Volume 45, Number 10 October 2015

Copyright © 2015 American Maritime Officers ■ editorial@amo-union.org

Pages 4 and 5: The Sister’s Journey; Tributes from at Sea

In memory of the crew of El Faro

Michael C.DavidsonMaster

Steven W. ShultzChief Mate

Danielle L.RandolphSecond Mate

Jeremie H. RiehmThird Mate

Jeffrey A. MathiasChief Engineer

Richard J. PusatereChief Engineer

Keith W. GriffinFirst AssistantEngineer

Howard J. SchoenlySecond Assistant

Engineer

Michael L. HollandThird AssistantEngineer

Mitchell T. KuflikThird AssistantEngineer

Dylan O. MeklinThird AssistantEngineer

Roan R. LightfootBosun

Brookie L. DavisAble Seaman

Frank J. HammAble Seaman

Carey J. HatchAble Seaman

Jack E. JacksonAble Seaman

Jackie R. Jones Jr.Able Seaman

Sylvester C.Crawford Jr. QMED

Joe E. HargroveOMU

German A. Solar-Cortes

OMU

Anthony S. ThomasOMU

Louis M. ChampaRefrigerationEngineer

Roosevelt L. ClarkGUDE

James P. PorterGUDE

Mariette WrightGUDE

Theodore E.Quammie

Steward-Baker

Lashawn L. RiveraChief Cook

Lonnie S. JordanSteward Assistant

Piotr Marek Krause Marcin Nita Jan Podgórski Andrzej RomanTruszkowski

Rafal AndrzejZdobych

2 • American Maritime Officer October 2015

AMO’s ‘El Faro’: of heroes and heroic familiesBy Paul DoellNational President

My time in Jacksonville with someof the 11 AMO families with kin laterpresumed lost on the El Faro was a last-ing lesson in what it means to drawstrength from adversity and to set anencouraging example.

In nearly a week, these stalwartspouses (including an officer’s wife whohad just lost her father), parents, chil-dren, brothers and sisters and one offi-cer’s fiancée had known unimaginableemotional and physical hardship —shock, grief, stress, fatigue, frustrationand the inevitable flashes of anger. Theylistened patiently to official daily brief-ings provided by the U.S. Coast Guard,and to the candid updates offered eachday by TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, theEl Faro’s owner and operator (formerlySea Star Line). They participated inheartbreaking, twice daily conferencecalls with other El Faro families unableto gather with them in the ship’s home-port. They swapped stories about theirloved ones, and they posed intelligentquestions for which there were no easyor immediate answers. They enduredseemingly endless days capped by sleep-less nights.

But they handled it all with grace,dignity, confidence, faith and a sturdyresolve to hang in and hold on. Life asthey knew it had changed forever, but thecatastrophic events near Crooked Island inthe Bahamas had not diminished their

courage or their character. I am certain that the AMO families

unable to get to Jacksonville are every bitas determined to overcome the extraordi-nary challenges wrought upon them by theEl Faro tragedy as those I was able tospeak with on scene. And I am just as cer-tain that, to a man and woman, the El Faroofficers and crew worked valiantly torestore power to the ship while strugglingagainst 50-60-foot seas and 150-mile-perhour winds.

Mrs. Emily Pusatere, wife of ElFaro Chief Engineer Richard J. Pusatere,expressed this strong spirit among ElFaro families eloquently — and invokedher husband — when she told reporters:“He’s always told me, ‘I never give up, Inever quit, I never fail,’ and I am holdingon to that with every ounce of mybeing.” This was the spirit evident in allAMO families.

My hope now is that these 11 AMOfamilies will find comfort in the manyexpressions of sympathy and support fromAMO members and their families at seaand at home, from ship owners and mar-itime unions in the U.S. and around theworld, and from public figures — includ-ing President Obama and CaliforniaRepublican Rep. Duncan Hunter, chair-man of the House Coast Guard andMaritime Transportation Subcommittee,who led the House of Representatives in amoment of silence to honor the El Faroofficers and crew.

May they find even greater consola-tion in the knowledge that their loved ones

on the El Faro were heroes by virtue oftheir decisions to live and work at seaunder the American flag.

These officers and crew memberswere fully representative of what ThomasJefferson called “a respectable body of cit-izen seafarers,” faithful to traditionsupheld by American merchant marinerssince the Revolution, fearless in responseto our country’s call in peacetime and inwar, dedicated to the national security oreconomic mission at hand and sworn tothe world’s highest professional seagoingstandards. Not every American can claimthese distinctions, but every Americangains from the work our civilian seafarersdo each difficult, daunting day.

Our responsibility now in AmericanMaritime Officers is to help our El Farofamilies through everything ahead of them— we stand ready to support and assistthem in every possible way.

And we remember our lost AMOcomplement with lasting respect, admira-tion and gratitude: Captain Michael C.Davidson, Chief Engineer Richard J.Pusatere, Chief Mate Steven W. Shultz,Chief Engineer Jeffrey A. Mathias,Second Mate Danielle L. Randolph,First Assistant Engineer Keith W.Griffin, Third Mate Jeremie H. Riehm,Second Assistant Engineer Howard J.Schoenly, Third Assistant EngineerMichael L. Holland, Third AssistantEngineer Mitchell T. Kuflik, ThirdAssistant Engineer Dylan O. Meklin.

We remember as well the SeafarersInternational Union members aboard the

El Faro: Bosun Roan R. Lightfoot,Able Seaman Brookie L. Davis, AbleSeaman Frank J. Hamm, Able SeamanCarey J. Hatch, Able Seaman Jack E.Jackson, Able Seaman Jackie R. JonesJr., QMED Sylvester C. Crawford Jr.,OMU Joe E. Hargrove, OMU GermanA. Solar-Cortes, OMU Anthony S.Thomas, Refrigeration Engineer LouisM. Champa, GUDE Roosevelt L.Clark, GUDE James P. Porter, GUDEMariette Wright, Steward-BakerTheodore E. Quammie, Chief CookLashawn L. Rivera, Steward AssistantLonnie S. Jordan.

Footnotes: on behalf of theAmerican Maritime Officers NationalExecutive Board and all AMO represen-tatives, employees and seagoing mem-bers, I thank AMO Inland Waters VicePresident Dave Weathers and AMOAssistant Vice President Dan Robichauxfor arriving in Jacksonville within hoursof the initial emergency call about the ElFaro, and for going the distance — pro-viding moral support to the AMO fami-lies, tracking daily reports and data aris-ing from the search and rescue missioncoordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard,and contacting other families over a verylong week.

Our thanks as well to the SeafarersInternational Union for opening itsJacksonville hall to AMO members duringall hours and for hosting daily briefingsby the USCG and representatives of theTOTE family of shipping companies.

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Statement by President Obama on the El FaroThe captain and crew of the El Faro were Americans and Poles, men and women,

experienced mariners and young seamen. They were beloved sons and daughters andloving husbands and fathers. They were dedicated engineers, technicians and a cook.And these 33 sailors were united by a bond that has linked our merchant mariners formore than two centuries — a love of the sea. As their ship battled the storm, they wereno doubt working as they lived — together, as one crew. This tragedy also reminds usthat most of the goods and products we rely on every day still move by sea. AsAmericans, our economic prosperity and quality of life depend upon men and womenwho serve aboard ships like the El Faro.

I thank everyone across our government and in the private sector who worked sotirelessly, on the sea and in the air, day after day, in the massive search for survivors.The investigation now underway will have the full support of the U.S. government,because the grieving families of the El Faro deserve answers and because we have todo everything in our power to ensure the safety of our people, including those whowork at sea. Today, 28 American families — from Florida to Maine — and five Polishfamilies are heartbroken. May they be comforted, in some small way, in knowing thatthey have the love and support of their neighbors, the merchant mariner communityand the American people. May God bless the men and women of the El Faro. May Hecomfort their families. And may He watch over and protect all those who serve at seaon behalf of us all.

Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumkaon the loss of the El Faro Mariners

We are deeply saddened by the loss of 28 of our brothers and sisters aboard the cargoship El Faro. These brave men and women left an incredible mark on their communities,both on land and at sea via their hard work and steadfast commitment to the maritime trade.

On behalf of Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler, Executive Vice President TefereGebre and the twelve and a half million working men and women of the AFL-CIO, weextend our deepest condolences to the families of the lost mariners, their colleagues andtheir communities.

Statement by SIU President Michael Sacco on endof El Faro search mission

Although we tried to maintain hope, we were afraid this moment would come. It isdifficult to describe the profound grief we are sharing throughout our organization andwith the crew members’ families.

Words also cannot adequately express our gratitude for everyone involved in thesearch efforts. To the men and women of the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force, we thankyou and we salute you. We also deeply appreciate the efforts of Crowley Maritime andeveryone else who pitched in. We know the effort was extraordinary and not without risk.

We will never forget the men and women from the El Faro’s final voyage.

House of Representatives observes moment of silence for crew of El FaroAt the request of Congressman

Duncan Hunter (R-CA), at 12:52 p.m.EST October 9, the committee of thewhole in the U.S. House ofRepresentatives stood for a moment ofsilence in honor of the crew of El Faro.

