First AMO chief President engineer in new signs Coast ... · The AMO Safety & Education Plan’s training facility is the only U.S. maritime training institution pro-viding LNG Person-in-Charge

Volume 40, Number 11 November 2010

Copyright © 2010 American Maritime Officers ■ 2 West Dixie Highway ■ Dania Beach, FL 33004 ■ (800) 362-0513 ■ [email protected]

AMO EssentialsSTAR Center courseschedule: Pages 8-9

STAR Center registrationapplication: Page 12

AMO directory: Page 10

AMO membership meetingschedule: Page 10

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James Plourde, here aboard the LNG carrier Shagra, isthe first member of American Maritime Officers to attaina chief engineer’s position in the Shell-managed Nakilatfleet of 25 Q-Class LNG carriers.

First AMO chiefengineer in newfleet of Q-ClassLNG carriers

James Plourde has become the first member of AmericanMaritime Officers to accept a position as chief engineer onboarda new Q-Max liquefied natural gas carrier managed by Shell ShipManagement Limited.

In addition its own energy transportation fleet, Shell isnow managing 25 LNG carriers and four LPG (liquefiedpropane gas) vessels on behalf of the Qatar Gas TransportCompany (Nakilat), as reported in the most recent edition ofShell Shipping Fleet News. Of the 25 Nakilat Q-Class LNGcarriers, 14 are Q-Max (ranging from 263,000 to 266,000cubic meters in capacity) and 11 are Q-Flex (ranging 210,000to 216,000 cubic meters in capacity).

“The first vessel entered service in September 2008, withthe ships becoming fully operational in June last year, when thefirst of the Qatargas mega LNG production trains came online inQatar,” Fleet News reported.

In April 2008, AMO and Shell Ship Management Limitedsigned a historic memorandum of understanding, through whichShell has recruited and hired dozens of AMO members to sail inits fleets of LNG carriers.

The relationship has been expanded to include an AMOjunior officer program, through which Shell has and continues torecruit directly from U.S. maritime academies, bringing new offi-cers into the fleet as applicants for membership in AMO.

Plourde is one of several AMO members sailing in seniordeck and engineering positions in the Shell-managed Nakilat fleetand is the first in that fleet to attain a chief engineer’s position.

As reported in Fleet News, the Nakilat project team recruit-ed “not only in traditional markets such as the UK, India andCroatia, but in new markets, too, such as Poland, the Ukraine andthe U.S.”

Nakilat Fleet Manager Phil Williams told the magazine:“Our efforts to recruit crew members came at a time when home-land security was very high on people’s agendas, with U.S.authorities feeling that ships delivering to the U.S. should havesome U.S. seafarers onboard.

“We knew there were very skilled mariners available in theU.S. so we tapped into that market,” Williams said.

STAR Center serves a vital role in preparing AMO officersfor work in the LNG trades. The AMO Safety & Education Plan’straining facility is the only U.S. maritime training institution pro-viding LNG Person-in-Charge training certified to the standardsof the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators(SIGTTO). AMO members also have access to liquefied gas sim-ulation training on MPRI simulators at STAR Center.

The liquefied natural gas carri-er Mozah is one of 25 Q-Classliquefied natural gas carriers in

the Qatar Gas TransportCompany (Nakilat) fleet man-

aged by Shell ShipManagement Limited.

American Maritime Officersmember James Plourde sails

aboard the Q-Max LNG carrierShagra. AMO represents

dozens of deck and engineer-ing officers sailing in seniorand junior positions in the

Shell-managed Nakilat fleet.

Presidentsigns CoastGuard billinto lawU.S. Coast GuardAuthorization Actincludes severalprovisions affectingmerchant mariners

President Obama on Oct. 15 signedinto law the Coast Guard Authorization Actof 2010, the first Coast Guard authorizationto become law in several years. The legisla-tion will affect mariners by:

•Requiring the Coast Guard to “pro-vide a system for seamen assigned to a ves-sel” at a port or maritime facility — as wellas pilots and representatives of seamen’swelfare and labor organizations — to boardand depart vessels “through that facility in atimely manner at no cost to the individual.”This provision will go a long way towardhelping the Coast Guard enforce shoreaccess for mariners, particularly in thoseterminals where the terminal operator hasprevented shore access.

•Establishing a Merchant MarinerMedical Advisory Committee to advise theSecretary of Homeland Security on medicalcertification determinations for issuance oflicenses, certificates of registry and mer-chant mariners’ documents and medicalstandards and guidelines for mariners’ phys-icals. The committee will be composed of10 healthcare professionals and four “pro-fessional mariners with knowledge andexperience in mariner occupational require-ments.” This action will promote a com-mon-sense interpretation of NVIC, themedical guidelines for merchant marinercredentials, and will assist with implemen-tation of international guidelines, once theyare approved.

•Authorizing the Coast Guard to

See USCG Authorization ◆ Page 2

Update on actionsby internationalorganizationsPage 3: The AMO national vicepresident at large provides adetailed update on actions affect-ing American mariners by inter-national organizations, includingthe International MaritimeOrganization and InternationalTransport Workers’ Federation.

Pension Planrehabilitation oneyear on: progressPage 3: The defined benefitAMO Pension Plan surpassed itsassumed rate of return on invest-ments by nearly 50 percent in fis-cal 2010. The Plan earned 11.2percent overall, compared withthe 7.5 percent rate of returnassumed by the Plan’s actuaries.

AMO 401(k) Plansummary annualreport for 2009Page 6: The summary annualreport for the AMO 401(k) Planfor calendar year 2009 is pub-lished in this edition. The fiscalyear 2009 summary annualreports for the AMO Pension,Medical and Vacation Plans areavailable at www.amoplans.com.

2 • American Maritime Officer November 2010

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

2 West Dixie 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 SeaDonald Cree, National Vice President, Great LakesBrian Krus, National Assistant Vice President, Great LakesMichael Murphy, National Vice President At LargeDaniel Shea, National Executive Board Member At LargeDavid Weathers, National Executive Board Member At LargeDonald Nilsson, National Executive Board Member, Deep SeaCharles Murdock, National Executive Board Member, Inland Waters

Representative: Stan Barnes

Editor: Matt BurkeAssistant Editor: Amber LupinContributing Editor: Paul Doell

POSTMASTER—Send Address Changes To:American Maritime OfficersATTN: Member Services

P.O. Box 66Dania Beach, FL 33004

enforce the coastwise trade laws, whichreserve the movement of goods betweenU.S. domestic points to Jones Act-qualifiedvessels. The coastwise laws are currentlyenforced by U.S. Customs and BorderProtection.

•Giving the Coast Guard the author-ity to extend a mariner’s expiring licenseor certificate of registry if the Secretary ofHomeland Security determines that theextension is required to eliminate a back-log in processing applications or inresponse to a natural disaster or nationalemergency.

•Directing the commandant of theCoast Guard to prepare a report analyzinghow to simplify the application process fora “merchant mariner document,” allowmariners to check the status of their appli-cations by electronic means, and store infor-mation related to “merchant mariner docu-

ments” electronically.•Protecting mariners who use or

authorize force to defend a U.S. vesselagainst an act of piracy “if such force was inaccordance with standard rules for the useof force in self-defense of vessels pre-scribed by the secretary [of the DHS].”Mariners will be protected from monetarydamages for any injury or death caused bysuch force to “any person engaging in an actof piracy.”

Sections of the authorization thataddress OSVs (offshore service vessels)and licensing requirements for marinersaboard these vessels are difficult to assessuntil the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking isreleased.

Several sections address theTransportation Worker IdentificationCredential (TWIC), but further rulemakingis necessary before these provisions willcome into effect. Further information willbe available on AMO Currents and/orAmerican Maritime Officer as these rulesbecome available.

USCG AuthorizationContinued from Page 1

BBC Houston sails under U.S. flag

First Assistant Engineer Tony Estes, Second A.E. Ian Hemba and ChiefEngineer Phil Hogle aboard the BBC Houston, which was re-flagged intoU.S. registry and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.

Below: Second Mate Tom Cook with the Stars and Stripes flying on theBBC Houston — AMSEA is providing crewing services for the heavy liftship, which is operated by Teras Cargo Transport for BBC Chartering.

