Copyright © 2017 American Maritime Officers ■ editorial@amo-union.org

Page 7: Montford Point Marines honored on Saipan

Page 2: A new federal advisory panel that includes U.S. maritimeindustry and labor interests is focused on the national security threatemerging from unchecked defense shipping deficiencies. The panelwill examine and assess the size of the pool of U.S. citizen mariners.

Panel tackles defense sealift manningcrisis, U.S. fleet decline

Military Sealift Command in July awarded the operating contract forsix T-AGS vessels and the USNS Waters to Ocean Ships, Inc. AMOwill continue to represent all licensed officers aboard the T-AGS ves-sels. The USNS Waters is new to the AMO-contracted fleet.

AMO jobs secure under new MilitarySealift Command contract award

Volume 47, Number 8 August 2017

Final tanker in eight-ship ECO Class underway

General Dynamics NASSCO onJune 7 delivered the final ECO Classtanker constructed as part of an eight-tanker, dual-customer program. ThePalmetto State was delivered toAmerican Petroleum Tankers (APT) dur-ing a signing ceremony at the NASSCOshipyard in San Diego.

The Palmetto State and four otherrecently delivered ECO Class tankers areoperated for APT by Intrepid Personneland Provisioning. American MaritimeOfficers represents all licensed officers

aboard all eight of the ECO Class tankersbuilt by General Dynamics NASSCO.

In 2013, NASSCO entered intoagreements with two companies, APT andSEA-Vista, LLC, to design and construct atotal of eight 610-foot-long, 50,000 dead-weight-ton, LNG-conversion-ready prod-uct tankers to include a 330,000 barrelcargo capacity each.

The Palmetto State and its sisterships are the most environmentally friend-ly tankers to enter the Jones Act trade. Thetankers’ “ECO” design offers 33 percent

increased fuel efficiency and a corre-sponding reduction in ship emissions.

In just under three years, NASSCOshipbuilders constructed and delivered alleight ECO tankers. During this time, thecompany achieved several first-time mile-stones, including a record throughput of60,000 tons of steel per year and the deliv-ery of six ships in 2016.

“The ECO Class tanker programpushed us to develop more efficient plan-ning and production techniques, and fun-damentally improved the way we per-

form every day,” said Kevin Graney,president of General Dynamics NASS-CO. “I credit the success of this programto the thousands of hardworking men andwomen who contributed to the design,construction and delivery of these ships.Their dedication to continuous improve-ment was demonstrated by the hull-to-hull learning we saw over the course ofthe ECO Class program. I also thankAmerican Petroleum Tankers and SEA-Vista, LLC for their partnership and con-fidence in NASSCO.”

The tanker Palmetto State was delivered to American Petroleum Tankers June 7 and entered service in Jones Act trade — here being escorted by Seabulk Towing’sAdvanced Rotortug Trident in Port Everglades, Fla. The ship is the eighth and final in the ECO Class series built for two companies by General Dynamics NASSCO.American Maritime Officers represents all licensed officers aboard all eight ECO Class tankers.

2 • American Maritime Officer August 2017

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Panel tackles defense sealiftmanning crisis, U.S. fleet declineBy Paul DoellNational President

A new fed-eral advisory panelthat includes U.S.maritime industryand labor interestsis focused exclu-sively on thenational securitythreat emergingfrom uncheckeddefense shippingdeficiencies.

The Maritime Workforce WorkingGroup is the result of a welcome directive tothe Department of Transportation’sMaritime Administration in the fiscal 2017National Defense Authorization Act. Thepanel’s task under the law is to “examineand assess the size of the pool of U.S. citi-zen mariners” in the context of surge ship-ping of military cargoes in a distant conflict.

The MWWG — which countsAmerican Maritime Officers Assistant VicePresident for Government RelationsChristian Spain among its participants —was off to an auspicious start at this writing,zeroing in on two specific, inseparableissues: a dangerously underfunded ReadyReserve Force and the U.S. merchant fleet’sfast fall in international trade.

As we all know in AMO, the private-ly owned and operated U.S. merchant fleetin commercial import and export trades pro-vides the civilian officers and crewmembersthe Department of Defense relies on exclu-sively to keep the RRF prepared forwartime service, to break these ships outwhen needed, and to keep these vesselsoperating for as long as necessary.

Unsettling conditions endemic to thegovernment-owned, MARAD-managedReady Reserve Force — including deferredmaintenance and inadequate officer and

crew complements while the ships arestanding by — raise the grim prospect of thereserve fleet paralyzed in port, unable to ful-fill its short-notice sealift mission, especial-ly in a contingency of such size that all 46RRF ships are ordered-up for service.

Meanwhile, the most recent officialcount puts the private sector American mer-chant fleet in international trade at only 78ships, 60 of which operate under theMaritime Security Program. Seventy-eightships? The U.S. lost 10 times that number toenemy action in World War II.

It’s an easy equation: fewer U.S.-flagmerchant ships on the world’s trade routesmean fewer jobs for the skilled, dependableand loyal merchant mariners the U.S. needsto man not only the Ready Reserve Force,but also Military Sealift Command’s surgesealift fleet of 17 ships.

In recent Congressional testimony,and in a January 2016 graphic, MARADwarned that the U.S. now has enoughqualified merchant marine officers andunlicensed mariners to activate all 46 ofits RRF ships and all 17 MSC vessels, butnot enough to keep these fleets in serviceduring “sustained operations” of sixmonths or longer.

The Maritime Workforce WorkingGroup is centered most appropriately onthree critical questions:

•How many U.S. merchant marineofficers and crewmembers employed in theprivate sector are known to have therequired sealift service credentials —unlimited licenses, unlimited STCWendorsements, security clearances and med-ical certificates — to man the RRF andMSC fleets in a large-scale mobilization?

•How many of these qualifiedmariners would the Defense Departmentneed for such immediate service?

•How many of these vessel officersand crewmembers would actually be avail-able when called, assuming necessarily that

many had been forced into careers ashore orinto retirement as consequences of a dimin-ishing U.S. merchant fleet in world trade?

The MWWG’s portfolio alsoincludes an accounting of sealift-readymariners working in domestic marketsunder Jones Act jurisdiction, qualifiedmariners employed through governmentprograms that promote the U.S. merchantfleet and seagoing jobs (PL-480 food aidexport service, for example), mariners withsea time within 18 months and those serv-ing in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

The panel is considering as well thepossibility of sea service requirements forgraduates of the U.S. Merchant MarineAcademy and the six state-operated mar-itime academies, all of which draw somefunding through the MARAD budget.