Statement by Rep. Hunter:“Last Thursday was a tragic day

for the American maritime communityand America. El Faro, an American-flagged ship en route to Puerto Rico, waslost in Hurricane Joaquin, and with it, its

33 crew including 28 Americans. In thehours after we learned El Faro was introuble, the Coast Guard, DOD and othergovernment and private-sector partnersmobilized assets with search crews bat-tling treacherous weather conditions in

an attempt to find survivors, and weappreciate their efforts. Mr. Speaker,today our thoughts and prayers arewith the crew members’ families andloved ones and I ask that the Houseobserve a moment of silence tohonor the brave men and womenwho served on the El Faro.”

American Maritime Officer • 3October 2015

El Faro, 33 lives lost to the sea in Hurricane JoaquinThe U.S. Coast Guard suspended

the search for survivors from El FaroWednesday, October 7. The Coast Guardreported the ship apparently sank atapproximately its last known locationnortheast of Crooked Island on Thursday,October 1 in Hurricane Joaquin.

No survivors were found from theship’s crew of 33 — 11 members ofAmerican Maritime Officers, 17 membersof the Seafarers International Union, and ariding crew of five Polish nationals.

“I have come to a very difficult deci-sion to suspend the search for the crew ofthe El Faro at sunset tonight,” said RearAdm. Scott Buschman, commander, CoastGuard 7th District, on October 7. “Mydeepest condolences go to the families,loved ones, and friends of the El Faro crew.U.S. Coast Guard, U.S Navy, U.S. AirForce, and the TOTE Maritime tug crewssearched day and night, sometimes in per-ilous conditions, with the hope of findingsurvivors in this tragic loss.”

Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, AirNational Guard and tugboat crewssearched more than 183,000 square nauti-cal miles off the Bahamian coast in a jointeffort to locate El Faro’s crew.

El Faro, a 790-foot roll-on/roll-offship, was en route to San Juan, PuertoRico, from Jacksonville, Fla. At approxi-mately 7:30 a.m. October 1, Coast Guardwatchstanders were notified the El Farowas disabled in the path of Hurricane

Joaquin, had lost propulsion and had a 15-degree list. The crew reported the ship hadpreviously taken on water, but that allflooding had been contained.

During the search, the Coast Guardlocated a deceased person in a survivalsuit in the water the night of October 4. Aheavily damaged life boat with markingsconsistent with those on board the ElFaro was also located. Additional itemslocated by search crews included a par-tially submerged life raft, empty survivalsuits, life jackets, life rings, cargo con-tainers, Styrofoam, packaged food and anoil sheen.

The following search-and-rescueunits and crews assisted with the search:

•Coast Guard Air StationClearwater, Florida HC-130 Hercules air-plane crews

•Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater,

Florida MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews•Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth

City, North Carolina HC-130 Hercules air-plane crews

•Coast Guard Cutter Northland, a270-foot medium endurance cutter home-ported in Portsmouth, Virginia

•Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a210-foot medium endurance cutter, home-ported in St. Petersburg, Florida

•Coast Guard Cutter CharlesSexton, homeported in Key West, Florida

•Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter

•Air National Guard HC-130 air-plane crews from the 106th Rescue Wing,Westhampton Beach, New York

•Air Force WC-130 Super Herculescrews from the 53rd WeatherReconnaissance Squadron, 403rd Wing,Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi

•Navy P-8 Poseidon airplane crewsfrom Naval Air Station Jacksonville

•Air Force E-8C Joint Stars crewsfrom the 116th Air Control Wing, RobinsAir Force Base, Georgia

•Three commercial tugboatsThe TOTE family of companies

established an operations center for thesearch and rescue operation in Jacksonville,Fla. The company kept family and friendsof the El Faro crew informed of all devel-opments through in-person briefings, onlineupdates, telephone hotlines and conferencecalls. AMO National President Paul Doell;National Vice President, Inland Waters,David Weathers; and National AssistantVice President Daniel Robichaux were onscene in Jacksonville with family membersof the crew, TOTE personnel and SIU offi-cials to monitor the operation and providesupport and assistance.

Statement by TOTE President & CEO Anthony Chiarello(October 7, 2015) — “Since Thursday, every individual in the TOTE organization

has held out hope that the crew of the El Faro would be found safe. It is with heavy heartsthis afternoon that we learn the Coast Guard has suspended their search for survivors.

Our focus has been on supporting and caring for the family members, loved ones,and friends of those aboard the El Faro. The Coast Guard’s announcement will not changethe support that TOTE extends to those affected by this tragic event: though the searchmay be over, their grief, and ours, is not.

We appreciate there are many rumors and speculations surrounding this tragic event,as there are with any accident. For the sake of the families and loved ones, we ask that youcontinue to respect their privacy and wait for the investigation results.

We at TOTE can never truly know the pain the families and loved ones have gonethrough, but we do know how deeply this event has affected every employee of TOTE. Acompany is made up of people, and this tragedy has touched every individual across ourorganization.

We have no doubt that these are the darkest days of TOTE’s years as an organiza-tion, and indeed, the darkest days in the memory of most seafarers. A legacy of this painfulevent must be an understanding that serves all who go to sea.

Out of respect for our seafarers, and for every seafarer here and around the world,it is critical that we understand what contributed to this accident. We are appreciative ofthe active participation into that effort by the NTSB. To every woman and man in theMerchant Marine, we promise our full and open participation into the investigation of thistragic accident.

We have met with family members, loved ones, and friends here in Jacksonville,and have communicated by phone with those unable to be here, making every effort tocommunicate everything we know as swiftly as we know it. As the NTSB’s investigationbegins, we will continue these efforts to the best of our abilities.

We wish to thank the USCG, and in fact the entire US Government, who haveworked tirelessly, placing assets at the disposal of the search and keeping the men andwomen of the El Faro in their thoughts and prayers.

Our industry is very small and very close, and the support and prayers for the crewand families from the maritime community mean a great deal to all of us. We would alsolike to thank all who have posted support on social media channels: your sentiments wereappreciated, and your support was felt by all of us.

We appreciate the important role of the media: the politeness in your calls to ouroffice and your respect of the families and loved ones, as we do our best to supportthose in pain.

We will continue to focus our attention on the families and loved ones.”

‘We stand shoulder to shoulder with you and all yourmembers during this terrible, trying time’

The following letter dated October 6 was sent to AMO National President PaulDoell by M.E.B.A. President Marshall Ainley and Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo.

There is no more devoted community of professionals than those who serve in theNation’s Merchant Marine. We share a “brotherhood of the sea” — a livelihood of inherentdangers and rewards. The EL FARO tragedy is weighing heavily on M.E.B.A. memberspast and present, and we are sharing the grief of our fellow mariners and their families.

The chilling fate of the EL FARO and her crew has hit home in the heart of everymariner who understands the unforgiving nature of the sea coupled with mercilessweather. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you and all your members during this ter-rible, trying time.

Transportation Trades Department statement on ElFaro tragedy

Washington, D.C. — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation TradesDepartment, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement on the El Faro cargo shiptragedy. “We offer our deepest condolences to the families of El Faro’s 33 crew members,and to all those who called these experienced, dedicated mariners friends and co-workers.These were skilled mariners — and union brothers and sisters — who dedicated theircareers to moving critical cargo inside our complex system of global commerce. Thistragedy is incomprehensible and as we learn more about it, we will redouble our efforts toraise the bar on maritime transportation safety for the men and women in this industry. Itis the very least we can do to honor the El Faro crew.”

Keeping family and crew of El Faro in our thoughts andprayers

(IOMM&P International President Donald Marcus — October 6, 2015): Membersof the MM&P community are keeping the 33 men and women aboard the containershipEL FARO in their thoughts and prayers as the search for possible survivors continues. Ourprayers and thoughts go out to the family members and friends of the crew, and to every-one touched by the tragedy.

Statement by Seafarers’ Union of Russia We were shocked to learn about the sorrowful incident of the m/v El Faro with thir-

ty-three people on board caused by the Hurricane Joaquin.On behalf of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia I wish to express our sympathies to the

victims of the incident and our sympathies and condolences to their families, their com-munities and unions. All seafarers know that their profession is dangerous and they facethe dangers every day at sea, but still it is always a shock when such woeful accidents hap-pen. We wish you all courage and pray for those taken by the calamity.

Yury Sukhorukov, SUR President

Condolences from ILWU CanadaThe Officers, Members and Staff of ILWU Canada would like to send our deepest

condolences to the family and friends of the Officers and Crew of the El Faro. We weredeeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of the crew on board this ship.

Through our affiliation with the ITF we continue to support the good health andprosperity of seafarers all over the world. We are always ready to lend a helping hand toour Brother/Sister Seafarers whenever they may find themselves in need.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of our lost Brothers.

4 • American Maritime Officer October 2015

The Sister’s JourneyBy Captain Earl LoftfieldMaster, SS El Yunque

From: CaptSent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 7:13 PMTo: TSI Seastar InboxSubject: voyage plan

All concerned,

El Yunque Sail plan was / is south towards Port Everglades.Weather predictions show that storm will be clear. Choseeast through Bahamas via Providence Channel instead ofsouth and around via Old Bahama Channel. Overtook sal-vage tug “Sentinel”. With VHF comms we learned they arethe first vessel scheduled to arrive on scene.