AMO responds to Coast Guard request for inputon process to recognize foreign STCW certificates

The national president of American

Maritime Officers Oct. 24 submitted the

following comments for the record in

response to USCG-2010-0797, a publica-

tion by the U.S. Coast Guard in the

Federal Register requesting input on the

development of procedures to recognize

STCW certificates issued by a flag state

other than the U.S. As required by recent-

ly ratified amendments to the STCW con-

vention by the International Maritime

Organization, the U.S. Coast Guard is

developing a policy regarding U.S. recog-

nition of foreign STCW certificates held

by foreign maritime officers who may be

employed on some U.S.-flagged vessels

under existing U.S. law, 46 U.S.C. 8103.

Reference: Recognition of ForeignCertificates under the InternationalConvention on Standards of Training,Certification and Watchkeeping forSeafarers, 1978, as Amended, Regulation1/10 (USCG-2010-0797)

The American Maritime OfficersUnion represents officers with unlimitedlicenses in both the deck and engine depart-ments sailing primarily in U.S. flaggedGovernment Contract, foreign trade andJones Act vessels. There are no non-U.S.citizen officers aboard these vessels.

For the record, the AmericanMaritime Officers Union categoricallyopposes employment of non-U.S. citizenofficers aboard any U.S. flag vessel, currentlaw notwithstanding. The AmericanMaritime Officers recognizes the U.S.Government’s obligation under internation-al convention to establish procedures forimplementing STCW Regulation 1/10. Wealso recognize that existing U.S. law in 46U.S.C. 8103 (b) (3) provides limitedwaivers for non-U.S. citizens aboard smallOffshore Vessels and Mobile Drilling Unitsoperating outside U.S waters. It is impor-tant that procedures implementing 1/10must state that any future consideration ofwaivers beyond those currently in exis-tence must be a matter of public recordavailable for comment.

Where there are existing waivers, thenew regulations implementing 1/10 must

prescribe the same stringent requirementsthat a U.S. mariner would have to meet.Specifically, they must hold aTransportation Worker IdentificationCredential, pass a U.S. Coast Guard back-ground check for DUI and other disqualify-ing crimes (including in their countries ofbirth and residence), hold a current drugcard from a U.S. Coast Guard recognizedfacility and have a medical clearance fromthe National Maritime Center that meetsU.S. Coast Guard guidelines. Additionally,as required by Regulation 1/10 (2), Mastersand Chief Officers must demonstrateknowledge of U.S. maritime laws and reg-ulations and these should be specified inthe regulation. These requirements shallnot be waived, shall be completed prior toemployment aboard and there shall be nograndfathering. These are the same stan-dards U.S. mariners are held to and the U.S.Coast Guard must apply them in a soundmanner.

Editor’s note: Regarding AMO’s

comments on the U.S. Coast Guard’s

request, the AMO national vice president at

large remarked: “We do not support

employment of any foreign officers on U.S.-

flagged ships. If the stipulations AMO has

recommended are applied to current law, it

would be extremely difficult for foreign

merchant marine officers to qualify for

employment on U.S.-flagged vessels, as

these officers would be held to the same

requirements faced by American merchant

marine officers.”

American Maritime Officer • 3November 2010

AMO Pension Plan rehabilitation, one year on:recovery proceeds as returns on investmentssurpass actuarial assumption and benchmark rates

The defined benefit AmericanMaritime Officers Pension Plan surpassedits assumed rate of return on investments bynearly 50 percent in fiscal 2010.

The AMO Pension Plan earned 11.2percent overall, compared to the 7.5 percentrate of return assumed by the Plan’s actuar-ies. The AMO Pension Plan outperformedthe actuarial assumption by 49.3 percent inthe fiscal year, which ended at midnight onSept. 30.

Moreover, AMO Pension Plan invest-ments outpaced their “benchmarks” by 16.7percent. “Benchmarks” are used to measurethe performances of various asset classes.

Had the AMO Pension Plan’s perfor-mance in fiscal 2010 been equal to the per-formances of the assigned benchmarks, thePlan’s rate of return would have been 9.58percent. The AMO Pension Plan earned10.4 percent on large cap, mid-cap andsmall cap stocks, outperforming the 9 per-cent benchmark by 15.5 percent.

The Plan earned 9.8 percent frombonds, outperforming the benchmark of 9.2percent by 6.5 percent.

Other investments - international andemerging market stocks, commodities andreal estate investment trusts - returned 16.9percent for the AMO Pension Plan in fiscal

2010. This rate exceeded the benchmarkreturn of 12.4 percent by 36.3 percent.

Ten out of 13 AMO Pension Planinvestment managers surpassed their bench-marks in all investment classes in the fiscalyear.

At the end of fiscal 2010 on Sept. 30,the AMO Pension Plan was funded at 62.6percent, with an estimated $479 million inaccrued vested benefit liabilities and assetsvalued at approximately $300 million.

At the end of fiscal 2009 on Sept. 30,2009, the AMO Pension Plan was funded at54.1 percent, with an estimated $523 mil-lion in accrued vested benefit liabilities andassets valued at $283 million.

In fiscal 2010, the AMO Pension Planpaid $52 million in monthly benefits to Planparticipants and survivors.

Fiscal 2010 was the first year inwhich the AMO Pension Plan operatedunder a rehabilitation strategy intended tobring the Plan out of “critical” funding sta-tus as defined by the Pension Protection Actof 2006.

The AMO Pension Plan was driven to“critical” or “red zone” funding status underthe Pension Protection Act in October 2009by the combined effects of a deep and per-sistent economic recession, the collapse of

investment markets in 2008 and the daunt-ing requirements of the Pension ProtectionAct itself - the law effectively doubled thecost of maintaining defined benefit pensionplans.

In the last year, 80 percent of theremaining single employer and multiem-ployer defined benefit pension plans in theprivate sector nationwide entered thePension Protection Act’s “red zone.”

The AMO Pension Plan rehabilitationstrategy - developed by the joint union-employer trustees of the AMO Pension Planin compliance with the federal law - includ-ed increased employer contributions to theAMO Pension Plan through collective bar-gaining, a freeze on pension credits for ben-efit calculation purposes (but not for benefiteligibility) as of December 31, 2009 and themandatory end of lump-sum pension bene-fit distribution.

Under the rehabilitation plan, theoption of retirement with monthly pensionbenefits at 20 years or more of coveredemployment remains available to all deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters partici-pants in the AMO Pension Plan.

AMO Pension Plan actuaries had saidthe rehabilitation plan would restore fullfunding to the AMO Pension Plan in about

seven years.We know this is a tough time for all

AMO families with respect to retirementplanning and options. These numbers do notsuggest a near-term end to the difficulty, butthey do provide some encouragement. Themoney managers have done well, and thiswill help keep our pension rehabilitationplan on course.

Once the AMO Pension Plan isrestored to full funding, the Plan will be ter-minated. AMO Pension Plan participantswill at that point have the choice of retiringwith monthly benefits or rolling the accu-mulated lump-sum values of their earnedbenefits into their individual retirement sav-ings accounts under the forthcoming AMODefined Contribution Plan.

The employer-paid AMO DefinedContribution Plan will apply union-wide onJanuary 1, 2011.

The AMO Pension Plan MoneyPurchase Benefit and the AMO 401(k) Planwill not be affected by termination of thedefined benefit AMO Pension Plan or byunion-wide coverage under the AMODefined Contribution Plan.

AMO Pension Plan

Nov. 2, 2010

Update on international actions affecting marinersReport of the AMO national vice

president at large

The International MaritimeOrganization, the International TransportWorkers’ Federation and the InternationalLabor Organization all have taken and willtake actions affecting mariners worldwidein 2010.

It has been more than a year since Ihave written an article on my activities withinternational organizations, so I will revisitsome of the background I provided in earli-er articles.

I attend international meetings as adelegate of the International TransportWorkers’ Federation (ITF), based inLondon, UK. The ITF is an umbrella orga-nization that includes more than 600 trans-portation unions from every transportationsector. AMO is affiliated with the Seafarers’Section, which represents over 650,000 ofthe 1.2 million seafarers worldwide. The

current chairman of the Seafarers’ Section isDavid Heindel, secretary-treasurer of theSeafarers International Union. I personallychair the ITF Maritime Safety Committee,which is a technical committee providinganalysis and recommendations to Heindel’scommittee and represents the ITF atInternational Maritime Organization meet-ings. We address subjects as diverse asStandards of Training, Certification andWatchkeeping (STCW), as well as piracy,climate change and criminalization as theyrelate to seafarers throughout the world.