The Maritime Workforce WorkingGroup may even apply some skillful surgi-cal parsing of the official U.S. merchantmariner database, which is held closely bythe U.S. Coast Guard. This headcountexceeds 200,000, and it includes every doc-ument issued to every mariner at every pro-fessional level in every diverse sector of themaritime industry nationwide.

More importantly, the Coast Guarddatabase cannot distinguish easily betweenthose mariners with sealift credentials andthose without.

In addition to determining the prac-tical value of current data to sealift man-power strategy, the MWWG will ease dataand information exchange amongMARAD, the Coast Guard and other rele-vant federal agencies.

To its credit, the panel has alreadygathered industry and labor comment onpotential policy initiatives to first halt thedecline of the U.S. merchant fleet in worldtrade and then to increase its size measur-ably in anticipation of proportional growthof the U.S. mariner employment base. AMOfiled statements, which will be discussed

AMO aboard Jones Act tanker Ohio

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Jones Act tankerOhio in April, here in Garyville, La., included Chief Mate Michelle Jiminez,Third Mate Carolina Klein, Second Mate Pat Dowhan, Third Mate JonathanAgliata and Captain Mike Fowler. The Ohio is operated by Intrepid Personneland Provisioning and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Jones Act tankerOhio in April, here in Garyville, La., included Chief Engineer Chris Owen,First Assistant Engineer Ron Bernhardt and Third A.E. Keith Nelson.

openly as the conversation progresses.Now I know what you’re thinking.

We’ve seen advisory panels and commis-sions like this before, only to have their pol-icy recommendations quashed by budgetwonks in the White House or by budgethardliners in Congress. But the MaritimeWorkforce Working Group was establishedin a far more favorable environment.

The President is committed to alarger, more powerful military, which initself would require a larger private sectorU.S. merchant fleet for reliable, effectiveand efficient seaborne support servicesworldwide.

Moreover, the confirmations ofElaine Chao as Secretary of Transportationand retired Navy Rear Admiral Mark Buzbyas Maritime Administrator are most encour-aging. Both officials have solid records insupport of the U.S. merchant fleet andAmerican merchant mariners as nationalsecurity assets, and both acknowledge theurgent need to avert a crippling sealift crisis.

American Maritime Officers willwork closely with these officials, and withour broad bipartisan support base inCongress, to boost the RRF budget signifi-cantly and to achieve policy initiatives andreforms that will result in a larger, strongerand more diverse private sector U.S. mer-chant fleet.

In a July 18 email to me, 75-year-oldAMO retiree Harry Scholer discussed theseissues, expressing his “distress” over thedeterioration of the Ready Reserve Forceand the state of the U.S. merchant fleet in astark, colloquial way.

“What I see today scares the hell outof me,” he wrote.

What each of us in AmericanMaritime Officers sees today is enough toscare the hell out of anyone — and enoughto spur a quick, positive and comprehen-sive official response in the interest ofnational security.

As always, I welcome comments,questions and suggestions from AMOmembers everywhere. I can be reachedon the toll-free headquarters line at 800-362-0513, on the office phone at 954-921-2221 (extension 1001) or on my cellat 954-881-5651.

American Maritime Officer • 3August 2017

AMO aboard tanker Evergreen State in Jones Act trade

The Evergreen State anchored in Homer, Alaska in May — the Jones Act tanker is operated for American PetroleumTankers by Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.

Several members of thecrew of the EvergreenState at the Christy Lee

Platform in Alaska inJune — the ship had

just completed loadingCook Inlet crude oil.

Photos courtesy of Captain Kevin Griffith

ABS completesISO audit ofAMO, finds zeronon-conformities

An American Bureau of Shippingquality evaluations auditor on June 21 com-pleted an audit of the American MaritimeOfficers ISO 9001:2008 quality manage-ment system and found the union operatingwith zero non-conformities.

The audit report states: “Based on theresults of the audit, the audit team deter-mined that the management system waseffectively implemented and maintained perdefined requirements and is deemed capa-ble to achieve expected outputs.”

In the report, the auditor’s conclusionstatement regarding the effectiveness ofAMO’s ISO quality management system isas follows: “The QMS is effectively main-tained, and is updated as input dictates.Internal audits and management reviewprocesses are very well maintained.”

House approves bill authorizing full fundingfor Maritime Security Program, authority forReady Reserve Force recapitalization measure

The House of Representatives onJuly 14 approved by an overwhelming mar-gin the National Defense Authorization Actfor fiscal year 2018, a bill authorizing fullfunding of the Maritime Security Programin the next fiscal year, providing authorityfor a Ready Reserve Force fleet recapital-ization measure, and authorizing fundingfor the National Security Multi-MissionVessel Program.

At press time, the bill was awaitingconsideration in the Senate.

Sponsored by Chairman of the HouseArmed Services Committee MacThornberry (R-TX) and cosponsored byCongressman Adam Smith (D-WA), rank-ing member on the committee, H.R. 2810would authorize $300 million for theMaritime Security Program in fiscal year

2018, full funding for the fleet of 60 U.S.-flagged privately-owned ships operating ininternational commercial trades.

The MSP supports a fleet of militari-ly-useful U.S.-flagged ships, which arecrewed by U.S. merchant mariners andoperate in international commercial trades.The ships and their corresponding private-ly-owned intermodal cargo systems andnetworks are available to the Department ofDefense for military sealift operations andin national security emergencies. The costof the MSP amounts to a small fraction ofthe projected $65 billion it would cost thegovernment to replicate this sealift capacityand the physical infrastructure provided tothe DOD by private-sector MSP partici-pants. Aspects of the Maritime SecurityProgram, including the transportation net-

works and logistics operations provided tothe DOD by the commercially engaged pri-vate sector, could not be replicated by thegovernment at any cost.

H.R. 2810 provides the Departmentof Transportation with the authority to pur-chase, under certain conditions, a limitednumber of foreign-built vessels “as part of aprogram to recapitalize the Ready ReserveForce component of the national defensereserve fleet and the Military SealiftCommand surge fleet.” Priority would begiven to ships that had previously operatedunder U.S.-flag in the Maritime SecurityProgram fleet. As stated in the bill: “TheSecretary may not use the authority underthis paragraph to purchase more than fiveadditional foreign constructed ships. Anysuch ships may not be purchased at a rate

that exceeds one vessel constructed outsidethe United States for every new Departmentof Defense sealift vessel authorized by lawto be constructed.”

