MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION (AFL-CIO)
         "On Watch in Peace and War Since 1875"

MEBA TELEX TIMES       APRIL 17, 2009

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 16

In this issue...
M.E.B.A. LIBERTY SUN crew attacked by pirates...MAERSK ALABAMA crew back home...Plus more piracy news and an Aker construction update...We get in tune, chime in with a top brass edition and strike a chord with an up-tempo maritime overture on a major scale. Don't go whistling in the dark with tone-deaf, second fiddle newsletters that should be seen and not heard! We beat them like a drum, toot our own horn and pipe up with a high key, instrumental issue that'll have you humming along. Music to your ears, the Telex Times hits all the right notes!

M.E.B.A. LIBERTY SUN CREW SAFE AFTER PIRATE FIRE DAMAGES SHIP
The crew of the LIBERTY SUN, which includes eight M.E.B.A. members (deck and engine officers), are safe following an attack on the vessel this Tuesday by Somali pirates. The ship is managed by M.E.B.A.-contracted Liberty Maritime Corporation. The SUN was on its way from Houston, TX carrying food aid cargo bound for Mombasa, Kenya when pirates gave chase and fired off small arms and rocket propelled grenades. The ship sustained damage but no one was injured. These highly-trained crewmembers executed their anti-piracy plan and evasive maneuvers were performed. A distress call from the ship was received by the U.S. Coast Guard and the USS BAINBRIDGE, which was in the general vicinity, was dispatched. The pirates fled before the Destroyer arrived. Among other things, a statement released by Liberty said, We commend the entire crew for its professionalism and poise under fire. They also stressed that, Liberty Maritime's first priority has been, and will continue to be, ensuring that the crews aboard our ships are safe.

The SUN arrived safely in Mombasa late Wednesday with Navy escort. Phil Shapiro, Liberty's President and CEO, stated, "We are thankful that our courageous crew and our ship have arrived safely and that no one was injured in the attack? All of our crew members have been in touch with their families to assure them of their safety. The Captain and crew performed admirably in accordance with company policy and procedures and executed the on-board anti-piracy and security plan to perfection."

ALABAMA CREW LAUDED; MTD, UNIONS RELEASE STATEMENTS
The highly-skilled 20 person union crew of the MAERSK ALABAMA is back in the U.S. after an ordeal that has this country buzzing about how to better protect our mariners from outlaws at sea. M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe helped welcome back 19 members of the crew in Thursdays early morning hours as their plane touched down at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland following over 17 hours of travel time from Mombasa, Kenya. Capt. Richard Phillips returned to Vermont late on Friday afternoon. The crew is made up of members of the M.E.B.A., MM&P and SIU. Each of them now begins to come to grips with their newfound status as heroes and the media barrage foisted upon them. For that reason, the Telex Times is not publishing their names at this time.

M.E.B.A. is part of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO which recently released a statement honoring the crewmembers who demonstrated to the world the valor and exceptional skills of U.S. merchant mariners. MTD President Mike Sacco, speaking on behalf of the maritime unions involved, said, We are extremely proud of the efforts shown by the crew of the MAERSK ALABAMA. These well-trained American merchant mariners exemplify the very best in our industry.

American merchant mariners have served as the nations fourth arm of defense since the American Revolution, he noted. The crew of the MAERSK ALABAMA fully understood the rally cry of Don't give up the ship!

Meanwhile, the wounded pirate who had the tables turned on him by the ALABAMA crew and later surrendered aboard the USS BAINBRIDGE was identified as 19-year-old Abdulwali Muse. It was announced that he will be tried in a New York federal court.

The unions representing the crew released a statement on Wednesday that along with praising the crew, thanked the effective Government and military response that enabled the recovery of the ships captain. The M.E.B.A./MM&P/SIU statement said, We are especially grateful to President Barack Obama and his Administration for their deliberate and effective handling of this entire situation and, of course, to the Department of the Navy and the naval personnel who, despite the unique and difficult circumstances, did their job to end the hostage situation with great skill. They truly represent the best of America.

It also points out that Maersk as well as Waterman Steamship did a wonderful job in handling this trying ordeal and that their cooperative efforts with the affected parties and the support and attention they provided was first-rate. The Maersk Line vessel is operated by Waterman Steamship. The statement penned by the three Presidents Don Keefe, Tim Brown and Mike Sacco declared that, We are also grateful to Maersk CEO John Reinhart along with Waterman Steamship Corporation/International Shipholding Corporation President Eric L. Johnson and their entire operations for the manner in which they communicated and worked with our Unions. They made every effort to ensure that we had the most up-to-date and accurate information available so that we in turn could provide comfort and assistance to the families of the officers and crew aboard the MAERSK ALABAMA.