The International MaritimeOrganization (IMO), also based in London,is the United Nations’s specialized agencyto deal with maritime safety and marine pol-lution issues. The IMO has seven majorcommittees and nine subcommittees withmeetings occurring throughout the year toaddress the thousands of issues whichaffect all mariners to some degree.Delegations include 169 member flag states

and 139 non-governmental and inter-gov-ernmental organizations. It should be notedthere are many ship owners and ship opera-tors organizations and they enjoy the fullsupport of flag states such as Panama,Liberia, Bahamas, etc., where the majorityof the world’s ships are flagged. They rep-resent a formidable force to promote theship owner’s agenda. While ITF has fullmembership as a non-governmental organi-zation, it is the ONLY organized labor dele-gation of the 308 delegations. This makesITF’s role at the IMO especially importantto ensure that mariners have a voice whentheir lives and livelihood are being debated.

The International Labor Organization(ILO), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is thetripartite UN agency that brings togethergovernments, employers and workers of itsmember states in common action to pro-mote decent working conditions throughoutthe world. The ILO’s primary involvementwith the maritime industry currently resides

in three initiatives: The Maritime LaborConvention (MLC), also known as theSeafarer’s Bill of Rights; ILO Convention185, which addresses seafarer’s identitydocuments and is the source of our new,passport-style mariner documents; and, inpartnership with the IMO, setting the newinternational medical standards for seafar-ers. I am currently involved with the MLCand medical standards initiatives.

While this background informationmay seem involved, I believe it will help inunderstanding my interaction with the threeagencies on behalf of AMO members, andhow it impacts on mariners now and in thefuture. It is important to remember thatnearly every rule the U.S. Coast Guard pub-lishes affecting deep-sea mariners beginswith action taken by an international body.If we are not making our views and needsknown at the international level, we willnever have another opportunity because,once a convention is ratified, the memberflag state’s only option is to implement itinto national law or regulation.

The international agenda for this yearbegan in January with the Standards ofTraining and Watchkeeping for Seafarers(STW) subcommittee meeting to finalizethe updates to the STCW Code. This final-ized a two-year process that was highly con-tentious, especially for those of us repre-senting the ITF. Some of the more volatileissues were hours of rest, length of formaltraining for engineering officers, creation ofthe electro-technical officer rating, creationof the new Able Seafarer — Deck or EngineStandards, medical standards for seafarers,revised and shortened timeline for person incharge (PIC) of Dangerous liquids and liq-uefied gas cargo transfers, and guidance ondynamic positioning — to mention a few.The STW subcommittee was able to cometo consensus on 95 percent of the issues.

See International Action ◆ Page 4

AMO in theCrescent

Towing fleetAmerican Maritime Officers mem-

bers working in the CrescentTowing fleet, here aboard the tugMiriam Walmsley Cooper in NewOrleans, La., included Capt. Mike

Domangue, Capt. DannyRobichaux, Capt. Dan Caire and

Chief Engineer Mark Millican.AMO represents the captains andchief engineers in the Crescent

fleets in New Orleans andSavannah, Georgia.


Ballots mailed for 2010 AMO Election of NationalOfficers; instructions for requesting a duplicate ballot

Ballots for the 2010 AmericanMaritime Officers Election of NationalOfficers were mailed to all AMO mem-bers Sept. 1, 2010, by TrueBallot Inc., theindependent firm that has administeredAMO elections and referendums sinceJanuary 2007, and is conducting this 90-day union-wide secret ballot election.

TrueBallot mailed ballots to eachAMO member at the address he or shehas on file with the union. AMO has pro-vided TrueBallot with a current mailinglist of members for the purpose of thiselection, as is done for each AMO elec-tion and referendum.

AMO members whose ballots arelost or destroyed, and AMO members whodo not receive a ballot in the mail, canrequest duplicate ballots. As stipulated bythe AMO National Constitution, therequest for a duplicate ballot must specifythat the original ballot was lost or mutilat-ed so it cannot be used.

Additionally, any AMO memberwho would prefer his or her ballot be sentto an address other than the address he orshe has on file with the union can requesta ballot be sent to an alternate address. Aduplicate ballot will be sent to the alter-nate address provided by the member.

AMO members who need to requesta duplicate ballot or would like a duplicateballot to be sent to an alternate address willneed to contact Jack Branthover, specialassistant to the AMO national president:

Jack BranthoverAmerican Maritime Officers2 West Dixie HighwayDania Beach, FL 33004FAX: (954) [email protected]

The union will provide alternateaddresses and requests for duplicate bal-lots to TrueBallot Inc. for the mailing ofduplicate ballots to AMO members. Aswith all AMO elections and referendumsadministered by TrueBallot, the unionitself will not be mailing, handling or pro-cessing any ballots in this election.

Ballots will be mailed to all AMO

members, regardless of dues status.However, for each member’s ballot to becounted in the final tally — which isscheduled for Dec. 6, 2010 — he or shemust be an AMO book member in goodstanding and his or her dues must be paidin full through the end of the fourth quar-ter of the calendar year (Dec. 31, 2010) atthe time the ballots are counted.

As stipulated by the AMO NationalConstitution, each member must bothhave his or her dues paid in full throughthe fourth quarter of the calendar yearand establish good standing no later thanNov. 30, 2010, for his or her ballot to becounted.

As defined by the AMO NationalConstitution, a member in good standingis “a member whose dues are paid throughthe current quarter and who is not undersuspension or sentence of expulsion asprovided by this Constitution.”

No publicityfor candidates

So as not to give any candidatean undue advantage in the forthcom-ing election of AMO national offi-cers, neither the names nor pho-tographs of candidates, whetherincumbent or not, will be publishedin articles in the union’s newspaper,American Maritime Officer, or theunion’s online periodical, AMO

Currents. In the case of news storiesthat involve an incumbent who is acandidate, only the candidate’s titlemay be mentioned.

AMO NationalConstitutionavailable onAMO Web siteand at unionheadquarters

The American MaritimeOfficers National Constitution wasmailed to all AMO deep-sea, GreatLakes and inland waters membersat their home addresses and to con-tracted vessels in the April 2010edition of American Maritime

Officer. AMO members wishing toobtain additional copies of theAMO National Constitution canacquire them from AMO headquar-ters upon request. A digital copy ofthe AMO National Constitution isavailable on the AMO Web site atwww.amo-union.org.

AMO aboard laker S/S Arthur M. Anderson

American Maritime Officers member First AssistantEngineer Frederick Reyes aboard the laker S/S Arthur

M. Anderson in September — with him here in Huron,Ohio, are AMO National Assistant Vice President for theGreat Lakes Brian Krus and AMO NationalRepresentative Stan Barnes.

AMO National Assistant Vice President for the GreatLakes Brian Krus meets with Steward Nasser Aljalhamin the galley of the steamship Arthur M. Anderson asthe vessel unloaded limestone in Huron, Ohio, inSeptember. The Anderson is operated by Key Lakes.AMO represents the officers and stewards on the ship.

International ActionContinued from Page 3

The rest were kept as open items for the fullMaritime Safety Committee.

The Maritime Safety Committee(MSC) met in May and members were ableto agree on solutions for all of the remainingSTCW items, EXCEPT for hours of restand medical guidelines, which again wentforward as open items to be debated at theDiplomatic Conference. I organized andpersonally lobbied undecided flag states tothwart any move to finalize these issuesuntil they could be addressed at the confer-ence because the ship owners had mobilizedtheir constituents and were trying to ramthese initiatives through the committee.This was the final action needed to send thenew STCW forward to IMO’s DiplomaticConference for final ratification by memberflag states. Other issues we worked on dur-ing this MSC meeting were piracy, crimi-nalization of mariners and events to kick offthe “Year of the Seafarer.”

The Diplomatic Conference was heldin Manila, RP, and was attended by memberflag states’ most senior delegations. Thenormal progression should have been anorderly ratification of each change to theSTCW. However, the issues of hours of restand medical guidelines proved to be quitecontentious. Again, my ITF colleagues andI lobbied the conference delegations andthrew these two issues into a possible vote— something the conference leaders want-ed to avoid at all costs because they wantedunanimous consensus on these changes.They took the unusual step of forming adhoc working groups to address the issues. Iworked with the hours of rest workinggroup and other ITF colleagues worked themedical guidelines. We finally ended upwith a series of compromises — no one goteverything they wanted, but it was the bestsolution on which we could agree.Basically, the ship owners wanted to weak-en the hours of rest requirements while, atthe same time, making the medical require-ments more rigid. We were successful inincreasing the number of hours per day ofrest from 10 to 11 and making any waiverstemporary and difficult to administer. Wealso were successful in keeping the medicalguidance in part B, which makes it option-al, with the caveat that the guidelines wouldhave to be agreed to in a tripartite settingwith ILO, IMO and the World HeathOrganization (WHO). The initial meetingon the medical guidelines was set forOctober 2010 at ILO headquarters inGeneva.