Also confirmed the EPIRB position of 23-26.3N / 73-51.6Was of 1:03 PM local time Oct 1. That was about 6 hours fromEl Faro’s last communication. El Faro EPIRB is no longertransmitting.

We have reviewed the wind and currents for that locationfrom that time until present. Our normal scheduled routewill take us very close to that potential drift location about0600 Sunday. Normal working overtime for deck gang dur-ing those hours will be as lookouts. NO PLANS for searchpattern. However, motor life boat is ready for good fortune.We will be out of area by 1000 and will provide ETA for SanJuan before noon Sunday.

If we spot debris, who wants immediate notification?

Regards,Earl LoftfieldMaster SS El Yunque--From: JLawrenceSent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 10:52 PMTo: captSubject: RE: voyage plan

Captain,

Per our conversation tonight, I notified CG that you will befirst ship to transit site in morning. If you spot any debris orEl Faro, notify USCG Miami and myself immediately.

Regards,John

Captain John LawrenceManager, Safety & OperationsTOTE Services10550 Deerwood Park Blvd., Suite 602Jacksonville, FL 32256--From: CaptSent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 7:00 AMTo: John LawrenceSubject: 0645 4 Oct

Good morning,

El Yunque is 40 miles due north of last reported position. Wehave radio contact with the salvage tug Hawk. They arewithin 1.2 miles of El Faro position. They report debrisincluding one intact 20’ shipping container.

Weather conditions are excellent.Mixed swell less than 8’.Wind from west at 12 kts.Very few clouds.Visibility more than 20 miles.

Course due southSpeed 15 kts.We will clear area in 3 hours and resume full speed to SJ.

Regards,SS El Yunque--From: CaptSent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 10:52 AMTo: John LawrenceSubject: 1030 4 Oct

All concerned,

Lat 23-23.910NLong 073-57.451W

This is the apparent point of origin for plume of oil risingand creating a slick. At this location oil was black on thewater and air smelled strongly of same. We found the slickafter traveling through a debris field for 25 miles, at timeshaving as many as 50 simultaneous sightings.

All significant sightings were reported to tug Hawk whorecorded positions for investigations. Many pieces of insu-lated containers though none floating with markings up.

We are coming up to full speed and will provide ETA SanJuan momentarily.

Regards,SS El Yunque

It snowed once, more than it had in years,Above a village in Tibet, and come spring thetemperature climbed way higher than normal.

A tidal wave of slush roared down the mountainand wiped out many families. The Buddhastood by and watched, then walked slowly off.

What the average person did not see wasthat all those souls dove headfirst into him.He mixed them in his being. They ran throughhis veins shouting with joy.

What could you know of anything if you havea list of complaints against old friends? (1)--From: frankSent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 9:02 PMTo: captSubject: Earl

I don’t know what to say. It was probably your worst day ever.--From: CaptSent:Monday, October 05, 2015 8:39 AMTo: frankSubject: RE: Earl

Those of us who choose to go to sea live a life that cannotbe conceived of or understood by those who do not. Whatwe see, know and believe cannot be accepted or trusted bynon-sailors.

Our visit to the site was immense in closure for us andfor our brethren that have journeyed on. The validity ofour experience is denied by a public that hopes it cannotbe true.

6 hours after our reported experience I am told TOTE isdoing everything humanly possible to find the El Faro.

That separate reality is part of the ‘worst day ever’.

Every dairy farmer knows the cows have to be milked every12 hours. NO MATTER WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON INTHE LIFE OF THE FARMER. How can the farmer wall offthe grief and shock? He must be inhuman! And yet societythrives on the sweat of his efforts.

Time for us to go milk the cows.Us cold, heartless, inhuman bastards.

Cargo to deliver — now more than ever.--Monday 6 October: 1020

Crew assembled in Mess Hall for ship’s meeting. Abovecommunications read aloud. Significance of what we havewitnessed is acknowledged. The Pain. The Rage. TheKnowing. The Work. Our safety through situational aware-ness and the stilling of afflictive emotions. Cautionary men-tion of predators ashore wanting to exploit the grieving andthe possibility of ‘hearing the truth you’ve spoken twistedby knaves to make a trap for fools’ (2)--

From: CaptSent:Wednesday, October 07, 2015 4:09 PMTo: TSI Seastar Inbox Subject: towards closure

All concerned:

Circumstances had El Yunque pass over a rising plume ofoil on Sunday October 4th. We sailors see what we see andhave our judgments about what is indicated.

Our journey to the site — to know that the scene was wit-nessed as we would wish for ourselves — is moving.

Circumstances on our return to Jacksonville includeddelayed sailing, orders to get to Jax as soon as possible, fol-lowed by a slow down order 7 hours later and again changedto as soon as possible 10 AM today Wednesday the 7th. Twohours later we made a perfect rendezvous with a life ringfrom the El Faro.

We have recovered it. It is our final farewell.

It is our desire in the continuing journey of grieving and clo-sure that SIU officials (on behalf of all family) meet the ves-sel and receive this life ring from the crew of the El Yunque.No one can display this memorial in a more public andtouching way than the SIU Hall in Jacksonville. It is a partof the healing process that the El Yunque and her crew havethis role.

We are now an only child on this route. We will miss seeingour sister twice a week.

If NTSB insists on the ring as evidence for investigation,please implore them to officially receive it from SIU at thetime of its presentation to SIU.

Regards,SS El Yunque--Friday, 9 October: 1400

The wives of the Polish riding crew made the long journeyfrom Poland to see where their most beloveds slept alonewithout them, ate without them, food they did not preparefor them. To see the ‘home away from home’ that is nothinglike home. The widows bring a bouquet of roses with therequest we go to the site and drop them on the water.--Sunday, 11 October: 2005

Lat 23-23.9NLong 073-57.4W

Crew gathered on the bow. Moonless night. Sea was flat.Eternity over the rail. With each of 33 strikes of the ship’sbell, a flower was dropped in the water.

Our ritual is complete. The mark on our souls will endure —is supposed to endure — forever.

Lightning began far in the distance two points to port andcontinued throughout the watch. A meteor burned bright,arcing towards the lightning.

We sailors see what we see and have our judgments aboutwhat is indicated. --

(1) A Year With Hafiz; Daniel Ladinsky(2) If; Rudyard Kipling

American Maritime Officer • 5October 2015

Tributes from at seaMemorial Service for the ‘El Faro’ CrewMV PELICAN STATE at SeaPosition Lat. 27-57.2N Lon. 091-07.3 WOctober 10, 2015

Moment of Silence Please:Lord be good to us, for the Sea is so wide and our Ship is so small, Amen.It is our honor as Fellow Shipmates and Friends of the Crew of the EL FARO to pay

a respectful tribute to them. We honor their service in the US Merchant Marine. We standtogether this day in support of each other as fellow shipmates and as friends. We all knewof someone from the vessel that was lost at sea and sank during Hurricane Joaquin onOctober 1st, 2015 off the Coast of Crooked Island in the Bahamas.

As we honor our Brother and Sister shipmates and friends we also extend sinceresympathy and prayers to the families and friends of crew on the EL FARO.

We know being part of the US Merchant Marine is very special and we are one bigfamily on the many ships and vessels that ply the oceans of the world. Our shipmates andfriends paid the ultimate sacrifice doing what they loved, just as we love it too. That is“Going to sea”.

The Last Watch:No man has ever served at sea without knowing that each day could be his last and

no one would even know where at sea he lay. No man served a day at sea without theknowledge that the ship he sailed might not survive to sail another day. But no man at sealet these fears overcome him. He knew his shipmates were beside him to help stand thewatch, to plot the course and to be the family and support we all need to meet and surviveanother day. These were his shipmates.

As each day ended, men at sea counted their blessings of a day well done, and tomark the end of their watch, they would toll the bell, the Eternal mark of the passing oftime at Sea.

We will honor our shipmates of the EL FARO as we toll the bell to mark the end oftheir final watch.

Read the names of the crew and riding gang and sound 1 bell as the names are read.Well Done All, Well done. It was a great voyage and you have served your watch.

We are proud to have served with you as part of the US Merchant Marine.You have completed your final watch, now rest in peace.

With this wreath we ask the Good Lord to watch over your souls and to help yourfamilies and friends deal with this tragedy. All of you will be missed dearly but you willalways remain in our hearts and on our minds. God Bless the Crew of the EL FARO.

The Seafarer’s Prayer:O God, I ask you to take me into your care and protection along with all who sail

ships. Make me alert and wise in my duties. Make me faithful in the time of routine andprompt to decide and courageous to act in any time of crisis.

Protect me in the dangers and perils of the sea: and even in the storm, grant that theremay be peace and calm within the heart. When I am far from home and far from lovedones and far from the country that I know, help me to be quite sure that, wherever I am, Ican never drift beyond your love and care.