The bill would also authorize $36million for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program. Through this pro-gram, the federal government would build aseries of multi-purpose ships to be usedmainly as maritime academy training ves-sels, but which would also be purpose-builtfor use in disaster assistance and humanitar-ian aid during times of national need. Thefunding level authorized in H.R. 2810 isequal to the request for the program madeby the presidents of American MaritimeOfficers, the Marine Engineers’ BeneficialAssociation and Masters, Mates and Pilotsin a letter authored in March of this year.

Jones Act serves crucial role in securing our bordersThe unseen benefits the Jones Act

provides make America stronger whilehelping keep the border secure.

So concluded commentary by PeterRoff, a former senior political writer forUnited Press International, published June

21 by The Times Herald of the USA TodayNetwork under the headline: Jones Act doesmore than protect jobs, it protects us.

“The inland river system directlybenefits 38 states in America’s heartland,cutting through Middle America around

some of the nation’s most prominent andlargest cities,” Roff wrote. “As such theyare potential targets for terrorist activitiesinvolving nuclear, chemical and biologicalweapons of mass destruction. The fact thatall the ships that use them are American-

owned and -operated and have Americanmerchant mariners as their crews is as mucha security measure as anything else.”

Citing Congressmen Steve Scalise(R-LA) and Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Roffnoted that, in the absence of the Jones Act,crews from foreign nations could “movefreely on U.S. waters, creating a moreporous border, increasing possible securitythreats and introducing vessels andmariners who do not adhere to U.S. stan-dards into the bloodstream of our nation.”

Roff added: “At the heart of the mat-ter is crew composition. The Americanswho serve aboard U.S. commercial vesselsare highly trained, licensed and well vetted.Moreover they regard themselves as part-ners with law enforcement in the fightagainst terror. When they see somethingthreatening to U.S. homeland security, theysay something — reporting to the appropri-ate agencies through established channels.They can be counted upon in ways crewswith multi-national composition cannot.”

Roff’s column can be read in itsentirety at http://tinyurl.com/y9cmj5k8.

4 • American Maritime Officer August 2017

AMO-contracted companies, vesselsrecognized for safe operations

The Chamber of Shipping of Americarecognized more than 80 vessels operatedunder contract with American MaritimeOfficers with the Jones F. Devlin SafetyAchievement Award during the CSA annualawards luncheon June 7 in New Orleans.

Devlin Awards are presented to com-panies with vessels that have operated for atleast two years without a lost-time injury.Of the AMO-contracted vessels recognizedthis year, 15 have operated 10 years or more

without a lost-time injury.Kathy Metcalf, CSA President said:

“CSA’s members are committed to safeoperations and CSA’s involvement in safetyis longstanding with our ongoing commit-ment to represent the industry, domesticallyand internationally, on safety issues encom-passing every facet of ship operations. It isonly fitting that an industry so focused onsafety publicly recognizes the skills anddedication of the women and men who have

enabled these many years of safe operationsand who are responsible for actions in keep-ing with the highest traditions of the sea –aid to those in peril.”

More than 200 people representingover 53 companies and organizations,including AMO, attended the annual eventcelebrating safety on the waterways.

Among the companies recognizedthat own and/or operate vessels mannedunder contract by AMO were American

Roll-on/Roll-off Carrier; Crescent Towing;Crowley Liner Services; General DynamicsAmerican Overseas Marine; IntrepidPersonnel & Provisioning (Crowley);Keystone Shipping Co. (Key Lakes); OceanDuchess, Inc.; Ocean Shipholdings, Inc.;OSG Ship Management, Inc.; Pacific-GulfMarine; Pasha Hawaii; Seabulk Tankers,Inc.; Seabulk Towing, Inc.; Shell Trading(U.S.) Company; TOTE Services, Inc.; andUSS Vessel Management LLC.

The Chamber of Shipping ofAmerica represents U.S.-based companiesthat own, operate or charter merchant ves-sels engaged in both the domestic andinternational trades, as well as entities thatmaintain a commercial interest in theoperation of such vessels.

American Maritime Officers member Captain Chris Menezes (second from left)accepts a Jones F. Devlin Award from the Chamber of Shipping of America onbehalf of Crowley Petroleum Services.

AMO members Scott Allen, Mark Featherstone and Jason Frongello accept aJones F. Devlin Award from the CSA on behalf of Seabulk Towing.

AMO member Captain Craig Englehardt (center) accepts a Jones F. DevlinAward from the CSA on behalf of USS Vessel Management.

AMO member Captain Jack Ryan (center) accepts a Jones F. Devlin Award fromthe CSA on behalf of USS Vessel Management.

AMO member Captain Bob Corbett (center) accepts a Jones F. Devlin Awardfrom the CSA on behalf of USS Vessel Management.

AMO member Captain Sean Eager (center) accepts a Jones F. Devlin Awardfrom the CSA on behalf of USS Vessel Management.

American Maritime Officer • 5August 2017

STAR Center: Online resources provide comprehensiveinformation on issues of significance to AMO members

The STAR Center website provides comprehensive information and guidance on several training requirements and programs of current significance to members and applicants ofAmerican Maritime Officers.

• STCW 2010 training/certification requirements for first Merchant Mariner Credential renewal after December 31, 2016: https://www.star-center.com/stcw2010-renewal.html• STCW 2010 license upgrading requirements — applying to any engineering upgrade after December 31, 2016 and anyone upgrading to chief mate after that date:

— Engine: https://www.star-center.com/stcw2010-engine.upgrade.html— Deck: https://www.star-center.com/stcw2010-deck.upgrade.html

• STAR Center has partnered with the Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) to offer eligible AMO members an online program leading to certification as a U.S. CoastGuard approved Qualified Assessor: https://www.star-center.com/qa.html

• New professional development courses:— Watchstanding Standardization Skills & Assessment Program — Course Catalog page 73: https://www.star-center.com/courses/catalog.pdf— Confined Space Entry & Rescue: https://www.star-center.com/courses/Confined%20Space.pdf— Engineering-focused professional development — Course Catalog page 97: https://www.star-center.com/courses/catalog.pdf

• STAR Center schedule for the next eight months available online at all times:— AMO website: http://www.amo-union.org/PDFs/Dania.pdf— STAR Center website: https://www.star-center.com/forms/Schedule.pdf

• Course registration should be submitted two to three months in advance: https://www.star-center.com/forms/reg.mbr.live.html• TECH Program applicants — online information and application: https://www.star-center.com/techprogram/techprogram.html

St. Clair enters service on Great Lakes for 2017 shipping season

Fit-out onboard the M/V St. Clair began June 26 In Toledo, Ohio. AmericanMaritime Officers represents all licensed officers aboard the AmericanSteamship Company vessel.