In June, I attended the ITF Congressin Mexico City with the AMO nationalpresident. This is an important event occur-ring every four years to elect a new ITFpresident, and in this case, a new chairper-son for the Seafarers Section. AMO is a vot-ing member in the election and this year wesupported Paddy Crumlin of the MaritimeUnion of Australia — a staunch supporterand member of the Dockers’ Section, whichmeets in parallel and in conjunction with theSeafarers’ Section. The newly electedchairman of seafarers, whom we avidlysupported, is Heindel of the SeafarersInternational Union. These positions areimportant because we now have a powerfulmaritime leader as president of the ITF —maritime is only about 25 percent of the ITF— and we have another American as headof the Seafarers’ Section, which my com-mittee supports. Overnight, the ITF took ona significant maritime orientation with twoAmericans in leadership positions.

In October, I attended the tripartitemeeting in Geneva. I was a vice chair of themeeting and the single spokesman for allmariners with respect to medical guidelines.I had an ITF team that included three doc-tors, two other mariners from my ITF com-mittee and two members of the ITFSecretariat to provide support. The othervice chairs represented ship owners and flagstates. The chairwoman of the meeting wasMayte Medina, a senior civilian from theU.S. Coast Guard, a U. S. Merchant MarineAcademy graduate and a veteran chairper-son of international meetings. While the

meeting made significant progress on med-ical guidelines, we encountered certain pro-cedural and legal problems when the WorldHealth Organization refused to participateand actually withdrew their support for anyactions on mariner medical guidelines.Additionally, the meeting was supposed toaddress an update to the Medicine Chestsection of the International MedicalGuidance for Ships, and the WHO hadtaken certain unilateral actions that forcedlegal deliberations, which are ongoing.Even with the drama, we were able to moveforward on the medical guidelines andexpect to publish the final product in late2011 or early 2012. The major advantagesto these guidelines for American marinersare: a two-year medical certificate, whichbrings us in line with the rest of the worldfor port state inspections; a streamlined setof guidelines compared with the ones wecurrently use; a registry of doctors ratherthan a single doctor at the NationalMaritime Center making all the decisions;and an independent review of medicaldenials. The U.S. Coast Guard claims to becommitted to making these changes to oursystem. Of course, the devil is in the detailsand we will wait until the final product isprinted before making any judgments onsuccess.

As you can see, it has been an unusu-ally busy year on the international scene. Ihope this article has highlighted the part thatAMO plays in making international, andthus national, decisions on our lives andlivelihoods as mariners.


Great Lakes

Great Lakescargo floatstrong through September

U.S.-flagged lakers in September car-ried 9.4 million net tons of cargo, anincrease of 33.7 percent compared withSeptember 2009.

Iron ore loadings in September totaled3.9 million net tons, an increase of 81 percentcompared with September 2009. Coal load-ings were up 17.5 percent, while limestonecarriage increased by 11.4 percent.

U.S.-flagged lakers have carried 62.8million net tons of cargo this year, anincrease of 47.5 percent compared withyear-to-date totals for September 2009.Iron ore, limestone and coal were all aheadof last year’s totals in September. Whilemonthly cargo totals continue to show sig-nificant growth and recovery through the2010 season, the season-to-date and month-ly totals for September were 9.2 and 10.8percent behind five-year average marks forthese periods, respectively.

At left: thirdassistantengineer onthe Buffalo

Peter Warren

AMO members on theGreat Lakes in September

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the S/S Arthur M. Anderson, here in Duluth, Minn., includedChief Engineer Steve Thompson, First Assistant Engineer Jamie Burke, Third A.E. Jay Langenderfer and SecondA.E. Steve Fry. With them here is AMO Representative Stan Barnes. The Anderson is operated by Key Lakes Inc.and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the M/V Buffalo, here in Silver Bay, Minn., included Steward TimWarren, Capt. Colin Bergel, First Mate Rick Stern, Chief Engineer Rick Waem and First A.E. Gregg Bostic. The Buffalo

is owned and operated by American Steamship Company. AMO represents the licensed officers and stewards on the ship.

Surge in graincargoes showscapacity forgrowth inLakes shipping

In the wake of a suspension on grainexports in Russia, Great Lakes vessels haveseen a massive increase in grain cargoes.The system has easily handled this unexpect-ed surge, demonstrating the unused capacityon the lakes.

Grain shipments in September wereup 68 percent compared with a year ago, theGreat Lakes Maritime Task Force reported.The increase is anticipated to last through theclose of the St. Lawrence Seaway at the endof December and may pick up again whenthe Soo Locks are opened in the spring.

“The fact that most of these cargoeswere destined for customers overseas under-scores that the Lakes and Seaway truly areAmerica’s Fourth Sea Coast,” said JamesWeakley, president of the task force. “Whilewe are pleased” to make these importantdeliveries to meet international demand, “it isjust plain wrong that the Fourth Sea Coast isso underutilized. Every one of those extracargoes means not only income for Americanand Canadian farmers, but jobs for long-shoremen, pilots, vessel agents and all theother men and women who make this systemwork.”

John Baker, first vice president of thetask force, added that there is ample capacityfor further grain and other cargo shipmentson the Lakes. “The congestion that more andmore plagues our East, West and Gulf Coastports just doesn’t exist on the Fourth SeaCoast,” he said. “The maritime communityworldwide needs to reacquaint itself with theLakes and seaway. Our workers, our docks,and our ports are among the finest in theworld.”

Increased utilization of the GreatLakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system will alsohave huge positive environmental impacts,noted the third vice president of the task

force and AMO national Great Lakes vicepresident. “A ship can move a ton of cargomore than 600 miles per gallon of fuel,” hesaid. “In comparison, a train moves a ton ofcargo 200 miles per gallon of fuel. A trucktravels only 59 miles. Each mode of trans-

portation has a role to play, but clearly, water-borne commerce is the hands-down winnerfor environmental friendliness.”

Grain is the Lakes’ largest exportcargo, with shipments totaling more than 12million tons in a strong year. Iron ore is the

lifeblood of the system, totaling nearly 70million tons with strong national demand.Coal cargoes can reach 40 million tons peryear in a good economy, while shipments ofaggregate and fluxstone together canapproach another 40 million.

At right: AMO members working aboard the M/V Roger Blough,here in Two Harbors, Minn., included Chief Engineer Eric Wiese,First A.E. Richard Terry and Second A.E. Clarence Houle. TheBlough is operated by Key Lakes, Inc. AMO represents theengineering officers and stewards aboard the vessel.

At right:Second Mateon the Buffalo

Terry Heyns


AMO securesnew contractfor SeabulkTowing fleet

American Maritime Officers hasestablished a new three-year agreement cov-ering vessels in the fleet operated by SeabulkTowing and manned by AMO members.

The new contract features across-the-board wage increases in each year of theagreement — 2.5 percent, 2 percent and 2.5percent, respectively — and a first-yearbonus for all AMO members working in the

Seabulk Towing fleet.Serving on the contract negotiating

committee with the AMO national executivevice president and AMO national executiveboard member for inland waters were rank-and-file AMO members Jerry Borden(Tampa Bay), John Clifford (PortEverglades) and Gerry Keating (PortCanaveral).

The AMO negotiating committeealso secured as part of the agreement allactuarially required increases in contribu-tions to the AMO Plans, including theAMO Pension Plan (rehabilitation plan),the Defined Contribution Plan, AMOMedical Plan, AMO 401(k) and AMOMaster Operating Trust (Safety &Education Plan).

AMO 401(k) Plan: summary annual report for calendar year 2009This is a summary of the annual report for American Maritime Officers 401k Plan,

EIN 11-2978754, Plan No. 002, for period January 01, 2009 through December 31, 2009.The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S.Department of Labor, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement

Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust fund. Plan expenses were$11,512,232. These expenses included $608,226 in administrative expenses, and$10,904,006 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 4,144 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 $212,895,411 asof December 31, 2009, compared to $166,500,211 as of January 01, 2009. During the planyear the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $46,395,200. This increaseincludes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the dif-ference between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and the value of theassets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The planhad total income of $57,907,432, including employer contributions of $1,676,380, employ-ee contributions of $14,857,582, earnings from investments of $40,498,096, and otherincome of $875,374.