Commenting on the incident, the Presidents said, Once again our nation is able to see firsthand that the civilian American merchant marine officers and crew who sail aboard American vessels will act quickly and decisively to protect the United States flag, and by extension, the United States, whenever and wherever attacked. All too often the role that our organizations and United States merchant marine officers and crew play in protecting the economic security of our nation and supporting the Department of Defense and our troops overseas is overlooked. Without a United States-flag merchant fleet and without the American-citizen licensed officers and crew who sail aboard these vessels, our armed forces overseas would be dependent on others for the supplies, equipment and other cargo they need to do their job in support of Americas international interests. In the case at hand, this vessel and its crew were engaged in a mission of mercy, carrying food to some of the worlds neediest people. The MAERSK ALABAMA was proudly flying the American flag to help demonstrate that we are a compassionate people and that American flag ships and their crews will put themselves at risk to make sure that the less fortunate of the world who need our aid will in fact receive our aid, and that those who interests run counter to our nations will be thwarted in their efforts. The complete statement has been posted on the M.E.B.A. website (www.meba.us).

STATE DEPT. ANNOUNCES COUNTER-PIRACY INITIATIVES
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered remarks this week outlining a four-point plan to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. Secretary Clinton lauded the bravery and skill of the mariners who helped save the MAERSK ALABAMA and LIBERTY SUN but noted that it falls to us to ensure that others are not put into a similar situation. She announced that a high-level Government meeting involving the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Transportation Homeland Security and the intelligence community was meeting Friday (today) to consider potential responses to the menace of piracy.

She announced that the State Department is taking four immediate steps. They will send an envoy to attend the international Somali peacekeeping and development meeting scheduled in Brussels. She said that the solution to Somali piracy includes improved Somali capacity to police their own territory. The State Departments envoy will work with other partners to help the Somalis assist us in cracking down on pirate bases and in decreasing incentives for young Somali men to engage in piracy.

Secondly, Secretary Clinton is calling for immediate meetings with our partners in the International Contact Group on Piracy to develop an expanded multinational response. She said the response that came to our original request through the Contact Group for nations to contribute naval vessels has turned out to be very successful. But now, she noted, we need better coordination. This is a huge expanse of ocean, four times the size of Texas, so we have to be able to work together to avoid the pirates. We also need to secure the release of ships currently being held and their crews, and explore tracking and freezing pirate assets.

Third, the State Department has tasked a diplomatic team to engage with Somali Government officials from the Transitional Federal Government as well as regional leaders in Puntland. We will press these leaders to take action against pirates operating from bases within their territories.

And fourth, because it is clear that defending against piracy must be the joint responsibility of governments and the shipping industry, Secretary Clinton has directed her team to work with shippers and the insurance industry to address gaps in their self-defense measures. So we will be working on these actions as well as continuing to develop a long-term strategy to restore maritime security to the Horn of Africa.

SEATTLE GATHERING TO HONOR HERB SCHNEIDER
A popular member of the M.E.B.A family who recently sailed into the sunset is being honored in an upcoming Seattle gathering. Herb Schneider had a colorful and productive career with the Union working his way up the hawsepipe. He began as a wiper/oiler in World War II and retired as a Chief Engineer on the SS CORONADO in the mid-1980s. After he put away his sea bag for the final time, he stayed active with M.E.B.A. affairs and organized retiree meetings that were particularly remembered for the sea tales and dirty stories told at the end of the get-togethers. The Celebration of Herbs Life will take place on Saturday, April 25th, a day after what would have been his 88th birthday.

It will take place between 10 am and 1 pm at Saltys Restaurant at Alki Beach in the Banquet Room on Ground Level. Its located at 1936 Harbor Avenue. S.W. in Seattle. Theres free parking. You can call for directions at (206) 937-1600. If you remember Herb and want to attend the affair please RSVP Reba Schneider at rebaschneider@aol.com - 2421 SW Trenton St #210 Seattle, WA 98106, Phone: (206) 768-8024.

DOD PIRACY REVIEW
The U.S. military has initiated a review to look broadly and widely and deeply at the overall strategy on piracy off the coast of Somalia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said this week. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking on ABCs Good Morning America, noted that piracy has been a problem for America since the founding of the republic. We've actually been focused on this issue for some period of time, and set up a task force out in that part of the world last fall, he said. We've had a focus on it.