Take care of my loved ones in the days and weeks and months when I am separatedfrom them, sometimes with half the world between them and me. Keep me true to themand keep them true to me, and every time that we have to part, bring us together in safetyand loyalty again, this I ask for your Love’s sake, AMEN.

God Bless and Be Safe

Spread across the globe, traversing waters of all depths and salinities, mariners standbehind one another in times of peace and times of sorrow. The terrible tragedy to befall thefaithful crew of the El Faro will never be spoken easily as their memory shall remainstrong with all of us, ashore and afloat. We have known their faces and sailed amongstthem as brothers of the sea. With the utmost sorrow and respect, the entire crew of the MVNational Glory sends our deepest condolences to the friends and families of the El Farocrew as long as the sea moves upon this Earth.

Captain John DunawayMaster, MV National Glory-- From the Officers and Crew of the USNS SEAY: We wish to express our sincere and heart-felt condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the El Faro crew. We mournwith you the loss of our brothers and sisters of the seagoing community. Many of us knewor had worked with at least one of the El Faro crew in the past and feel a kinship to allthose men and women who go down to the sea in ships. May they now rest in peace.

Captain Bruce W. KregerUSNS SEAY--Vigil for the crew lost onboard the El Faro 1025LT 09 October 2015: Vessel crew and mis-sion personnel convened on the bow with the flag at half-mast.

Version of The Last Watch:No man has ever served at sea without knowing that each day could be his last and

no one would even know where at sea he lay. No man served a day at sea without theknowledge that the ship he sailed might not survive to sail another day. But no man at sealet these fears overcome him. He knew his shipmates were beside him to help stand thewatch, to plot the course, and to be the family and support we all need to meet and surviveanother day. They were his shipmates.

As each day ended, men at sea counted their blessings of a day well done, and tomark the end of their watch, they would toll the bell, the eternal mark of the passing oftime at sea.

We honor our Shipmates as we toll the bell to mark the end of their final watch.The Chief Mate then read the 33 names, residences and positions of those lost

aboard the El Faro. The ship’s bell was struck one time by the Bosun after the reading ofeach name.

You have completed your final watch, now rest in peace.

Captain Jeff Royer | MASTER, SS Pacific Tracker | TOTE Services--From the Officers and Crew of Maersk Chicago: Please pass on our sincerest condolencesto the Families, Loved Ones and Friends of our Brothers and Sisters of El Faro. Most ofus had friends or former shipmates aboard. Several had sailed recently on MaerskChicago. They will stay in our memories.

Shaun B. HughesMaster, Maersk Chicago-- Myself, the Officers and Crew of the Liberty Grace would like to send our deepest sym-pathies and regrets to all those lost on the El Faro.

Petar MatesicMaster, Liberty Grace-- Our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of the brothers and sisters we loston the El Faro. It was with great sadness that we learned of the search being suspended.Many of us on the Gianella are just learning the loss of our personal friends, our brothersand sisters. It seems that many here knew at least one of the crew aboard the El Faro. ElFaro has made us face our own mortality. She has made us realize the need for our ownsafety protocols and the real dangers we face as sailors. To our brothers and sisters lost atsea, may they always be remembered!

John Merrone--The tragic loss of 28 of our brothers and sisters and the 5 riders on the El Faro has weighedheavily on the minds of the officers and crew of the USNS Benavidez, as it undoubtedlyhas on the rest of the men and women of the United States Merchant Marine. While manyof us may not have personally known those we lost, their memory, and the sad memory ofthe loss of the El Faro, will live on in each and every one of us. If at all possible, pleaseexpress our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those we lost and our hopethat they know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

The Officers and Crew of the USNS Benavidez-- I want to express our heartfelt sorrow from the Officers and Crew of the Liberty Eagle forthe losses suffered by friends and families of our Union Brothers of the SS El Faro.

Captain Jeffrey S. PowellMaster, M/V Liberty Eagle-- Today, 7th October at 1500 hours US East coast time the crew of the Maersk Montana helda vigil and observed a moment of silence for the crew of the S/S El Faro. Our prayers ofhope and heartfelt sorrow go out for the crew and to their loved ones.

The vigil was held in mid-Atlantic, as the sun set at 1900 hrs local time. Flags wereflown at half mast. Most of Montana’s crew knows someone who was on board S/S ElFaro. May God hear our prayers.

Richard G. HoeyMaster, Maersk Montana

6 • American Maritime Officer October 2015

Rep. Fincher introduces legislation toreauthorize U.S. Export-Import Bank

Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN) on September 25 introduced new leg-islation in the House of Representatives toreauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bankfor five years, a bill identical to theExport-Import Bank Reform andReauthorization Act introduced earlierthis year in the Senate by Senators MarkKirk (R-IL) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

By early October, Rep. Fincher’slegislation, H.R. 3611, had drawn signifi-cant support in the House.

H.R. 3611 includes a majority of themeaningful reforms outlined in the ReformExports and Expand the AmericanEconomy Act (H.R. 597), which Rep.Fincher introduced in the House in Januaryof this year. Rep. Fincher is a staunch sup-porter of the U.S. maritime industry andmerchant marine and his legislation keepsintact the U.S.-flag cargo preferencerequirements associated with exportsfinanced with assistance from the Export-Import Bank, as does the Senate legislation.

“Americans across the country are

demanding jobs,” Rep. Fincher said.“Instead of listening to their concerns,Congress decided to put thousands oflivelihoods in jeopardy by failing to takeaction to reform and reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank. The Bank provides thousands ofjobs to constituents all over our districts,and it’s disheartening to realize that somemembers of Congress believe working fortheir constituents means putting these jobson the line.

“Reforming and reauthorizing thebank is an investment in our country, andCongress must make this work for theAmerican people,” he said. “I call on lead-ership to immediately bring my bill to thefloor for a vote.”

Reforms included in the legislationare aimed at increasing transparency andaccountability and enhancing taxpayerprotections in the bank’s practices.Reauthorization of the Export-ImportBank will keep American jobs here athome, a point emphasized by Rep. Fincherin a statement issued September 15 after

General Electric announced it will bemoving 500 American jobs overseas dueto Congress failing to reform and reautho-rize the Export-Import Bank.

“This is what happens whenCongress sits idly by while thousands ofjobs are on the line. Each day thatCongress fails to take action to reform andreauthorize the Ex-Im Bank, more andmore companies of all sizes will be forcedto make these same tough decisions,” Rep.Fincher said.

“Nearly 90 percent of Ex-Im Banktransactions are made to American smallbusinesses. By failing to act, Congress hastied the hands of thousands of our nation’sbest job creators, making it even harderfor them to compete on a level playingfield against our global competitors whoare backed by their own export creditagencies,” he said.

“Every American job counts, andwhen it comes to American jobs, I amnever willing to compromise. I call onCongress to immediately hold a vote to

reform and reauthorize the bank.”The Export-Import Bank assists

U.S. businesses small and large by facili-tating the purchase of U.S. manufacturedgoods for export, among other things.

Exports financed with the assistanceof the Ex-Im Bank must be shipped onU.S.-flagged commercial vessels, providinga strong source of cargo for the U.S. mer-chant fleet operating in international trade.

In fiscal year 2013, the Ex-Im Bankhelped facilitate more than $37 billion inU.S. export sales, supporting more than200,000 American jobs. According to areport published by the Ex-Im Coalition, theEx-Im Bank earned a profit in 2014, cover-ing its expenses and sending $675 million tothe U.S. treasury. In the previous fiscal year,the Ex-Im Bank returned approximately $1billion to the U.S. treasury. The Ex-Im Bankis self-sustaining and does not cost U.S. tax-payers a single dollar.

The bank’s charter lapsed at the endof June and the bank cannot accept newapplications for financing assistance. TheEx-Im Bank will need to continue to oper-ate in some form for several years to ser-vice long-term financing packages alreadyin place.

The cessation of Ex-Im Bank activitywould result in a significant loss of cargofor U.S.-flagged commercial vessels.

Business Roundtable calls on Congressto renew Export-Import Bank charter

The following article wasreleased by the Maritime TradesDepartment, AFL-CIO, with whichAmerican Maritime Officers is affiliatedthrough the Seafarers InternationalUnion of North America.

The Business Roundtable calledon Congress to pass charter renewalauthorization for the U.S. Export-Import Bank before it is too late.

In a letter to House and Senateleadership dated September 14, ThomasLinebarger, chair of the association’sInternational Engagement Committee,wrote that, since the bank’s authoritylapsed, “Congress’ failure to reauthorizeEx-Im Bank has already resulted in U.S.

companies losing international sales andputs hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobsat risk.”

This call by the Business Roundtable(an association of chief executive officersfrom U.S. companies dedicated to promot-ing sound public policy and a thriving U.S.economy) joins the efforts undertaken bythe MTD, its affiliates and its Port MaritimeCouncils nationwide to seek renewal of thebank’s charter. The MTD has long support-ed the Ex-Im Bank, which still maintainsbipartisan backing.

However, despite its history of bene-fiting U.S. workers and businesses, a smallgroup of legislators has blocked the bank’srenewal by stating it is an example of corpo-

rate welfare. The opposition comes despitethe fact that the Ex-Im Bank does notrequire any U.S. funding but returns dollarsto the Treasury — roughly $7 billion overthe last several years.