Your Rights To Additional Information

You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, onrequest. 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; • fiduciary information, including non-exempt transactions between the plan and

parties-in-interest (that is, persons who have certain relationships with the plan); • information regarding any common or collective trusts, pooled separate accounts,

master trusts or 103-12 investment entities in which the plan participates; 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 401k Plan at 2 West Dixie Highway,Dania Beach, FL 33004-4312, or by telephone at (954) 920-4247.

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 (Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers 401k Plan at 2 West DixieHighway, Dania Beach, FL 33004-4312) 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.

Military Sealift Command reconfigures tanker fleet The fleet of tankers operated by the

U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command isbeing reconfigured to meet fuel require-ments of U.S. forces worldwide. Thisseagoing force of government-owned andU.S.-flagged chartered ships is adding anew ship under charter, the M/T Empire

State, as two government-owned shipscomplete their service, Military SealiftCommand reported.

The Empire State has entered serviceunder MSC charter for up to five years. Theship is operated for American PetroleumTankers by Intrepid Personnel andProvisioning (Crowley) and is manned inall licensed positions by AmericanMaritime Officers.

The Empire State will operate world-wide carrying refined petroleum productsfor the Department of Defense. Built atGeneral Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego,Calif., the double-hulled tanker is 600 feetlong and has a capacity of 331,000 barrels.The ship’s construction was completed inJuly 2010, at which time the Empire State

went to work for MSC under a short-termcharter.

The fifth tanker in the State Classseries, the M/T Evergreen State, is underconstruction at NASSCO and is expected toenter service under MSC charter in early2011. The Evergreen State will be the sec-ond State Class tanker chartered by MSC.AMO represents the licensed officersaboard all tankers in the series.

Two of MSC’s government-ownedtankers transferred out of service Oct. 1.The USNS Paul Buck and USNS Samuel L.

Cobb entered service to MSC in the mid1980s, along with three other then-new T-5tankers.

Upon deactivation from MSC ser-vice, the USNS Cobb and USNS Buck trans-ferred to the Maritime Administration’sNational Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF),which includes about 30 dry cargo ships and

tankers kept in reserve for possible activa-tion and use in support of national defenseand in national emergencies.

In 2003, MSC purchased four of thefive T-5 tankers — USNS Buck, USNS

Cobb, USNS Lawrence H. Gianella andUSNS Richard G. Matthiesen. Since then,these ships have served as the core ofMSC’s tanker fleet, along with an MSC-chartered shallow-draft tanker.

“Our T-5 tankers have served us wellfor the past 25 years, and as they approachthe end of their service lives, the State Classships will allow us to continue to fulfill ourrequirements to transport fuel for theDefense Logistics Agency - Energy,” saidJohn Joerger, MSC’s tanker project officer.

The USNS Gianella transferred toMSC’s Maritime Prepositioning Force in2009 and the USNS Matthiesen will remainin service to MSC until early 2011, whenthe ship will join Cobb and Buck in theNDRF.

In fiscal year 2010, MSC carried 1.5billion gallons of petroleum productsworldwide in support of DOD operations inmissions ranging from delivering fuel tocombat forces operating in Iraq to replen-ishing McMurdo Station, Antarctica, andThule Air Force Base in Greenland.

The M/T Empire State was delivered in July by General Dynamics NASSCO inSan Diego, Calif. The ship entered service under a short-term Military SealiftCommand charter upon its delivery and entered service under the long-termMSC charter in October. The Empire State is operated by Intrepid Personnel andProvisioning (Crowley) and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.

The USNS Samuel L. Cobb The USNS Paul Buck


AMO Headquarters construction on budget, to becompleted in early 2011

Photos: October 26, 2010

Construction of the AMO head-quarters building in Dania Beach, Fla.,remains on budget and is nearing com-pletion, which is expected in February2011, with occupancy as soon as the endof that month.

The headquarters constructionproject, approved by a majority vote ofthe AMO membership in a union-widesecret-ballot referendum in August2009, began with a groundbreaking byAMO members, followed by site prepa-ration in October 2009.

Felt has been applied to the roofof the building and the roof should becompleted by mid-November. Builders

are framing on the third floor and drywallinstallation on the second floor will beginshortly.

With the completion of the AMOHeadquarters building, the union will consol-idate its Dispatch, Member Services,Accounting, Editorial and Administrationdepartments in one building. The headquar-ters will also serve as a professional meetingspace for monthly membership meetings andspecial events hosted by the union.

The funds for the headquarters build-ing were obtained by the sale of land to theAMO Safety & Education Plan. With thisacquisition, Plans can expand as necessaryand make improvements to STAR Center.

American

Tern deliversfor ‘SabreStrike 2010’

The M/V American Tern, operated byAPL Maritime Ltd. for Military SealiftCommand, on Oct. 7 delivered equipmentand Stryker vehicles to Riga, Latvia, inpreparation for exercise Sabre Strike 2010.

The American Tern loaded inPhiladelphia Sept. 16 and 17. Once arrivingat the Vecmīlgrāvis Terminal in Riga, thevessel’s crew discharged 17 Stryker vehiclesand eight containers of gear, weapons, com-munication equipment, maintenance items,Humvees, trailers and support trucks, MSCreported.

Sealift Logistics Command Europe(SEALOGUER) and Surface Deploymentand Distribution Command’s (SDDC) 950thTransportation Company coordinated thecargo delivery. The 21-member crew of theTern operated the vessel’s cranes and assist-ed the stevedores during the eight-hour dis-charge.

The “crew members of the Tern” were“able to discharge the cargo safely, efficient-ly and without a scratch in the equipment,”said SEALOGUER Maritime TransportationSpecialist Matthew Mueller.

The exercise is designed to increasethe efficiency of joint operations betweenthree Baltic States and the U.S. It was con-ducted at the Adazi training area in Latviaand concluded on Oct. 31.

The American Tern is manned in alllicensed positions by American MaritimeOfficers.

AMO members observe, addressmeetings of AMO National ExecutiveBoard, trustees of AMO Plans

American Maritime Officers mem-bers Robert Haller, RobertLansden, Danny Robichaux andChristian Spain — here with Capt.Tim Brown, president of theInternational Organization ofMasters, Mates and Pilots —attended meetings of the AMONational Executive Board and AMOPlans trustees the week of Oct. 18in Washington, D.C. Brownaddressed a meeting of the AMONational Executive Board.

American Maritime Officers mem-bers Danny Robichaux, ChristianSpain, Robert Lansden andRobert Haller — here withPresident of the SeafarersInternational Union Michael Saccoand SIU Executive Vice PresidentAugie Tellez — attended meetingsof the AMO National ExecutiveBoard and AMO Plans trustees theweek of Oct. 18 in Washington,D.C. Sacco, Tellez and SIUSecretary-Treasurer David Heindeladdressed a meeting of the AMONational Executive Board.


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 14 March

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 1 November 6 December 3 January 7 February 7 March 4 April 2 May 6 June

Basic Safety Training - All 4 modules must be completed within 12 months:

Personal Safety Techniques (Mon/Tues - 1.5 days), Personal Safety & Social

Responsibility (Tues pm - .5 days), Elementary First Aid (Wed - 1 day), Fire Fighting &

Fire Prevention (Thurs/Fri - 2 days) - not req. if Combined Basic & Adv. Fire Fighting

completed within 12 months

5 days 13 December 10 January 21 February 16 May

Basic Safety Training - Refresher 3 days 15 December 12 January 23 February 18 May

Crowd Management 1 day Please call

Crisis Mgmt & Human Behavior 1 day Please call

ECDIS 5 days 15 November 6 December 24 January 28 February 21 March 9 May

Effective Supervision 2 days 7 February

Fast Rescue Boat 4 days 15 November 24 January 28 February 14 March 11 April 6 June

GMDSS 10 days 29 November 7 February

LNG Tankerman PIC 8 days 1 December 5 January 6 June

LNG Simulator Training - Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator course is given to

qualified member candidates for employment and/or observation opportunities with AMO

contracted LNG companies. In all cases successful completion of the LNG PNC

classroom course is prerequisite.