AMO members working aboard the St. Clair in July included Third AssistantEngineer Nick Martney, First A.E. Joe Moore, Chief Engineer Bill Nelson,Third A.E. Noble Graves Jr., and First A.E. Craig Detlefsen.

AMO members working aboard the St. Clair in August included Third MatePete Kinsey, Second Mate Jeff Layton, First Mate Reed Wilson and CaptainMichael Stuart.

AMO member First AssistantEngineer Joe Moore works on thepotable water pressure tank aboardthe St. Clair.

AMO member First AssistantEngineer Gunter Meza works onthe air conditioning condenser inthe engine room of the St. Clair.

STAR Center: Radar Recertification now available in Toledo asnon-resident training for AMO Safety & Education Plan participants

Sea School is now offering U.S. Coast Guard approved Radar Recertification training on a monthly basis in Toledo, Ohio at the One Maritime Plaza location.AMO Safety and Education Plan participants can use the Non-Resident Training procedure outlined below to be reimbursed for their tuition when completing the course.The full schedule of Radar Recertification course dates is available on the Sea School website (http://www.seaschool.com/print_schedule.php) or by contacting Sea School directly

at (800) 237-8663.PLEASE NOTE: The STAR Center Non-Resident Training registration process requires that the Non-Resident Training Application be submitted and approved BEFORE taking

the requested course. When applying for reimbursement after successfully completing the course, participants will need to submit the Non-Resident Training Claim Form and Agreementof Reimbursement.

• Secure Online Non-Resident Training Application — https://www.star-center.com/forms/nrt.app.html• Secure Online Agreement of Reimbursement Form — https://www.star-center.com/forms/nrt.aor.html• Secure Online Non-Resident Training Claim Form — https://www.star-center.com/forms/nrt.claim.htmlQuestions regarding the Non-Resident Training procedure and reimbursement should be directed to STAR Center Student Services at (800) 942-3220 Ext. 201.

Photo courtesy of M/V St. Clair

6 • American Maritime Officer August 2017

The final ECO Class tanker in an eight-ship series, Palmetto State, here undergo-

ing sea trials near San Diego, Calif., wasdelivered in June and entered service inthe Jones Act trades. The ship and four

other recently delivered ECO Class tankersare operated for American Petroleum by

Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning.American Maritime Officers represents all

licensed officers aboard all eight ECOClass tankers.

Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the tanker PalmettoState in July, here in Lake Charles, La., included Chief Engineer DavidClifton, Captain Robert Cates and Chief Engineer Don Rumney.

AMO members working aboard the tanker PalmettoState in July included Second Mate Dan Foss andChief Mate Gary Schulte.

AMO members workingaboard the tankerPalmetto State in Julyincluded Third MateDarren Stolz.

U.S. Coast Guard: September 30, 2017 expiration ofnational extension for Merchant Mariner Credentials

The following article was releasedJuly 20 by the U.S. Coast Guard’sNational Maritime Center.

On December 23, 2016, the UnitedStates Coast Guard (USCG) exercisedour authority under Title 46, UnitedStates Code, Section 7507, to grantextensions of national endorsements forany mariner whose Merchant MarinerCredential (MMC) expired on or afterDecember 1, 2016. The extension waseffective immediately and remains valid

until September 30, 2017. Mariners arenot authorized to sail on an expiredMMC after September 30, 2017. Theextension does not apply to STCWendorsements or medical certificates.

Mariners are reminded that thisextension deadline is rapidly approachingand are encouraged to apply for renewalas soon as possible. Overall processingtime for applications remains approxi-mately 60 days.

Through this bulletin we are notify-

ing those mariners operating on the exten-sion to submit your applications withoutdelay. Failure to do so could lead to ourinability to process your applications priorto the extension expiration. Expirationdates of renewed MMCs will be five yearsfrom the date of expiration of the previousMMC. This means there is no advantagein waiting to submit a renewal application.

Mariners, employers, andowner/operators are also reminded to printa copy of the letter explaining the exten-

sion (http://tinyurl.com/y9rrjwfu). Allmariners sailing on the extension areadvised to carry a copy of this letter withtheir expired credentials and produce itupon the request of USCG personnel orother officials.

For questions, please see the NMCwebsite (http://tinyurl.com/y7dw7o39), orcontact the Customer Service Center by e-mail at IASKNMC@uscg.mil, by chat(http://tinyurl.com/yb9b8t6l), or by call-ing 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

U.S. Coast Guard updates electronic chart policyThe following is excerpted from an

article released July 18 by the U.S.Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced anupdate to its navigation guidance for the useof electronic charts in lieu of paper chartsand publications.

The updated version of Navigationand Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-

Changes toNMC website

On June 29, the NationalMaritime Center’s (NMC) websitetransitioned to a new platform.Users entering www.uscg.mil/nmcwill be redirected to the new NMChomepage, which is being hosted onthe Department of DefenseAmerican Forces PublicInformation Management System.

16 (http://tinyurl.com/y85eyqre) identifiesvoluntary acceptable equivalencies to papercharts and publications as well as positionfixing and plotting requirements underCoast Guard regulations.

The NVIC also provides guidanceand recommendations to vessel owners andoperators and chart display manufacturers.

“We took into account feedback from

agency partners and industry stakeholdersto adjust our electronic charts policy,” saidCapt. Mary Ellen J. Durley, the chief of theOffice of Navigation Systems.

Mariners are not required to use elec-tronic charts or electronic charting systems.The updated guidance offers a voluntaryalternative means to comply with U.S. chartand publication carriage requirements.

AMO aboard eighth ECO Class Jones Act tanker Palmetto State

Passport renewal recommended nine months prior to expiration The following is excerpted from

information posted by the U.S. PassportHelp Guide (a privately operated websitefor informational purposes that is not

affiliated with any passport offices orgovernment agencies).

The six-month validity rule isimposed by foreign countries, and not bythe United States. It simply means that yourpassport should be valid for more than sixmonths before you would be allowed toenter a foreign destination.

