 719B),check the box for renewal at the sametime. If you do not do this, your newlicense will expire with your previousdate as normal, and additional fees willbe required. The Coast Guard will NOTrenew your license regardless of the expi-ration date unless you request renewal.

•Deck only: your RADARObserver Certificate is valid for fiveyears. The new Merchant MarinerCredential (MMC) will not list theRADAR expiration dates any longer;

however, the RADAR ObserverEndorsement will show. You are required tocarry your original valid RADAR ObserverCertificate with you while onboard vessel(see 46 CFR 15.815 for clarification). Youare required to send a copy of your validRADAR Observer Certificate at the time ofapplication for renewal.

•Flashing Light (VisualCommunications) is required for every RIG.Call to make an appointment for assessmentwith Student Services and contact DaveGreenhouse or Greg Musk on your first dayat STAR Center while on campus for othertraining classes.

•The National Maritime Center Website is much improved. It is recommended touse the checklists provided atwww.uscg.mil/nmc/checklists.asp for yourspecific transaction.

•Applications may be mailed, scanned

and sent by e-mail, or hand carried intoany REC. Do not mail your application tothe National Maritime Center. This willresult in a return of your application. Allbusiness must be conducted with theREC. Instructions for submitting applica-tions via email are provided atwww.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/industry_notice_e_submission.pdf.

AMO members with any questionsregarding these topics can contact STARCenter instructors via e-mail, or by phonetoll-free at (800) 942-3220:

•Dave Greenhouse: extension7243, greenhouse@star-center.com —Deck Dept.

•Rosemary Mackay: extension7803, rmackay@star-center.com —Engine Dept.

•Greg Musk: extension 7137,gmusk@star-center.com — Deck Dept.

Senate committee seeks improved Jones Actenforcement for SPR drawdown shipments

The Senate AppropriationsCommittee has included language in the fis-cal year 2012 Department of HomelandSecurity (DHS) appropriations legislationthat would help ensure Jones Act vesselstransport oil released from the StrategicPetroleum Reserve.

In a report accompanying the legisla-tion, the committee criticized DHS for

allowing foreign-flagged vessels to operatein trades that should be reserved for JonesAct vessels. “The Committee is very con-cerned that more than 45 waivers of theJones Act have been issued enabling for-eign-flagged vessels to transport oilreleased from the Strategic PetroleumReserve ... and the lack of transparency inconducting these waivers.” The legislation

(H.R. 2017) forbids Customs and BorderProtection under DHS from approving aJones Act waiver until DHS, after consulta-tion with the Departments of Energy andTransportation and representatives from theU.S.-flag maritime industry, takes adequatemeasures to ensure the use of U.S.-flaggedvessels. DHS must also notify Congresswithin 48 hours of a waiver request.