5 days 13 December 17 January 21 February

Ocean Ranger Program 6 days Please call

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 18 January 15 February 9 May 20 June

Safety Officer Course 2 days 7 February 28 March 9 May

Tankerman PIC DL - Classroom 5 days 15 November 21 March

Tankerman PIC DL - Simulator 10 days 24 January 28 February 25 April 20 June

Train the Trainer 5 days 29 November 24 January 21 February 28 March 11 April 20 June

Train the Trainer - Simulator Inst. 5 days Please call

Vessel/Company Security Officer 2 days 19 January 9 February 4 April 9 May

VSO - Anti-Piracy Module 1 day 21 January 11 February 6 April 11 May

Deck Courses

Advanced Bridge Resource Management 5 days 7 March - PM

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

Chief Mate Unlimited5 days 13 December 14 March 23 May

Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates - 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rd Mates 10 days 6 December 24 January -PM 9 May 20 June

Adv. / Emerg. Shiphandling - First Class Pilots, Great Lakes 5 days 24 January

Bridge Resource Management Seminar 3 days 23 May

Integrated Bridge System (IBS) / Prodded Propulsion Trg 5 days 6 June

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 Great

Lakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required5 days 29 November 21 February 13 June

Tug Training - ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive) 5 days 14 March - PM 23 May

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

Engineering Courses

Advanced Slow Speed Diesel 10 days 29 November 7 March 16 May

Basic Electricity 10 days 7 February 25 April

Diesel Crossover 4 weeks 24 January

Electrical, Electronic, Control Engineering (Management Level) 4 weeks Please call

Electronics for Engineers - Basic Electricity (or test for equiv.) is a prerequisite 5 days Please call

Instrumentation & Control Engineering - Electronics for Engineers is a prereq. 5 days Please call

Engine Room Resource Management 5 days 6 Dec - PM 28 February 4 April

Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator) 3 days 18 January 14 March 1 June 20 June

Gas Turbine Endorsement 10 days 10 January 7 February 25 April 6 June

High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom) 3 days 14 March

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) 5 days 7 March 11 April 23 May

Refrigeration 10 days Please call

Steam Crossover 4 weeks 10 January 6 June

Welding & Metallurgy Skills & Practices - Open to eligible Chief Mates and

Masters on a space available basis. Interested participants should apply and will be

confirmed 2 weeks prior to start date.

2 weeks 29 November 14 March

Engine STCW / Original Engineer Training Routes - Engine STCW training routes are aimed at

Great Lakes members wishing to transition to Deep Sea. Original Engineer training is available to members,

applicants and sponsored students seeking original license.

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 3 January 2 May

Basic Safety Training 5 days 10 January 9 May

EFA/MCP 4 days 25 January 23 May

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 18 January 16 May

Basic Electricity (for Original Engineers only) 10 days 7 February 9 May

Original 3A/E Preparation and Exams A/R 21 February

Galley Courses & Original License Courses

RFPNW Assessments 1 day 3 March

Marlin Spike 1 day 4 March

40-hour Able Seaman 5 days 18 April

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

Food Safety, Sanitation & Nutrition (ServSafe) 5 days 24 January

Culinary Fundamentals 10 days 31 January

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


NOTICE: AMO members planning to attend the union’s Center for Advanced Maritime Officers’ Training/STAR Center in Dania Beach, Florida—either to prepare for license upgrading or to undergo specialty training—are asked to call theschool to confirm course schedule and space availability in advance.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: The Center For Advanced Maritime Officers Training (CAMOT) and Simulation Training Assessment and Research Center (STAR), established under the auspices of theAmerican Maritime Officers Safety and Education Plan, admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin or sex to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the Center.It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sex in administration of its educational policies, admission policies and other programs administered by the Center.

MARAD Training Program - (11 day package comprised of courses below) Students will be nominated and assigned by their contracted company and shall attend all 11 days. Any places not taken by the contracted

companies shall be made available to the membership on a chronological order basis.

Small Arms - Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training - Open to members

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

contracted vessels.

3 days 28 February 13 June

Elementary First Aid 1 day 3 March 16 June

Drug Collector Training 1 day 4 March 17 June

Breath Alcohol Test Collector 1 day 5 March 18 June

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 7 March 6 June

MSC Training Program

CBRD Orientation 1 day 19 November 3 December 28 January 4 March 1 April 15 April 13 May

Damage Control 1 day 18 November 2 December 27 January 3 March 31 March 14 April 12 May

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 29 November 24 January 25 April

Helicopter Fire Fighting 1 day 14 January 17 March 16 June

Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD) 1/2 day 19 November 3 December 28 January 4 March

Marine Sanitation Devices 1/2 day 21 January 17 March

Medical PIC Refresher - Note: Not MSC approved 3 days 15 February 6 April 11 May

MSC Readiness Refresher - Must have completed full CBRD & DC in last 5 years 5 days 13 December 10 January 21 February 16 May

MSC Watchstander - BASIC A/R Please call

MSC Watchstander - ADVANCED A/R Please call

SAMM - Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management 3 days 11 April 27 June

Small Arms - Initial & Sustainment (Refresher) Training - Open to members

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

contracted vessels

3 days15, 29

November13 December 10, 24 January 15, 28 February 14, 28 March 11, 25 April 9, 23 May 13, 27 June

Water Sanitation Afloat 1/2 day 21 January 17 March

Medical Courses

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 29 November 24 January 25 April

Elementary First Aid - Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months 1 day 16, 30 Nov 4, 25 January 8 March 26 April 23 May

Medical Care Provider - Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12 months. Please

fax EFA certificate when registering3 days 17 November 1 December 5, 26 January 9 March 27 April 24 May

Medical PIC - Please fax MCP certificate when registering 5 days 6 December 10, 31 January 14 March 2 May

Urinalysis Collector Training 1 day 13 December 18 January 7 February 21 March

Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) - Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only! 1 day 14 December 19 January 8 February 22 March

Saliva Screening Test - QEDs only! 1/2 day 15 December 20 January 9 February 23 March

Medical PIC Refresher - Note: Not MSC approved 3 days 15 February 6 April 11 May

Radar Courses

Radar Recertification 1 day 16 December 6, 7, 17 January 21 February 14, 15, 18 April 2, 16 May 24 June

ARPA 4 days 18 January 3 May

Radar Recertification & ARPA 5 days 17 January 2 May

Western Rivers Recertification 1 day Please call

Original Radar Observer Unlimited 5 days 10 January 28 March 25 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 Chief

Mate/Master (Management) Level are encouraged to start obtaining the required courses as soon as practical after acquiring OICNW experience. Advanced Navigation and a USCG approved ECDIS course must be completed

within 12 months of each other to satisfy the Management Level upgrade course and assessment requirements.

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 course

as appropriate, after paying for and completing the first 5 courses. All 9 courses MUST be booked at STAR Center.

Celestial Navigation 5 days 29 November 17January 11 April 20 June

Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology 5 days 6 December 24 January 21 February 18 April

Cargo Operations 9 days 4 January 7 March 25 April

Marine Propulsion Plants 5 days 13 December 31 January 21 March 9 May

Upgrade: Stability 5 days 13 December 7 February 28 March 16 May

Watchkeeping 1: BRM 5 days 1 December 5 January 23 February 13 April

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

months of each other3 days 6 December 10 January 28 February 18 April

Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level 10 days 17 January 7 March 25 April

Shipboard Management 5 days 31 January 21 March 9 May

Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator) 5 days 7 February 28 March 16 May

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

12 months of each other. Suggested dates follow. See also deck courses above.5 days 15 November 14 February 4 April 23 May

Self-Study License Exam Preparation A/R Please call

Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) - 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 assignments.

Celestial Navigation 10 days 24 January

Ship Construction & Stability 5 days 14 February

Emergency Procedures & SAR 4 days 7 February

Meteorology 5 days 17 January

Cargo Handling & Storage 5 days 21 February

Magnetic & Gyro Compass 3 days 28 February

Electronic Navigation 5 days 7 March

Terrestrial Navigation 10 days 14 March

Watchkeeping 10 days 28 March

Basic Shiphandling at the Operational Level 5 days 11 April

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


Regular monthly membership meetings for AMO will be held during the week

following the first Sunday of every month at 1 p.m. local time. Meetings will be

held on Monday at Headquarters in Dania (on Tuesday when Monday is a con-

tract holiday) and on Wednesday in Toledo. The next meetings will take place

on the following dates:

DANIA BEACH:TOLEDO:

December 6, January 3December 8, January 5

HEADQUARTERS

DANIA BEACH, FL 330042 West Dixie Highway(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513Thomas J. Bethel, National President ([email protected])José E. Leonard, National Secretary-Treasurer ([email protected])Jack Branthover, Special Assistant to the National President([email protected])FAX: (954) 926-5112Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea([email protected])Charles A. Murdock, National Executive Board Member, Inland Waters ([email protected])FAX: (954) 920-3257