It is recommended that you renew

your passport nine months before it expires.This would give you enough time to applyfor a U.S. passport with the passport office.

For expedited passport renewal — ifyou are traveling within 14 days, or 30 daysif a visa is required — you have to fill outthe Application Form DS-82, and apply at aregional passport agency.

The post offices are not recommend-

ed in this situation as the turnaround time toexpedite a passport renewal at the postoffices is two to four weeks. You have twooptions to expedite your passport. The rec-ommended option is to visit a passportagency in your area. The other option wouldbe a private expediting company, but thesecompanies charge for their services, whichcan range from $79 to $399.

American Maritime Officer • 7August 2017

USNS Montford Point crew honors Montford Point Marineswith presentation to American Memorial Park MuseumBy Joseph GelhausChief Engineer, USNS Montford Point

On June 29, 2017, the crew of theUSNS Montford Point (T-ESD-1) presentedtheir depiction of the ship for which theMontford Point Marines are the namesaketo the American Memorial Park Museum,National Park Service, on Saipan to honorthe memory of those first Montford PointMarines who were killed in action in theBattle of Saipan on June 15, 1944, becom-ing the first African American Marines todie in service to their country.

The USNS Montford Point wasnamed to honor all 20,000 Montford PointMarines who trained at Montford PointCamp, a segregated facility adjacent toCamp Lejeune, N.C. established in 1942.The Montford Point Marines endured harshconditions and were not allowed on CampLejeune Base without being accompaniedby a white officer. For the first two years(1942-1943), they were placed under a trialperiod by the Marine Corps in securityduties on Hawaii and other conquered areas,such as the island of Tarawa, after the regu-lar U.S. Marine infantry regiments depart-ed. The Marine Corps scheduled them forfull combat participation for the June 15,1944 invasion of Saipan as part of the 7thField Depot. They were in three MarineDepot Companies — the 18th, 19th and20th — where they manhandled cargo,including ammunition, from the supplyships onto landing craft and then distributedit to the combat units ashore, as well as the3rd Marine Ammunition Company.

Three of the four companies landedon Saipan in the fourth wave ashore, whichwas around 1400 on June 15, 1944. The18th Marine Depot Company came ashorewith the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4thMarine Division on Yellow 1 Beach andimmediately began unloading vital suppliesin waist deep water to support the 23rdMarine Regiment ashore. They set up secu-rity duties, repulsed numerous Japaneseinfiltrators and kept snipers at bay whileloading wounded back onto landing craftbound for hospital ships. The 19th MarineDepot Company was held in reserve whilethe 20th Marine Depot Company cameashore supporting the 1st Battalion, 25thMarines, 4th Marine Division, which wasunder heavy fire on the Yellow 2 Beachesall morning long from entrenched Japanesepositions and enemy weapons fromAgingan Point, shooting north straightdown the beach into the right flank of the25th Marines, resulting in hundreds ofcasualties. It was here that 20th MarineDepot Company Montford Point Marine,PFC Kenneth J. Tibbs, from Columbus,Ohio, suffered fatal gunshot wounds atapproximately 1500 on Yellow 2 Beachand died that day, making him the firstMontford Point Marine to die in combat forhis country. Around the same time, PFCLeroy Seals of the 3rd Marine AmmunitionCompany, supporting the 8th Marines ofthe 2nd Marine Division, was also hit bygunfire and died of his wounds the nextday. Pvt. George G. Sheppard was alsokilled in the brutal first days of fighting onthe beaches of Saipan.

The after action reports from Saipanon the accomplishments of the 7th FieldDepot combat support companiesimpressed the Commandant of the MarineCorps, Lt. Gen. Alexander Vandergrift. Hedeclared the trial period for the MontfordPoint Marines was over. “They areMarines, period!”

Time magazine Pacific WarCorrespondent Robert Sherrod wrote theMontford Point Marines, under fire for thefirst time, “have rated a universal 4.0 onSaipan — earning the Navy’s highest pos-sible rating.”

In 2012, the surviving MontfordPoint Marines were presented with theCongressional Gold Medal by the 112thCongress.

The presentation of the depiction ofthe USNS Montford Point to the AmericanMemorial Park Museum on June 29 wascovered by Saipan media.

“Every crew member who was part ofthe delivery crew of Montford Point got a

copy of this drawing. We just want to makesure that the museum will have it, too,” saidUSNS Montford Point Captain KurtKleinschmidt in a report published byMarianas Variety.

In return, a relief print was made ofthe names of the Montford Point Marinesinscribed on the memorial monument.“We will have it framed and sent back toNorth Carolina so that they can display itat the Montford Point Museum,”Kleinschmidt said.

The Montford Point Marines sawcombat action for the first time and sufferedtheir first casualties on Saipan, saidKleinschmidt, who during the presentationat the museum and in an interview after-ward, also discussed the other operationalroles of Montford Point companies duringthe war, the segregated conditions in whichthey trained and served, and the steps takento honor their service to our nation and theirsuccess in bringing social change to theMarine Corps.

Michael O’Kelley, commander ofVeterans of Foreign Wars Post 3457, saidthe Montford Point Marines on Saipanhelped defeat a Japanese counterattack, andin the process, silenced an enemy machinegun, Marianas Variety reported.

The USNS Montford Point is part ofMilitary Sealift Command’s MaritimePrepositioning Force and is assigned toMaritime Prepositioning Ship SquadronThree in the Western Pacific. The ship isoperated for MSC by Ocean Ships, Inc. andis manned in all licensed positions by mem-bers of American Maritime Officers.

Photos by First Assistant Engineer Mike Long

American Maritime Officers members Captain Kurt Kleinschmidt and ChiefEngineer Joseph Gelhaus present a depiction of the USNS Montford Point to theAmerican Memorial Park Museum on Saipan, here with Saipan VFW Post 3457Commander Mike O’Kelley and National Park Service Superintendent forAmerican Memorial Park, Saipan, Paul Scolari.

USNS Montford Point Captain Kurt Kleinschmidt and Chief Engineer JosephGelhaus make a relief print of the names of the Montford Point Marines killed inaction on Saipan.

The USNS Montford Point sits atanchor in June off the beaches of thelanding of the Battle of Saipan in 1944.