In late July, President Obama, at aWhite House meeting for charter renewalattended by elected officials and businesseslarge and small aided by the Ex-Im Bank,declared, “I just want to be clear about this:This is not a situation in which taxpayersare subsidizing these companies.”

In his letter, Linebarger pointed out,“For example, in [Fiscal Year] 2014, itprovided $27.5 billion worth of U.S.exports through its approval of over 3,700transactions for U.S. companies, including

more than 3,300 for small businesses.These exports supported an estimated164,000 American jobs at these com-panies as well as companies in theirU.S. supply chains.”

As the MTD has noted through-out this campaign, many of these jobsare maritime-related, as cargo generatedby the Ex-Im Bank must be movedaboard U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed vessels.

Congressional inaction causedthe bank’s charter to expire at the endof June. While it cannot conduct itsprimary business — backing low-interest loans for the export of U.S.-made products and goods — the bankhas enough money to maintain basicoperations for several months.

The Ex-Im Bank, which was cre-ated by President Franklin Roosevelt in1934, is not unique to the United States.Approximately 60 other countries havesimilar institutions to promote theexport of their goods.

MTD alerts Congress to fallacies in anti-Jones Act report

AMO aboardOSG Horizon

Members of American MaritimeOfficers working aboard the JonesAct ATB OSG Horizon inSeptember, here in Philadelphia,Pa., included Senior AssociateEngineer Rob Fritzen, SecondMate Evan McKenna, Chief MateCurtis Hintze and Chief EngineerAlan Halsey.

The following article was released bythe AFL-CIO’s Maritime TradesDepartment, with which AMO is affiliatedthrough the Seafarers International Unionof North America.

The MTD has called upon membersof Congress to not be taken in by a newlyreleased study purporting to blame someof Puerto Rico’s economic crisis on theJones Act.

In letters sent to the chair and rankingmember of the Senate Commerce, Scienceand Transportation Committee and itsSurface Transportation and MerchantMarine Subcommittee, as well as to theHouse Transportation Committee, its CoastGuard and Maritime TransportationSubcommittee, and the House ArmedServices Committee and its Seapower andProjection Forces Subcommittee, MTDPresident Michael Sacco reiterated thedepartment’s longstanding promotion of theJones Act, the nation’s freight cabotage law.

“Let me go straight to the point: theMaritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO

has been, is and will be a resolute support-er of the Jones Act,” stated Sacco in hisletters of September 2. “For nearly 100years, the Jones Act has served America’s

economic and defense interests. It pro-vides decent family-supporting jobs allacross the United States and its territories,including Puerto Rico.”

Sacco noted the study (known as theKrueger Report) commissioned by the gov-

See Jones Act ◆ Page 7

American Maritime Officer • 7October 2015

Foreign steel, vessel repairs, broken lock combineto cut U.S.-flag Great Lakes cargo float in August

Continued high levels of steel imports,combined with three vessels idled for repairsand a lengthy closure of the MacArthur Lockat Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., cost U.S.-flagGreat Lakes fleets more than 1.1 million tonsof cargo in August. The fleet moved 9.9 mil-lion tons of raw materials in August, adecrease of 10.3 percent compared with the11 million tons hauled a year ago, the LakeCarriers’ Association reported.

The iron ore trade was most impactedby steel imports and vessels being out of ser-vice. Shipments totaled just 4.3 million tons,

a decrease of 22 percent compared to a yearago. It takes on average 1.5 tons of iron oreto make a ton of steel in a blast furnace, sowith foreign steel corralling more than 30percent of the market, a downturn wasinevitable. Also, the three large vessels idledfor some or all of the month are active in theore trade and have a combined per-tripcapacity of more than 200,000 tons. One ofthe idled vessels returned to service onAugust 28. The other ships did not sail againuntil September 19, the LCA reported.

Coal shipments were also affected by

the temporary loss of carrying capacity.Two of the idled 1,000-footers also regular-ly work the coal trade. Each can carry morethan 60,000 tons per trip, so their temporarylay-ups were a factor in the 12 percent dipin coal loadings, the LCA reported.

Limestone was the bright spot inAugust. Shipments in U.S. bottoms totaledmore than 3 million tons, an increase of 14percent compared to a year ago.

The failure of the MacArthur Lock atSault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on July 29 alsoimpacted the month’s totals. The lock did

not reopen until August 17. More than 70cargoes in U.S.-flagged lakers totaling 1.6million tons were delayed more than 150hours by the closure during August. Vesselsare already operating at their most efficientspeed, so most of those 150 hours cannot berecouped, the LCA reported.

Year-to-date U.S.-flag carriage stoodat 52.4 million tons at the end of August, anincrease of 6 percent compared to the samepoint in 2014, but a decrease of 1.5 percentcompared with the five-year average for theJanuary-to-August timeframe.

Jones ActContinued from Page 6ernment of Puerto Rico “did not rely on thecritical ingredient that was used heavily in a2013 independent review of the Jones Actin Puerto Rico by the GovernmentAccountability Office — facts.”

The Krueger Report tried to make acase that exempting the commonwealthfrom the Jones Act would alleviate some ofthe financial indebtedness faced by PuertoRico. However, it ignored many of thepoints made in the GAO study — includingone that there are too many factors involvedin the cost of transportation as it relates to

the cost of consumer goods to identify anyspecific cost related directly to the JonesAct. In addition, the Krueger Report failedto provide an accounting of the thousands ofjobs held by Puerto Ricans thanks to theJones Act trade.

Several news stories released after theKrueger Report came out have tried toclaim all goods and services going into orout of Puerto Rico have to be carried aboardU.S.-flag vessels. This ignored the fact thattwo-thirds of the island’s services comefrom foreign-flag bottoms.

Sacco also pointed out that theKrueger Report chose to leave out theimportance of the Jones Act to nationalsecurity. He quoted the vice chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Paul Selva,who addressed the MTD Executive Boardmeeting in February when he was comman-der of the U.S. Transportation Command:“Without the contribution that the Jones Actbrings to support of our industry, there is adirect threat to national defense.”

In his conclusion, Sacco stated,“While we are greatly concerned about theeconomic distress being faced by PuertoRico and are willing to be part of the effort tohelp alleviate the crisis, we firmly believeany attempt to exempt the commonwealthfrom the jurisdiction of the Jones Act willonly exacerbate the situation, leading to addi-tional job losses for the citizens of the islandas well as to workers on the mainland.”

In addition to the MTD, the AmericanMaritime Partnership (AMP) — an allianceof U.S.-flag industry and labor — sent let-ters in late August calling attention to fallac-ies in the Krueger Report.

“One important fact is that changingthe Jones Act for Puerto Rico is not in thebest interests of the United States or PuertoRico,” declared AMP Chairman ThomasAllegretti.

AMP consists of more than 450members including shipowners and opera-tors, shoreside and seaside workers, ship-builders and repair yards, manufacturers,vendors, contractors and national securityorganizations all working together to pro-mote the U.S.-flag maritime industry.

AMO aboard the Presque Isle

American Maritime Officers members working aboard the Presque Isle in July,here in Two Harbors, Minn., included Third Mate Charlie Bellafiore. AMO rep-resents the licensed officers and stewards aboard the Key Lakes vessel.

AMO members working aboard the Presque Isle in July, here in Two Harbors,Minn., included Third Assistant Engineer Isaiah Majetich. With him is AMOSenior National Assistant Vice President Brian Krus.

Sen. Brown 2015 Great Lakes Legislator of the YearSenator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has

been named 2015 Great Lakes Legislatorof the Year by the Great Lakes MaritimeTask Force (GLMTF), the largestlabor/management coalition representingworkers and industries dependent on ship-ping on America’s Fourth Sea Coast. Theaward is presented annually to a legislatorwho has helped advance shipping on theGreat Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

“Sherrod Brown’s keen understand-ing of Lakes shipping has been invaluableto our industry,” said GLMTF PresidentJohn Baker. “Whenever the Senate takesup issues that affect us, Senator Brown islike a Captain on the bridge carefullychoosing the best course. The WaterResources Reform and Development Act(WRRDA) of 2014 is a case in point. Theyears of the Harbor Maintenance TrustFund (HMTF) amassing surpluses while

harbors go un- or under-dredged are overbecause WRRDA requires the governmentto incrementally increase expendituresfrom the HMTF until they reach 100 per-cent of receipts by 2025.

“Lakes/Seaway shipping supportsmore than 28,000 jobs in the BuckeyeState,” said Baker, who is president emer-itus of the ILA’s Great Lakes DistrictCouncil. “Imagine how many more jobswe can generate once the Great LakesNavigation System is again properlymaintained.”

The past two winters have dramati-cally slowed shipping on the Lakes andSeaway during the ice season. “SenatorBrown’s support will be critical when theSenate takes up the House’s Coast GuardAuthorization Act, which authorizes the

See Sen. Brown ◆ Page 12

Congratulating Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on his receipt of the 2015 GreatLakes Legislator of the Year Award are Lake Carriers’ Association PresidentJames Weakley (left) and AMO Legislative Consultant John Rothrock (right).