Dispatch: (800) 345-3410FAX: (954) 926-5126Brendan Keller, Dispatcher ([email protected])Robert Anderson, Dispatcher ([email protected])Member Services: Extension 1050 ([email protected])

PORTS

TOLEDO, OH 43604The Melvin H. Pelfrey BuildingOne Maritime Plaza(419) 255-3940(800) 221-9395FAX: (419) 255-2350Donald N. Cree, National Vice President, Great Lakes ([email protected])Brian D. Krus, National Assistant Vice President, Great Lakes([email protected])Stan Barnes, National Representative ([email protected])Bruce DeWerth, Dispatcher ([email protected])

PHILADELPHIA, PA 191132 International Plaza, Suite 422Robert J. Kiefer, National Executive Vice President ([email protected])(800) 362-0513 ext. 4001 / 4002Mobile: (215) 859-1059FAX: (610) 521-1301

SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND, CA 946071121 7th Street, Second FloorOakland, CA 94607(510) 444-5301(800) 362-0513 ext. 5001Daniel E. Shea, National Executive Board Member At Large([email protected])FAX: (510) 444-5165

GALVESTON, TX 775512724 61st Street, Suite BPMB 192David M. Weathers, National Executive Board Member At Large([email protected])(800) 362-0513 ext. 2001Mobile: (409) 996-7362

NORWOOD, NJ 07648463 Livingston Street, Suite 102PMB 60Donald R. Nilsson, National Executive Board Member, Deep Sea([email protected])(800) 362-0513 ext. 3004Mobile: (201) 913-2209

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW, Suite 7204(202) 479-1166 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 7001J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President At Large([email protected])Paul Doell, Legislative Director ([email protected])Phree Baker, Assistant Legislative Director ([email protected])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) [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

MARITIME MEDICAL CENTER 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 Avenue - 35th Floor AMO Coast Guard LegalNew York, NY 10022 Aid Program(212) 370-5100 (419) 243-1105 / (888) 853-4662FAX: (212) 697-6299 Mobile: (419) 346-1485

[email protected]

STAR Center to provide MSC Readiness Refresher Program As previously reported, Military

Sealift Command (MSC) has approved thefive-day Readiness Refresher Program to beprovided by STAR Center for the conve-nience of American Maritime Officersmembers sailing aboard or preparing forwork on MSC vessels.

STAR Center’s MSC ReadinessRefresher Program consists of the followingcourses:

• Three-day U.S. Coast Guardapproved Basic Safety Training Refresher

• One-day Helicopter Fire Fighting • Half-day Damage Controller

Refresher • Half-day CBRD Refresher • Marine Environmental Programs

(scheduled after hours)To be eligible for this course, AMO

members must have completed a fullDamage Control course and CBRD courseonce during their career.

Initial dates for the ReadinessRefresher Program have been scheduled asfollows: Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 21.

The MSC Readiness Refreshercourse offered at MSC’s Training CenterEast (Freehold) does not have U.S. CoastGuard BST refresher approval. AMOmembers requiring BST refresher certifica-tion for license renewal or for other purpos-es should either take a USCG-approvedBST refresher course elsewhere, or com-plete the MSC Readiness Refresher at

STAR Center, which does have USCGapproval.

Any questions regarding theReadiness Refresher Program should bedirected to Director of Member Trainingand Officer Development Jerry Pannell at

(800) 942-3220 ext. 7507 or via e-mail tojpannell@star-center.

Enrollment questions or applicationsshould be directed to Student Services at(800) 942-3220 ext. 201 or via e-mail [email protected].

Clarification:In the October edition of American Maritime Officer, we reported the State of Alaskahad awarded a new contract for the state’s Ocean Ranger Program to Maersk LineLimited. The award was protested and the state has rescinded the contract. The statewill solicit for a new round of bids at an unspecified time in the future.


1. Any AMO represented non-member employee, whether publicly orprivately employed who is subject to aunion security clause conditioning con-tinued employment on the payment ofdues or fees, has the right to become anobjector to expenditures not related tocollective bargaining, contract adminis-tration, grievance adjustment or otherchargeable expenditures. A current AMOmember has the right to choose tobecome an objector, but must assumenon-member status prior to filing anobjection through these procedures. Anobjector’s fees shall be calculated inaccordance with this Policy.

2. To become an objector, an AMOrepresented non-member employee shallnotify the AMO Secretary-Treasurer, 2West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach,Florida, in writing of his individualobjection by mail postmarked during themonth of January each year. Suchemployees desiring to object, but whowere unable to make timely objectionbecause they were not subject to an AMOunion security clause as of January, eitherbecause they are a new employee or haverecently chosen to assume non-memberstatus, must make an objection withinthirty (30) days after becoming subject tounion security obligations and receivingnotice of these procedures. The objectionshall be signed and shall contain theobjector’s current home address andAMO Union number, if known.Objections may only be made by individ-ual employees: no petition objectionswill be honored. A person who wishes tocontinue an objection in a subsequenttwelve (12) month period shall providenotice of objection each January in thesame manner.

3. The following categories ofexpenditure are chargeable to the extentpermitted by law:

a. All expenses concerning thenegotiation of agreements, practices andworking conditions.

b. All expenses concerning theadministration of agreements, practicesand working conditions, including griev-ance handling, all activities related toarbitration, and discussion with employ-ees in the bargaining unit or employerrepresentatives regarding working condi-tions, benefits and contract rights.

c. Convention expenses and othernormal Union internal governance andmanagement expenses.

d. Social activities open to non-members and Union business meetingexpenses.

e. Publication expenses to theextent coverage is related to chargeableactivities.

f. Expense of litigation before thecourts and administrative agencies relatedto bargaining unit contract administration.

g. Expenses of lobbying for legisla-tive, executive branch and administrativeagency representation on matters closelyrelated to the ratification or implementa-tion of bargaining unit contracts andworking conditions.

h. All expenses for the educationand training of members, officers andstaff intended to prepare the participantsto better perform chargeable activities.

i. Other costs of group cohesionand economic action, e.g., demonstra-tion, general strike activity, information-al picketing, etc.

j. An appropriate portion of over-head and administrative expenses.

4. Each December in the American

Maritime Officer, the AMO shall publish

American Maritime Officers Agency Fee Policythese policies and procedures to providenotice to AMO represented employees oftheir right to object and the proceduresfor objecting. The AMO shall also send acopy of these policies and procedures toeach person who objected the previousyear to inform the person of his or herright to renew the objection for the cur-rent year.

5. The AMO shall retain an inde-pendent auditor who shall submit anannual report for the purpose of verifyingthe percentage of expenditures that fallwithin the categories specified in para-graph 3 above.

6. The fees paid by objectors shallbe handled as follows:

a. Objectors who pay fees by handshall pay an amount less the percentageof dues and initiation fees ascribed by theaudit (described in #5 above) to non-chargeable activities. AMO shall placesaid fee in an interest bearing account.

b. Objectors who are paying feesby check-off shall continue to have a feeequal to full AMO dues and initiation feechecked off by the employer and trans-mitted to the AMO. The AMO shall placeits share of the fee in an interest bearingescrow account and shall return theadmittedly nonchargeable share to theobjector.

c. Following completion of theaudit (described in #5 above) for a givenyear, the AMO shall rebate to each givenobjector an amount equal to such feesheld by the AMO in escrow which wereascribed by the audit to nonchargeableactivities.

d. If an objector does not challengethe validity of the audit pursuant to #8below within the allotted time the feesheld in escrow shall become the propertyof AMO. If a challenge is filed, the feesheld in escrow shall continue to be soheld until the challenge is resolved inaccord with the procedures referred tobelow, at which time the fees shall be dis-tributed in accord with said resolution.

e. Objectors filing objections inJanuary of 1999, in addition to payingfees in the manner set forth for the above,shall receive rebates from the AMO forthe year 1998, based upon the audits (see#5 above) for the fiscal year ending in1998, as they may be modified by theprocedures set forth below.

7. The reports(s) of the independentauditor(s) for the AMO shall be complet-ed as soon as possible following the endof the fiscal year. The report(s) shallinclude verification of the major cate-gories of Union expenses attributable tochargeable and non-chargeable activities.The AMO shall provide to all objectingnon-member bargaining unit employeeswho are represented a copy of the audi-tor(s) report(s).