8 • American Maritime Officer August 2017

Radar Courses

Radar Recertification 1 day 15, 17 August 13, 26, 28 Sept. 17, 18, 19, 31 Oct. 1,2, 14, 16 Nov. 9, 31 January 19 February 12, 13, 14, 29 March

ARPA 4 days 20 February

Radar Recertification & ARPA 5 days 19 February

Original Radar Observer Unlimited 5 days 12 February

AMO Safety and Education Plan — Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research Center(954) 920-3222 / (800) 942-3220 — 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004

General Courses

Combined Basic & Advanced Low Flash Point Fuel Operations (IGFCode/LNG Fuel) Course 5 days 18 September 11 December 26 February

Confined Space Entry 3 days 25 September 30 October 8 January

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 27 November 12 February

Basic Safety Training — All 4 modules must be completed within 12 months: Personal SafetyTechniques (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 9 October 13 November 5 February 19 March

Basic Safety Training — Refresher 3 days 11 October 15 November 7 February 21 March

Chemical Safety — Advanced 5 days 11 September 12 February

ECDIS 5 days 6 November 11 December 22 January

Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator) 3 days 27 November 12 March

Fast Rescue Boat 4 days 5 September 6 November 5 December 16 January 5 March

GMDSS — Requires after-hour homework 10 days 5 February

LNG Tankerman PIC 8 days 18 October 19 March

LNG Simulator Training — Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator course is given to qualified membercandidates for employment and/or observation opportunities with AMO contracted LNG companies. In allcases successful completion of the LNG PNC classroom course is prerequisite.

5 days 30 October

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 12 December

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) — Assessments Only 1 day Please Call

Safety Officer Course 2 days 26 October 1 March

Tankerman PIC DL — Classroom 5 days 13 November 8 January

Tankerman PIC DL — Simulator 10 days 14 August 2 October 27 November 22 January 5 March

Tankerman PIC DL — Accelerated Program 10 days Please Call

Train the Trainer 5 days 21 August 18 September 23 October 27 November 8 January 5 March

Train the Trainer — Simulator Instructors (Requires after hours work) 5 days 28 August 2 October 19 March

Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties — VPDSD 2 days 5 October 1 February

Vessel/Company Security Officer — Includes Anti-Piracy 3 days 23 October 26 February

Crowd Management 1 day Please Call

Crisis Management & Human Behavior 1 day Please Call

Basic Training & Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation (Required by firstcredential renewal AFTER 1 Jan 2017) 2 days 11 September 16 October 2 November 11 December 11, 29 January 22 February 26 March

EFA (Scheduled with Basic Training Revalidation BUT NOT REQUIREDFOR STCW 2010) 1 day 13 September 18 October 1 November 13 December 10, 31 January 21 February 28 March

Leadership & Management (required by ALL management level Deckand Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017) 5 days 14 August 25 September 6 November 15 January 5 February

Maritime Security Awareness 1/2 day Please Call

Deck CoursesAdvanced Bridge Resource Management — Meets STCW 2010Leadership & Management gap closing requirements 5 days 19 February

Advanced Shiphandling for Masters — (No equivalency) Must havesailed as Chief Mate Unlimited 5 days 11 September 6, 27 November 19 March

Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates — 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rdMates 10 days 21 August 18 September 16 October 6 November 4 December 8 January 12 February 5 March

Advanced & Emergency Shiphandling — First Class Pilots, Great Lakes 5 days 5 February

Dynamic Positioning — Basic 5 days 30 October 29 January

Dynamic Positioning — Advanced 5 days 28 August 4 December 19 March

Navigational Watchkeeping Standardization & Assessment Program 5 days 28 August 11 September 16, 30 October 27 November 12 March

TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) — Third Mate (Unlimited orGreat Lakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required 5 days 21 August 25 September 23 October

Tug Training — ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive) 5 days December 11

Visual Communications (Flashing Light) — Test only 1 day Please Call

Medical Courses

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 16 October 13 November

Elementary First Aid — Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months 1 day 17 October 14, 28 Nov. 16 January 26 March

Medical Care Provider — Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12months. Please fax EFA certificate when registering 3 days 18 October 15, 29 Nov. 17 January 27 March

Medical PIC — Please fax MCP certificate when registering 5 days 23 October 4 December 22 January

Urinalysis Collector Training 1 day 30 October 11 December 29 January

Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) — Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only 1 day 31 October 12 December 30 January

Screening Test Technician — QEDs a.m./Alco Mate 7000 p.m. 1 day 1 November 13 December 31 January

Medical PIC Refresher — MSC approved 3 days Please Call

American Maritime Officer • 9August 2017Deck Upgrade — STCW 2010 — Management Level (NVIC 10-14)— If sea service or training towards management level (Chief Mate/Master) upgrade started ON OR AFTER 24 March 2014 you must adhereto this new program of training. Completion of both required and optional courses listed below will include all Task Assessments required by NVIC 10-14 , providing ECDIS, GMDSS and ARPA have been previously completed.

Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level 10 days 2 October 22 January

Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology — Requires after-hours homework 5 days 16 October 15 January

Advanced Stability 5 days 23 October 8 January

Search & Rescue 2 days 30 October 12 February

Management of Medical Care 1/2 day 29 September 1 November 14 February

Leadership & Management 5 days 14 August 25 September 6 November 15 January 5 February

Advanced Cargo — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 21 August 13 November 19 February

Marine Propulsion Plants — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 28 August 11 December 5 March

Advanced Celestial — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 11 September 4 December 12 March

Advanced Navigation — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 18 September 27 November 5 March

MSC Training Program

Basic CBR Defense 1 day 4, 19 October 11 December 25 January 16, 22 March

Damage Control 1 day 5, 20 October 30 November 12 December 24 January 15, 21 March

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 16 October 13 November

Helicopter Fire Fighting 1 day 3 October 1 December 23 January 20 March

Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD) 1/2 day 4, 19 October 11 December 25 January 16, 22 March

Marine Sanitation Devices 1/2 day 17 October 14 November

MSC Readiness Refresher — Must have completed full CBRD & DC once incareer. 2 days 2 October 30 November 22 January 19 March

MSC Watchstander — BASIC — Once in career, SST grads grandfathered 2 days 6 October 4 December 5 February

MSC Watchstander — ADVANCED — Required for all SRF members 1 day 1, 15 Sept. 13, 27 October 17 November 1, 5, 15 Dec. 15 January 2, 6 February 2, 16 March

MSC Ship Reaction Force — Required every three years for SRF members 3 days 16 October 6 December 7 February

Small Arms — Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training — Open tomembers & applicants eligible for employment through AMO (w/in 1 year) orMSC on MARAD contracted vessels.