8 • American Maritime Officer October 2015

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

IGF Code Training 5 days 11 January

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 2 November 7 December 18 January 8 Feb 28 March 16 May

Basic Safety Training — All 4 modules must be completed within 12months: Personal Safety Techniques (Mon/Tues — 1.5 days), PersonalSafety & Social Responsibility (Tues pm — .5 days), Elementary First Aid(Wed — 1 day), Fire Fighting & Fire Prevention (Thurs/Fri — 2 days) — notrequired. if Combined Basic & Adv. Fire Fighting completed within 12 months

5 days 26 October 16 November 14 December 25 January 15, 29 February 25 April 23 May

Basic Safety Training — Refresher 3 days 18 November 16 December 27 January 2 March 25 May

Chemical Safety — Advanced 5 days 8 February

ECDIS 5 days 2 November 7 December 4 January 8 February 7 March 18 April 9 May

Environmental Awareness (includes Oily Water Separator) 3 days 19 October 20 January

Fast Rescue Boat 4 days 5 October 30 November 5 January 8 February 29 March 18 April 2 May

GMDSS — Requires after-hour homework 10 days 7 December 15 February 16 May

LNG Tankerman PIC 8 days 30 March

LNG Simulator Training — Enrollment priority in the LNG simulator courseis given to qualified member candidates for employment and/or observationopportunities with AMO contracted LNG companies. In all cases successfulcompletion of the LNG PNC classroom course is prerequisite.

5 days 11 April

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 9 November 11 January 21 March 31 May

Safety Officer Course 2 days 12 November 17 March

Tankerman PIC DL — Classroom 5 days 9 November 14 March

Tankerman PIC DL — Simulator 10 days 19 October 30 November 25 January 22 February 2 May

Tankerman PIC DL — Accelerated Program 10 days Please call

Train the Trainer 5 days 16 November 14 December 11 January 29 February 4, 25 April

Train the Trainer — Simulator Instructors 5 days Please call

Vessel/Company Security Officer — Includes Anti-Piracy 3 days 9 November 14 March

Deck CoursesAdvanced Bridge Resource Management — Meets STCW 2010Leadership & Management gap closing requirements 5 days 26 October 2 November 7, 14 December 18, 25 January 8 February 7 March 18, 25 April 9, 23 May

Advanced Shiphandling for Masters — (No equivalency) Must havesailed as Chief Mate Unlimited 5 days 30 November 29 February

Advanced Shiphandling for 3rd Mates — 60 days seatime equiv. for 3rdMates 10 days 7 December 4 January 29 February 9 May

Advanced & Emergency Shiphandling — First Class Pilots, Great Lakes 5 days 1 February

Bridge Resource Management Seminar 3 days Please call

Dynamic Positioning — Basic 5 days 2 November 1 February 2 May

Dynamic Positioning — Advanced 5 days 7 December 7 March

Integrated Bridge System (IBS) / Prodded Propulsion Training 5 days Please call

STCW Deck Officer Refresher — Great Lakes 3 days Please call

TOAR (Towing Officer Assessment Record) — Third Mate (Unlimited orGreat Lakes) or 1600T Master License required AND OICNW required 5 days 9 November 18 January 2, 23 May

Tug Training — ASD Assist (Azimuthing Stern Drive) 5 days 18 April

Engineering Courses

Basic Electricity 10 days 26 October 30 November 1 February

Diesel Crossover 4 weeks 8 February

Gas Turbine Endorsement 10 days 9 November

High Voltage Safety Course (Classroom) 3 days 16 November 22 February

Hydraulics / Pneumatics 5 days 28 March

Ocean Ranger Program 6 days Please call

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) 5 days 9 November 15 February

Refrigeration (Operational Level) 5 days 26 October 7 December 7 March

Refrigeration (Management Level) 5 days 2 November 14 December 14 March

Steam Endorsement 4 weeks 11 January

Electronics (Management) — NEW 1 week Please call

Instrumentation (Management) — NEW 10 days Please call

Welding & Metallurgy Skills & Practices — Open to eligible Chief Mates and Masters on a space availablebasis. Interested participants should apply and will be confirmed 2 weeks prior to start date. 2 weeks 30 November 1 February 25 April

STCW 2010 Gap Closing Courses — Required by all existing STCW credentialed officers by 1 January 2017

Leadership & Management (required by ALL management level Deckand Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017) 5 days 19, 26 October 2, 9, 16, 30

November 7, 14 Dec 4, 11, 18, 25Jan

1, 8, 15, 22Feb 7, 14, 28 March 4, 11, 18, 25

April 2, 9, 16, 23 May

Engine Room Resource Management — Classroom (Engineers)(Required by ALL Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017) 5 days 26 October 9, 30 November 14 December 11, 25 January 8, 22 Feb 7, 28 March 11, 25 April 9, 23 May

Management of Electrical, Electronic Controllers (Engineers) (Requiredby ALL management level Engine officers by 1 Jan 2017) 5 days 19 October 2, 16 November 7 December 4, 18 January 1, 15, 29 Feb 14 March 4, 18 April 2, 16 May

Leadership & Teamwork (Engineers) (Only required by those Engineerswho completed old ERM class) 1 day Leadership & Teamworking assessments, in the few cases required, should be completed and signed off onboard.

Basic Training & Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation (Required by firstcredential renewal AFTER 1 Jan 2017) 2 days 22 Oct 1, 2 Feb 25, 26 April

EFA (Scheduled with Basic Training Revalidation BUT NOT REQUIREDFOR STCW 2010) 1 day 21 Oct 3 Feb 27 April

American Maritime Officer • 9October 2015

MSC Training ProgramBasic CBR Defense 1 day 8 December 26 February 6 May

Damage Control 1 day 7 December 25 February 5 May

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 20 April

Helicopter Fire Fighting 1 day 17 November 26 January 24 May

Marine Environmental Programs (with CBRD) 1/2 day 8 December 26 February 6 May

Marine Sanitation Devices 1/2 day Please call

Medical PIC Refresher — Note: MSC approved 3 days Please call

MSC Readiness Refresher — Must have completed full CBRD & DC once incareer. 2 days 16 November 25 January 23 May

MSC Watchstander — BASIC — Once in career, SST grads grandfathered 2 days 22 October 21 April

MSC Watchstander — ADVANCED — Required for all SRF members 1 day 16, 30 October 4 December 15 January 19 February 4, 18 March 15, 29 April 13 May

MSC Ship Reaction Force — Required every three years for SRF members 3 days 2 November 22 February 2 May

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 26 October 16, 30 Nov 14 December 11, 25 January 15, 29February 14, 28 March 11, 25 April 9, 23 May

Water Sanitation Afloat 1/2 day Please call

Engine STCW / Original Engineer Training Routes — Engine STCW training routes are aimed at Great Lakes members wishing to transition to deep sea. Original engineer training is available to members,applicants and sponsored students seeking an original license.

Advanced Fire Fighting 5 days 2 November 11 January 16 May

Basic Safety Training 5 days 16 November 25 January 23 May

EFA/MCP 4 days 27 October 4 January 10 May

Proficiency in Survival Craft (Lifeboat) 4 days 9 November 19 January 31 May

Basic Electricity (original engineers only) 10 days 30 November 1 February

Original 3 A/E Preparation and Exams A/R 14 December 15 February

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.

Medical Courses

Heat Stress Afloat / Hearing Conservation Afloat 1 day 20 April

Elementary First Aid — Prerequisite for MCP within preceding 12 months 1 day 27 October 1 December 5 January 23 February 5 April 10 May

Medical Care Provider — Prerequisite for MPIC within preceding 12months. Please fax EFA certificate when registering 3 days 28 October 2 December 6 January 24 February 6 April 11 May

Medical PIC — Please fax MCP certificate when registering 5 days 19 October 2 November 7 December 11 January 29 February 11 April 16 May

Urinalysis Collector Training 1 day 26 October 30 November 14 December 22 February 7 March 9 May

Breath Alcohol Test (BAT) — Alco Sensors 3 and 4 only 1 day 15 December 8 March

Saliva Screening Test — QEDs only 1/2 day 16 December 9 March

Medical PIC Refresher — Note: MSC approved 3 days Please call

Radar Courses

Radar Recertification 1 day 12, 13 Nov 21, 22 January 29, 30, 31March

ARPA 4 days Please call

Radar Recertification & ARPA 5 days Please call

Original Radar Observer Unlimited 5 days Please call

Deck Upgrade at the Management Level (Policy Letter 04-02) — This upgrade program is for those who started sea service or training towards management level (Chief Mate/Master) upgrade BEFORE 24March 2014. Failure to complete by 31 December 2016 will most likely result in significant delays and additional training or assessment requirements. Successful completion of this program will satisfy the training requirements forSTCW certification as Master or Chief Mate on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage (ITC) under previous. This program will complete ALL 53 Control Sheet assessments of the training requirements for STCW under policy letter04-02. Course completion certificates and control sheets expire 12/31/16. Anyone using the previous regulations to upgrade in this manner must complete all requirements ,including USCG testing, by 12/31/16. Deck ManagementLevel gap closing training must also be completed by 12/31/16 in order for the new credential to valid after this date. SPECIFIC GUIDANCE CAN BE FOUND ON THE STAR CENTER WEBSITE AT https://www.star-center.com