8. In the absence of an exclusivestatutory review procedure, each objectormay challenge the legal and arithmeticalbases of the calculations contained in theindependent auditor report(s) by filing anappeal with the AMO Secretary-Treasurer, 2 West Dixie Highway, DaniaBeach, Florida, 33004, together withnotice to the President of AMO at 2 WestDixie Highway, Dania Beach, Florida33004. non-member challengers in bar-gaining units covered by the NationalLabor Relations Act shall also have theright to seek a determination of anyissues relating to these procedures byinvoking the jurisdiction of the NationalLabor Relations Board. If such a chal-lenger chooses not to invoke the Board’sjurisdiction, or if the Board defers to the

appeal procedures, the non-member chal-lenger’s appeal shall be filed exclusivelywith the AMO Secretary-Treasurer post-marked no later than thirty (30) days afterthe later of the following two dates: thedate the AMO Secretary-Treasurer hasforwarded a letter to the challengeracknowledging receipt of the challengeor the date the National Labor RelationsBoard affirmatively declines to assert itsreviewing jurisdiction.

9. Except where State law providesan exclusive statutory review procedureor when a challenger proceeds before theNational Labor Relations Board, as setforth in paragraph 8, all such challengesreceived by the Union within the timelimits specified above shall be deter-mined by expeditious referral to animpartial arbitrator appointed by theAmerican Arbitration Association(“AAA”) under its rules for impartialdetermination of Union fees as modifiedand approved by the courts and these pro-cedures. The AMO will notify the AAAthat challenges of its fees, which havebeen received from one or more individ-ual employees, are to be determined byan impartial administrator and willinclude the names and addresses of theindividuals who have filed their appealschallenging the Union’s fees and whoshould be notified of the proceedings.Thereupon, in accordance with its rules,the AAA will appoint the arbitrator to thecase, notifying the Union and the otherparticipants.

a. All appeals shall be consolidatedand heard as soon as the AAA can sched-ule the arbitration. All procedures chal-lenging the AMO’s fee determinationsshall take place in New York City, andthe parties shall be the appellants and theAMO.

b. Each party to the arbitrationshall bear their own costs including, butnot limited to, attorney’s fees andexpenses, witness fees and expenses andtravel costs. The challengers shall havethe option of paying a pro-rated portionof the arbitrator’s fees and expenses. Thebalance of the arbitrator’s fees andexpenses and all AMO fees and expensesshall be paid by AMO.

c. Challengers may, at their expense,be represented by counsel or other repre-sentative of their choice. Challengers neednot appear at the hearing and shall be per-mitted to file written statements with thearbitrator instead of appearing. Such state-ments shall be filed not later than thebeginning of the hearing before the arbi-trator. Post-hearing statements may befiled in accordance with the provisions ofparagraph 9(g) below.

d. Fourteen (14) days prior to thestart of the arbitration, challengers shallbe provided with copies of all exhibits ora list of all such exhibits intended to beintroduced at the arbitration by the Unionparty and a list of all witnesses the Unionparty intends to call, except for exhibitsand witnesses the Union party may intro-duce for rebuttal. Where a list of exhibitshas been provided, the challenger shallhave a right to receive copies of suchexhibits by making a written request forthem to the AMO Secretary-Treasurer.Additionally, copies of all exhibits shallbe available to inspection and copying atthe hearing.

e. A court reporter shall make atranscript of all proceedings before thearbitrator. This transcript shall be theonly official record of the proceedingsand may be purchased by the challengers.If challengers do not purchase a copy of

the transcript, a copy shall be availablefor purposes of inspection by challengersat the Union party’s headquarters duringnormal business hours.

f. The arbitrator shall have controlover all procedural matters affecting thearbitration in order to fulfill the dualneeds of an informed and an expeditiousarbitration. The arbitrator shall set forthin the decision the legal and arithmeticbases for the decision giving full consid-eration to the legal requirements limitingthe amount objectors may be charged.

g. Each party to the arbitrationshall have the right to file a post-hearingstatement within fifteen (15) days afterboth parties have completed submissionof their cases at the hearing. Such state-ments may not introduce new evidencenor discuss evidence not introduced inthe arbitration. The arbitrator shall issuea decision within forty-five (45) daysafter the final date for submission ofpost-hearing statements or within suchother reasonable period as is consistentwith the AAA rules and the requirementsof law.

h. The decision of the arbitratorshall be final and binding with respect toall findings of fact supported by substan-tial evidence on the record considered asa whole and on other findings legally per-mitted to be binding on all parties.

i. Upon receipt of the arbitrator’saward, any adjustment in favor of thechallenger will be made from the escrowaccount.

10. The provisions of this procedureshall be considered legally separable.Should any provision or portion thereof beheld contrary to law by a court, adminis-trative agency, or an arbitrator, the remain-ing provisions or portions thereof shallcontinue to be legally effective and bind-ing. If, after consultation with the officerson the AMO Executive Committee, thePresident of the AMO determines thatmodifications in this procedure are neces-sary to maintain its compliance withapplicable law, such modifications may bemade in accordance with the Constitutionof the AMO.

11. An objector shall have neither avoice nor vote in the internal affairs ofthe AMO which includes, inter alia, theratification of a collective bargainingagreement, whether or not it covers his orher employment.

12. The benefits of nonmembers inan Agency Shop Agreement are suchbenefits as being eligible to receive theAmerican Maritime Officer, representa-tion in grievances, grievance adjustmentand arbitration, and no other contract ser-vice benefits received by members of theAMO. Such nonmembers shall not beallowed attendance at union meetings,the right to hold or run for any Unionoffice (elective or appointed), or any vot-ing rights within the Union unless anduntil they have become members of thisUnion in accordance with the provisionsof the AMO Constitution.

13. For purposes of job referral,individuals choosing to become AgencyFee payers shall have the same statusunder the applicable Shipping Rules asan applicant until such time as theAgency Fee payer pays the total fairshare equivalent of the initiation feespecified herein.

Use of the male gender in theseprocedures shall be deemed to includethe female gender.

ADOPTED by the AMO Executive

Board November 11, 1998


STAR Centeroffers SafetyOfficer Course

STAR Center will in 2011 offer a two-day Safety Officer Course designed to pro-vide knowledge and guidance to those whomay be designated to perform the duties andresponsibilities of a ship’s safety officer, andfor senior officers.

The course takes an in-depth look atnecessary rules and regulations, includingrevisions to the ISM code, safety inspectionsand audits, the ship safety committee, acci-dent investigation and reporting, risk assess-ment, training, work permit systems, humanfactors and leadership considerations in pro-moting a shipboard culture of safety.

Initial dates for the Safety Officercourse have been scheduled as follows: Feb.7, Mar. 28, May 9.

Any questions regarding the SafetyOfficer course should be directed to Directorof Member Training and OfficerDevelopment Jerry Pannell at (800) 942-3220 ext. 7507 or via e-mail [email protected]. Enrollment ques-tions or applications should be directed toStudent Services at (800) 942-3220 ext. 201or via e-mail to [email protected].

Some STAR Center courses will soonbe accepted for credit at three collegesNew building forFAU engineeringschool completed

On Nov. 5, representatives fromFlorida Atlantic University andAmerican Maritime Officers celebratedthe opening of the new College ofEngineering and Computer Sciencesbuilding on the university’s campus.Some courses completed at STARCenter will soon be accepted for creditat the university.

STAR Center — a division of theAMO Safety & Education Plan and theprimary training provider for membersof American Maritime Officers — hasestablished a relationship with the uni-versity and two additional schools,American Public University andMountwest Community and TechnicalCollege. These institutions will soonaccept various STAR Center courses forcredit towards graduate, bachelor andassociate degree programs. The detailsof the agreements with the variousschools are currently being finalized andwill be published when complete.

AMO members interested inmanagement and other shoreside posi-tions could earn a jump-start at gradu-ate, bachelor and associate degree pro-grams from FAU and other institutionswith credits from STAR Center courses.

AMO online paymentsnow through PayPal

All online payments for duesand initiation and contributions to theAMO VPAF will now be processedwith PayPal, expanding paymentoptions for AMO members.

The new FAUCollege ofEngineeringand ComputerSciences build-ing is the firstmajor LEED(Leadership inEnergy andEnvironmentalDesign) plat-inum-level build-ing in the stateand will employnumerous ener-gy-saving tech-nologies.Cutting the rib-bon for the newbuilding on theFAU SouthFlorida campuswere FAUPresident MaryJane Saunders,Dean of theCollege ofEngineeringand ComputerSciences KarlStevens, CFODennis Crudeleand StateSenator JeremyRing (left toright).

First AMO chief President engineer in new signs Coast ... · The AMO Safety & Education Plan’s training facility is the only U.S. maritime training institution pro-viding LNG Person-in-Charge

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