4 days 14, 28 August 11, 25 Sept. 9, 23, 30 Oct. 13, 27 Nov. 11 December 16, 29 January 12, 26 February 12, 26 March

Water Sanitation Afloat 1/2 day 14 November

NOTICE: AMO members planning to attend STAR Center in Dania Beach, Florida — either to prepare for license upgrading or to undergo specialty training—are asked to call the school to confirm course schedule and space availabilityin advance.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research Center (STAR), established under the auspices of the American Maritime Officers Safety and Education Plan, admitsstudents 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 orethnic origin or sex in administration of its educational policies, admission policies and other programs administered by the Center.

Engineering Courses

Basic Electricity 10 days 2 October 29 January

Diesel Crossover 4 weeks 9 October

Gas Turbine Endorsement 10 days 30 October 5 March

High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom) 3 days 13 November 20 February

Hydraulics/ Pneumatics 5 days 18 September 11 December 22 January

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) 5 days 6 November 12 February

Refrigeration (Operational Level) 5 days Please Call

Refrigeration (Management Level) 5 days 4 December

Steam Endorsement 4 weeks 18 September 15 January

Welding & Metallurgy Skills & Practices — Open to eligible Chief Mates and Masters on a space availablebasis. Interested participants should apply online and will be confirmed 2 weeks prior to start date. 2 weeks 11, 25 Sept. 4 December 26 February

Self-Study, CDs and Online Courses

Afloat Environmental Protection Coordinator CD

Anti-Terrorism Level 1 Online

Crew Endurance Management CD

DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Training CD

EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification Examination Self Study

Prudent Mariner’s Guide to Right Whale Protection CD

Qualified Assessor Online

Vessel General Permit — EPA CD

Engine Upgrade — STCW 2010 — Management Level (NVIC 15-14) — If sea service or training towards management level (1A/E-Chief Eng.) upgrade started ON OR AFTER 24 March 2014, you mustadhere to this new program of training. Completion of both required and optional courses listed below will include all Task Assessments required by NVIC 15-14. By completing the series, no expiration limitation will be placed onyour STCW credential. See STAR Center’s website for full details: https://www.star-center.com/stcw2010-engine.upgrade.html

Leadership & Managerial Skills (G500 as amended) —REQUIRED 5 days 14 August 25 September 6 November 15 January 5 February

ERM (E050 as amended) — REQUIRED (unless previously takenfor gap closing or original license) 5 days 2 October 13 November 8 January

Upgrade: Electrical, Electronics & Control Engineering(Management Level) (E133 as amended) (UPGRADE with tasks)Required unless previously taken for gap closing or original license

5 days 16 October 22 January

STCW Upgrade Task Assessment — General Engineering &Procedure (E135 as amended) — OPTIONAL: Tasks can besigned off onboard

5 days 30 October 29 January

STCW Upgrade Task Assessment — MEECE — OPTIONAL:Tasks can be signed off onboard 5 days 23 October

STCW Upgrade Task Assessment — Motor (E120 as amended) —OPTIONAL: Tasks can be signed off onboard 3 days 10 October 5 February

STCW Upgrade Task Assessment — Steam (E121 as amended) —OPTIONAL: Tasks can be signed off onboard 5 days 6 November 12 February

STCW Upgrade Task Assessment — Gas Turbine (E122 asamended) — OPTIONAL: Tasks can be signed off onboard 5 days 13 November 19 February

10 • American Maritime Officer August 2017

AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

DANIA BEACH, FL 33004-4109601 S. Federal Highway(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513Paul Doell, National President pauldoell51@yahoo.comExtension 1001Mobile: (954) 881-5651FAX: (954) 926-5112 Charles A. Murdock, National Secretary-Treasurercmurdock@amo-union.orgExtension 1004 / Mobile: (954) 531-9977 / FAX: (954) 367-1025Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Seajgremelsbacker@amo-union.orgExtension 1009 / Mobile: (954) 673-0680 / FAX: (954) 367-1029Todd Christensen, East Coast Representative tchristensen@amo-union.org / Mobile: (561) 806-3768Marie Doruth, Executive Assistant to the National Presidentmdoruth@amo-union.orgExtension 1017 / Mobile: (954) 290-8109FAX: (954) 926-5112Dispatch: (800) 345-3410 / FAX: (954) 926-5126Brendan Keller, Dispatcher (bkeller@amo-union.org)Extension 1061 / Mobile: (954) 817-4000Robert Anderson, Dispatcher (randerson@amo-union.org)Extension 1060 / Mobile: (954) 599-9771Member Services:Extension 1050 / FAX: (954) 367-1066memberservices@amo-union.org

OFFICES

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW, Suite 7204(202) 479-1166 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 7001Paul Doell, National President pauldoell51@yahoo.comExtension 7004Mobile: (954) 881-5651J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relationsmmurphy@amo-union.org / mikemurphy68@aol.comExtension 7013 / Mobile: (202) 560-6889T. Christian Spain, National Assistant Vice President, Government Relationscspain@amo-union.orgExtension 7010 / Mobile: (202) 658-8887 / FAX: (202) 479-1188

PHILADELPHIA, PA 191131 International Plaza, Suite 550Chris Holmes, Contract Analyst (cholmes@amo‐union.org)(800) 362‐0513 ext. 4002 / Mobile: (856) 693‐0694

UPDATE CREDENTIALS, DOCUMENTS, TRAINING RECORDSSecure File Upload: https://securetransfer.amo-union.org/E-mail: memberservices@amo-union.orgQuestions: (800) 362-0513 ext. 1050

TOLEDO, OH 43604The Melvin H. Pelfrey BuildingOne Maritime Plaza, Third FloorFAX: (419) 255-2350John E. Clemons, National Vice President, Great Lakesjohnclemons@amo-union.org(800) 221-9395 ext. 6003 / Mobile: (419) 205-3509Brian D. Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice Presidentbkrus@amo-union.org(800) 221-9395 ext. 6007 / Mobile: (216) 571-9666Michelle Moffitt, Dispatcher (mmoffitt@amo-union.org)(800) 221-9395 ext. 6005 / Mobile: (419) 481-3470

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

SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND, CA 946071121 7th Street, Second FloorOakland, CA 94607FAX: (954) 367-1064Daniel E. Shea, National Executive Vice President (dshea@amo-union.org)Mobile: (415) 269-5795 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 5001William Barrere, West Coast Representative (wbarrere@amo-union.org)Mobile: (415) 654-2671