Celestial Navigation — Requires after-hour homework 5 days 14 December 29 February 30 May

Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology — Requires after-hour homework 5 days 26 October 18 January 18 April

Cargo Operations 9 days 2 May

Marine Propulsion Plants 5 days 23 May

Upgrade: Stability 5 days 2 November 25 January 25 April

Watchkeeping 1: BRM 3 days 11 November 22 March

Watchkeeping 2: COLREGS 5 days 16 November 28 March

Upgrade: Shiphandling at the Management Level 10 days 4 January 4 April

Search and Rescue 2 days 2 May

Shipboard Management 5 days 15 February 16 May

Upgrade: Advanced Navigation (includes Simulator) 5 days 7 December 7 March

ECDIS 5 days 14 December 14 March

Deck Upgrade — STCW 2010 — Management Level (NVIC 10-14)— If sea service or training towards management level (Chief Mate/Master) upgrade started ON OR AFTER 24 March 2014 you must 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 4 January 4 April

Upgrade: Advanced Meteorology — Requires after-hours homework 5 days 26 October 18 January 18 April

Advanced Stability 5 days 2 November 25 January 25 April

Search & Rescue 2 1/2 days 9 November 1 February 2 May

Management of Medical Care 1/2 day 11 November 3 February 4 May

Leadership & Management 5 days 16 November 8 February 9 May

Advanced Cargo — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 30 November 15 February 16 May

Marine Propulsion Plants — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 30 November 22 February 23 May

Advanced Celestial — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 14 December 29 February 30 May

Advanced Navigation — Optional for task sign-off 5 days 7 December 7 March

10 • American Maritime Officer October 2015

AMO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

DANIA BEACH, FL 33004-4109601 S. Federal Highway(954) 921-2221 / (800) 362-0513Paul Doell, National President (pauldoell51@yahoo.com)Extension 1001 / Mobile: (954) 881-5651 / FAX: (954) 926-5112 Charles A. Murdock, National Secretary-Treasurer(cmurdock@amo-union.org)Extension 1004 / Mobile: (954) 531-9977 / FAX: (954) 367-1025Joseph Z. Gremelsbacker, National Vice President, Deep Sea(jgremelsbacker@amo-union.org)Extension 1009 / Mobile: (954) 673-0680 / FAX: (954) 367-1029Marie Doruth, Special Assistant to the National President(mdoruth@amo-union.org)Extension 1017 / Mobile: (954) 290-8109 / FAX: (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 1050FAX: (954) 367-1066(memberservices@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.com)Extension 7004 / Mobile: (954) 881-5651J. Michael Murphy, National Vice President, Government Relations(mmurphy@amo-union.org / mikemurphy68@aol.com)Extension 7013 / Mobile: (202) 560-6889T. Christian Spain, National Assistant Vice President, Government Relations(cspain@amo-union.org)Extension 7010 / Mobile: (202) 658-9635FAX: (202) 479-1188

PHILADELPHIA, PA 191132 International Plaza, Suite 336Robert J. Kiefer, National Executive Vice President (rkiefer@amo-union.org)(800) 362-0513 ext. 4001 / Mobile: (215) 859-1059FAX: (610) 521-1301Chris 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 Floor(800) 221-9395 / FAX: (419) 255-2350John E. Clemons, Special Assistant to the National President (Great Lakes)(johnclemons@amo-union.org) / Mobile: (419) 205-3509Brian D. Krus, Senior National Assistant Vice President(bkrus@amo-union.org) / Mobile: (216) 571-9666Michelle Moffitt, Dispatcher(mmoffitt@amo-union.org) / Mobile: (419) 481-3470

GALVESTON, TX 775512724 61st Street, Suite B, PMB 192David M. Weathers, National Vice President, Inland Waters(dweathers@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 94607Daniel E. Shea, National Assistant Vice President(dshea@amo-union.org)(510) 444-5301 / (800) 362-0513 ext. 5001 / Mobile: (415) 269-5795FAX: (954) 367-1064

NEW ORLEANS / COVINGTON, LA 70434P.O. Box 5424Covington, LA 70434Daniel J. Robichaux, National Assistant Vice President(drobichaux@amo-union.org)(954) 367-1036 / Mobile: (985) 201-5462FAX: (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 Joel Glanstein, General CounselProgram David GlansteinMichael Reny 437 Madison Ave. 35th FloorMobile: (419) 346-1485 New York, NY 10022(419) 243-1105 (212) 370-5100(888) 853-4662 (954) 662-9407MikeReny@BEX.NET FAX: (212) 697-6299

Regular monthly membership meetings for AMO will beheld during the week following the first Sunday of everymonth at 1 p.m. local time. Meetings will be held onMonday at AMO National Headquarters (on Tuesday whenMonday is a contract holiday). The next meetings will takeplace on the following dates:

AMO National Headquarters: November 2, December 7

Vessels subject to expandedport state control inspectionsduring SOLAS campaignthrough December 31, 2015

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced U.S.-flagged vessels in foreign ports may besubject to expanded port inspections as a part of a navigation safety campaign by the RiyadhPort State Control Regime.

In addition to the focus of normal inspections, there will be 12 specific points of inter-est during expanded inspections, which are part of the “Safety of Navigation, SOLAS V”campaign. Among the topics on the 12-point questionnaire are the condition of navigationalequipment, voyage planning procedures and operation of steering systems.

The campaign’s aim is to verify that the master and watchkeeping officers are familiarwith shipboard navigation systems and equipment. The heightened inspections beganOctober 1 and will extend through the end of this year. The notice is available online:

www.uscg.mil/msib/docs/011_15_9-14-2015.pdf

American Maritime Officer • 11October 2015

U.S. Coast Guard implements new CG-719 forms

The following article was released by the U.S. Coast Guard’s NationalMaritime Center. Please note: Form CG-719K, Application for Merchant MarinerMedical Certificate, “signed by a physician after December 31, 2015, must be thenew form version.”

As of October 1, 2015, the United States Coast Guard has implemented the useof the new CG-719 series of forms (B, C, K, K/E, P, and S) that will replace theforms displaying a June 30, 2012, expiration date.

The Coast Guard will not stock the CG-719 series of forms in paper format.These forms may be obtained electronically in a PDF fillable format on the NationalMaritime Center (NMC) website (www.uscg.mil/nmc).

Additional updates to the NMC website will occur as quickly as possible toreflect the new forms.

The Coast Guard encourages providers and applicants to purge the old forms

from inventory and to begin using the new forms as soon as possible. In order to avoid penalizing mariners who have already completed their forms,

the NMC will continue to accept the old forms for a period of time. With the exception of forms K and K/E, the Coast Guard will no longer accept

outdated CG-719 forms after April 1, 2016. For the K and K/E, forms signed by a physician after December 31, 2015,

must be the new form version. In accordance with 46CFR10.304(d), the K orK/E must be submitted within 12 months of the date signed by a licensed med-ical professional; therefore, the Coast Guard will no longer accept outdated Kor K/E forms after December 31, 2016.

Mariners and other providers should contact the NMC Contact Center usingour chat function, by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKN-MC (427-5662) with any questions regarding these forms.

ARC announces appointment of officers, directors

Meeting with newKey Lakes

company officersAMO Special Assistant to the

National President (Great Lakes)John Clemons met with the newKey Lakes Fleet Manager, David

Deltano (center), and Port Captain,Ken Gerasimo (not in the picture),

at the AMO office in Toledo, Ohio inSeptember. With them is KeystoneShipping Manager of Fleet HumanResources David Schultze (right).

The following is excerpted from anarticle released October 1 by AmericanRoll-On Roll-Off Carrier.

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrierhas announced the appointment of Officersand Directors resulting from a re-organiza-tion as from October 1, 2015.

Eric P. Ebeling has been namedPresident and Chief Executive Officer ofAmerican Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier, LLC(ARC), whose principal business is pro-viding US Flag Ro-Ro shipping service ininternational trade. Mr. Ebeling has heldseveral executive roles with ARC sincejoining the Group in 2003, and has beenPresident and COO since June, 2012.

Mr. Ebeling is a graduate ofAmerican University Washington Collegeof Law (JD Law, 2001), AmericanUniversity School of International Service(MA International Studies, 2001), andBowdoin College (AB Government &English, 1998). In 2013, Mr. Ebeling com-pleted the University of Chicago’s BoothSchool of Business Advanced ManagementProgram. He is a member of the MarylandState Bar Association.

Raymond F. Fitzgerald has beennamed Chairman of the Board of ARC.

Mr. Fitzgerald was President of ARCfrom 2007-2011 and is now PresidentAtlantic Area of Wallenius WilhelmsenLogistics.

Mr. Fitzgerald is a graduate of SaintFrancis University and holds degrees inEconomics and Business Management witha Finance concentration. Mr. Fitzgeraldattended Fairleigh Dickinson University for

graduate studies, and has completed execu-tive education programs at the University ofChicago.