NEW ORLEANS / COVINGTON, LA 70434P.O. Box 5424Covington, LA 70434Daniel J. Robichaux, National Assistant Vice Presidentdrobichaux@amo-union.org(954) 367-1036 / Mobile: (985) 201-5462 / FAX: (954) 367-1062

STAR CENTER

STUDENT SERVICES/LODGING AND COURSE INFORMATION2 West Dixie HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004-4312(954) 920-3222 ext. 201 / (800) 942-3220 ext. 201Course Attendance Confirmation: (800) 942-3220 ext. 20024 Hours: (954) 920-3222 ext.7999 / FAX: (954) 920-3140

SERVICES

FINANCIAL ADVISERS: THE ATLANTIC GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY(800) 975-7061 / www.morganstanleyfa.com/theatlanticgroup

MEDICAL CLINIC AMO PLANS2 West Dixie Highway 2 West Dixie HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004-4312 Dania Beach, FL 33004-4312(954) 927-5213 (800) 348-6515FAX: (954) 929-1415 FAX: (954) 922-7539

LEGAL

AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid General CounselProgram Glanstein LLPMichael Reny 711 Third Ave., 17th FloorMobile: (419) 346-1485 New York, NY 10017(419) 243-1105/ (888) 853-4662 (212) 370-5100 / (954) 662-9407MikeReny@BEX.NET FAX: (212) 697-6299

Regular monthly membership meetings for AmericanMaritime Officers will be held during the week following thefirst Sunday of every month at 1 p.m. local time. Meetings willbe held on Monday at AMO National Headquarters (onTuesday when Monday is a holiday). The next meetings willtake place on the following dates:

AMO National Headquarters: September 5 (Tuesday), October 2

AMO Plans: Participants canmonitor retirement accountsvia Newport Group website

American Maritime Officers Plans participants can monitor their individual 401(k),Defined Contribution Plan and Money Purchase Benefit accounts, as well as make invest-ment changes, via the Newport Group website:

https://www.newportgroup.com/On the Newport Group homepage, users will need to select the “LOGIN” button and

“Participant Access” from the menu to log into their account.The Newport Group address replaces the previous online portal, which included

“plandestination” in the address and is no longer operating at that address.On the Newport Group website, participants can monitor account balances and

investment performance, as well as make investment changes to their individual retirementaccounts. To create an individual account, or for account information, please call theNewport Group at (800) 650-1065.

American Maritime Officer • 11August 2017

American Maritime Officers members train at STAR Center

American Maritime Officers members attending the Leadership andManagement course at STAR Center in April included Hesham Shaibi,Kristopher Bodenweiser, Jacy Webb and Stjuart Bicaj.

AMO members who attended the ECDIS course at STAR Center in April includ-ed Kwamena Watson, Louis Hartmann Jr., Alfred Murray, Michael Ross andMichael Vanderhorst. With them is Instructor Peter Hyams.

TECH 105 completes first sea phase, continues training at STAR CenterTECH Program Apprentice EngineersAaron Morad, Thiago Modeiros,Nathaniel Marks, Nathaniel Perry,Chester Brown, Cesar Zarate andDevin Whitney continued their train-ing at STAR Center in July after com-pleting their first 90-day sea phase.This class (TECH 105) is the first ofThe Engineering CandidateHawsepipe Program to undergo 100percent of their training at STARCenter. TECH 105 apprentice engi-neers began the approximately two-year program in January 2017.

12 • American Maritime Officer August 2017

AMO aboard tanker Pennsylvania in Jones Act tradeAmerican Maritime Officers mem-

bers working aboard the JonesAct tanker Pennsylvania in June,here in Nederland, Texas, includ-ed Chief Mate Joe Conlon, ThirdMate Brian Mixon, Second Mate

Felix Nunez, Second AssistantEngineer Thomas Howland, Third

Mate Chris Bell and Chief MateTucker Baum. With them are

Maine Maritime Academy CadetAnthony Franchetti and California

Maritime Academy Cadet RyanTrabert.

Dangerouslegislationintroducedto repealelements ofJones Act

On July 13, Senator John McCain(R-AZ) announced a new attack on theJones Act, introducing legislation thatwould repeal elements of the MerchantMarine Act of 1920, eliminate an enormousnumber of American jobs in shipbuildingand supporting industries, and significantlyweaken U.S. military ship construction andrepair capabilities.

In the days that followed his intro-duction of the legislation, Senator McCaindeparted Washington, D.C. and underwentsurgery. It was later reported the senatorhad been diagnosed with a form of braincancer. Senator McCain returned to workon Capitol Hill the following week and wasactive in legislative proceedings. After that,he returned to Arizona to begin treatment.

“We wish Senator McCain well inthis difficult time,” said AmericanMaritime Officers National President PaulDoell. “However, as with any attack onthe Jones Act, we stand opposed to thislegislation.”

Following the introduction of thebill, S. 1561 was referred to the SenateCommittee on Commerce, Science andTransportation. As the Senate enteredrecess in August, no action had been takento advance the bill.

If enacted as written, S. 1561 would,among other things, repeal the Jones Actrequirements that ships carrying cargobetween points in U.S. domestic trade bebuilt in the United States and owned bycompanies for which a majority of stake-holders are U.S. citizens. Such a partialrepeal would devastate U.S. shipbuildingand supporting industries and would serveas a platform for wholesale repeal of thecrucial maritime cabotage law.

Nationwide, the domestic maritimeindustry supported by the Jones Act sus-tains nearly 500,000 jobs and has an annu-al economic impact of $92.5 billion,according to a study conducted byPricewaterhouseCoopers for theTransportation Institute. The industry alsoaccounts for approximately $29 billion inannual wages and $10 billion in tax rev-enue each year.

As noted by a recent GovernmentAccountability Office study: “Although theDepartment of Defense does not administeror enforce the Jones Act, the military strat-egy of the United States relies on the use ofcommercial U.S.-flag ships and crews andthe availability of a shipyard industrial baseto support national defense needs.”

The Department of Defense hascalled on Jones Act ships when necessaryfor the overseas delivery of equipment andsupplies to U.S. military personnel. Newocean-going ships built in the U.S. throughprivate investment for specific Jones Actmarkets are well suited to carry defensecargoes abroad, and 80 percent of the pri-vate sector American merchant marinersavailable for strategic sealift and other mil-itary support services began their seagoingcareers in Jones Act trades.