General John W. Handy (USAFRetired) will continue as Vice Chairman ofthe Board of Directors of ARC, where hehas served since 2006.

General Handy retired as theCommander of the United States

Transportation Command(USTRANSCOM), the transportation man-ager for all air, land and sea transportationfor the Department of Defense, and is wide-ly recognized as a pre-eminent mobility andlogistics expert.

Raymond P. Ebeling, Chairman andCEO of ARC since 1990, will retire atyear-end.

Temporary closure of MacArthur Lock highlightsneed for second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie

The following is excerpted from anarticle released September 25 by the LakeCarriers’ Association.

CLEVELAND — The 20-day clo-sure of the MacArthur Lock at Sault Ste.Marie, Michigan, cost U.S.-flag GreatLakes vessel operators nearly $250,000. Amisalignment of the miter gates forced theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close the

lock on July 29 and it remained out of ser-vice until August 17. During those 20 days,U.S.-flag lakers were delayed 77 times for atotal of 6.5 days. The cargoes delayedtopped 1.8 million tons.

“The lengthy failure of the MacArthurLock adds more urgency to our efforts tobuild a second Poe-sized lock,” said JamesH.I. Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’

Association. “The MacArthur Lock is 72years old and the Poe Lock is 46 years old.We must renew this vital infrastructure. Mostof the iron ore that feeds our steel mills tran-sits the Soo Locks. Likewise for the low-sul-fur coal that generates electricity at manyGreat Lakes power plants. Without shippingthrough the Soo Locks, industrial Americawill be brought to its knees.”

Seventy percent of U.S.-flag carryingcapacity on the Great Lakes is restricted tothe Poe Lock by the length or beam of thevessel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineersacknowledges the Soo Locks are the singlepoint of failure for the Great LakesNavigation System. Congress has autho-rized building a second Poe-sized lock, butthe project has not moved forward becausea flawed study puts its benefit/cost ratiobelow 1.0.

“Everyone knows the assumptionthat the railroads could absorb the 60 mil-lion tons of cargo the Poe Lock handleseach year is off base,” added Weakley.“Furthermore, many steel mills lack railaccess, so without Great Lakes shipping,that industry and others would all but ceaseto exist.”

Weakley stressed the solution is verysimple. “A new, better-focused study mustbe conducted so this vital infrastructure pro-ject can move forward. At the behest ofSenator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), theCorps revisited the assumptions included inits original economic analysis of the project,and its findings should prompt a full re-evaluation of replacing the MacArthur Lockwith a Poe-sized lock.”

Form CG-719K signed by physician after December 31, 2015 must be new version

First MARAPcadet to graduate

Cassandra Palma is the first cadetparticipating in the AMO MaritimeAcademy Recruiting AssistanceProgram (MARAP) to graduate.Congratulating her at AmericanMaritime Officers Headquartersare Deep-Sea Dispatchers RobertAnderson and Brendan Keller.

12 • American Maritime Officer October 2015

Joining Congressman Duncan Hunter are Maritime Administrator Paul ‘Chip’Jaenichen, Senator Mazie Hirono, Tom Allegretti, and Congressman JohnGaramendi in support of continued strength in the American maritime industry.

Rep. Hunter receives 2015 Champion of Maritime AwardThe following article was released

by the American Maritime Partnership, acoalition of which American MaritimeOfficers Service is a member and whichAmerican Maritime Officers supports.

WASHINGTON (September 30,2015) — The American MaritimePartnership (AMP), the voice of thedomestic maritime industry recognizedU.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) with the2015 Champion of Maritime Award,which honored Hunter for his extraordi-nary support and dedication to theAmerican Maritime Industry.

Rep. Hunter’s longstanding supportfor U.S. maritime is demonstrated throughhis work as Chairman of theSubcommittee on Coast Guard andMaritime Transportation and as a memberof the Seapower Subcommittee of theHouse Armed Services Committee. As thefirst Marine combat veteran of the wars inIraq and Afghanistan elected to U.S.Congress, Rep. Hunter understands theimportance that the maritime industryserves in the everyday lives of our civil-ians and our service men and women.

“The true champions of maritime arethe hundreds of thousands of highly-skilledservice men and women in the Americanmaritime industry who tirelessly work toprotect our waterways — such a strength in

defense wouldn’t be possible without theJones Act,” said Rep. Hunter. “I will contin-ue to vocalize my support for the Americanmaritime industry; one that creates goodpaying family-wage jobs, secures our bor-

ders, and fuels our economy.”This past June, Rep. Hunter demon-

strated his commitment to the U.S. mar-itime industry when he joined hundreds ofveterans and active military at theAmerican Maritime Partnership’s Militaryto Maritime career fair in San Diegowhere he met with men and women look-ing to transfer their specialized skillsearned from the military into a lucrativecareer in U.S. maritime.

“Chairman Hunter has been atremendously valued champion for thedomestic American maritime industry,serving as a leader who truly understandsour industry’s critical role to the vitalityand security of our nation,” AMPChairman Tom Allegretti said. “From histime in the service to his seat asChairman of the Subcommittee on CoastGuard and Maritime Transportation,Congressman Hunter has witnessed firsthand what it takes to sustain a strongmaritime industry and because of hisdedication, we are honored to providehim with our highest honor — theChampion of Maritime Award.”

Sen. BrownContinued from Page 7commandant to design and build anotherheavy icebreaker for the Great Lakes,”said GLMTF 1st Vice President ThomasCurelli. “The delays and cancelled cargoesduring the past two ice seasons cost theeconomy nearly $1.1 billion in businessrevenue and 5,000 jobs.

“Great Lakes and Seaway shippingwould not exist if it weren’t for heavymanufacturing,” said Curelli, who is alsodirector of operations for FraserShipyards, Inc. and a retired Coast Guardcommander. “It takes 2.2 tons of rawmaterials that move on the Lakes to makea ton of steel. And now with more sched-uled liner services through the Seaway,Great Lakes basin manufactures are find-ing it easier to export.”

America’s ability to make steel andmanufacture cars and the like in thefuture will hinge on construction of asecond Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste.Marie, Michigan, and the project has theSenator’s full support. “Every ton of ironore that feeds the steel mills in Clevelandand West Chester moves through the SooLocks,” said GLMTF 2nd Vice PresidentBrian Krus. “If the Poe Lock was to betaken out of service for a lengthy periodof time, steel production would all butcease throughout the Great Lakes basin.A flawed benefit/cost ratio is what’sstalling construction of a second Poe-sized lock, but we expect that analysis tobe corrected soon and know SenatorBrown will fight for getting the projectfunded and underway.

“Waterborne commerce is thegreenest mode of transportation,” saidKrus, who is senior national assistantvice president of American MaritimeOfficers. “Ships use less fuel and pro-duce fewer greenhouse gas emissionsthan trains or trucks.”

Senator Brown’s entire politicalcareer has been dedicated to protectingAmerican workers from unfair trade andpractices, so his support for the JonesAct is unshakeable. “Senator Brownunderstands that market-distorting prac-tices have slashed the number ofAmerican vessels in the internationaltrades, so he is adamant that our domes-

tic trades must be governed by U.S. lawsand regulations so that the playing fieldis level and the commerce creates jobsfor Americans,” said GLMTF 3rd VicePresident James Weakley.

Weakley, who is also president ofthe Lake Carriers’ Association, empha-

sized the Lakes Jones Act fleet pioneeredsuch innovations as the self-unloadingvessel and remains the world’s largestfleet of self-discharged ships and barges.

With his selection as Great LakesLegislator of the Year, Senator Brownbecomes the tenth Ohio legislator to

receive the award since its inception in1998. Previous recipients are SenatorsJohn Glenn, Mike DeWine, and GeorgeVoinovich, and Representatives LouStokes, Steve LaTourette, Marcy Kaptur,Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Betty Sutton, andBob Gibbs.

AMO in the T-AGS fleet with U.S. Marine Management Inc.

AMO members working aboardthe USNS Pathfinder inSeptember included Chief MateAlex Kepchar, Second Mate AlexSwiess, Third Mate RianeThomas, Captain Mel Santos,Radio Officer Eric Bodner andThird Mate Joshua Sindorf.

AMO members working aboardthe USNS Pathfinder inSeptember included ThirdAssistant Engineer ArmandoBermudez, Second A.E. RobertGuilmette, First A.E. Chipper Leeand Chief Engineer MichaelHadley. The T-AGS ships USNSHenson and USNS Pathfinder areoperated for MSC by U.S. MarineManagement Inc. (formerly 3PSCLLC) and manned in all licensedpositions by AMO.

American Maritime Officers mem-bers working aboard the USNSHenson in September includedChief Mate William Taylor, ThirdMate Tara Mulligan, ThirdAssistant Engineer StephanieStowe, Second A.E. BrandyWhite, Second Mate Scott Spears,Radio Officer Shawn Bird, ChiefEngineer Dusty Rhodes andCaptain Kristin Mangold. The shipwas dressed September 9 for aVIP reception in Busan, ROK.

Photo courtesy of Captain Kristin Mangold

Photo courtesy of Captain Mel Santos

Photo courtesy of Chief Engineer Michael Hadley