Some 16 nations have warships in the region, which covers 1.1 million square miles, a vast area that is difficult to cover; in fact, pirates captured the Greek merchant vessel Irene overnight. Its a going business for the pirates, Mullen said.

Part of the problem with piracy off Somalia a failed state is what to do with pirates who are captured. Mullen said the United States and Kenya have a bilateral agreement for the African nation to prosecute any pirates captured on the high seas in the region. There's a lot of work to do. It's a big challenge, but there are many, many people working on it right now, Mullen said.

Pirates have vowed reprisals on the United States for the successful operation to free Phillips. I certainly take their comments afterwards seriously, Mullen said. That said, we are very well prepared to deal with anything like that. And that will be part of our military review.

SHIPS ADVISED TO STAY 600 MILES AWAY FROM SOMALI COAST
The Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa, in cooperation with the International Maritime Bureaus piracy reporting centre, is advising that vessels should stay at least 600 nautical miles away from the Somali Coast. The U.S. Navy Maritime Liaison Office in Bahrain also issued such a warning and added an advisory concerning vessel Automatic Identification Systems. In the Gulf of Aden, we recommend AIS is turned on, but only transmitting callsign and Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number. AIS should be turned off near the east coast of Somalia.

MAERSK STATEMENT ON PIRACY
The Maersk Group issued a statement this week affirming their commitment to ensure the safety of crewmembers following the attempted hijacking of the MAERSK ALABAMA and the Capt. Phillips hostage situation. The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group is making a thorough investigation of the events. Based on this investigation, they will review their policies and procedures for sailing off the coast of Somalia and take appropriate action.

"Our main concern is always the safety and security of our crews. We are extremely vigilant and constantly monitor the situation in the Gulf of Aden and the area off the Somali coast," says Søren Skou, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group Partner and Maersk Tanker CEO.

The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group would like to express its appreciation for all the efforts and support which ensured the safe return of Captain Richard Phillips and the crew of MAERSK ALABAMA. The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group reiterates its appeal to the international community, which must come together to find a solution to the problem of piracy. Piracy is a threat to important international trade lanes and therefore an international security issue. We must insist that it is possible for seafarers to do their job in a safe and peaceful environment. Civilian crews must be able to do their job in safe environment; ensuring goods are traded around the world," he said. "This is not a problem the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group or the shipping industry can or should solve alone...The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group provides its crews with detailed safety and security instructions, and emphasizes the importance of exercising vigilance when sailing in the areas of piracy risk. This includes reviewing onboard security plans before entering the area. The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group is also examining routes and vessel assignments in the area off the coast of Somalia.

TWIC IN EFFECT
The nationwide TWIC compliance date for workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels and all U.S. credentialed mariners was April 15, 2009. If you have received notification that your TWIC card is ready for pick up, please walk in to your Enrollment Center or schedule an appointment for activation by calling the TWIC Help Desk at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942).

AKER CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard continues work on four more MT-46 Veteran Product Tankers in a series of 12 new ships to be crewed up by M.E.B.A. engineers. The first six vessels in the series have already been delivered.

Hull 011, which will be named the OVERSEAS NIKISKI, is currently in the final stages of construction in the Building Dock. All grand block sections have been assembled and the final block was recently lowered into the Building Dock. Work continues to finish the cargo and ballast tanks and assemble the chain and anchor. The vessel will be launched in the upcoming weeks.

The main engine of Hull 012 (OVERSEAS MARTINEZ) was recently lowered in place and two grand block units are currently being constructed into a super unit outside of the Building Dock. In addition, the last block to be lowered before skidding, one of the stern blocks, was dock mounted recently. Hull 012 will be skidded into place after Hull 011 is launched in a few weeks.

Hull 013 (OVERSEAS ANACORTES) is under construction in the Grand Block Shop.

The engine room blocks of the ship are currently being built in the Grand Block Shop to prepare for Keel Laying. The image to the right shows one section being lowered to complete a block. A double bottom engine room section will be the official Keel Laying block for the ceremony in May.

Sections of Hull 014 (OVERSEAS TAMPA) are in the pre-assembly stage of construction. Pre construction preparations continue as steel plates are cut and prepped for assembly. When completed, Hull 014 will join its sister ships in transporting petroleum products on the West Coast.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, May 4 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, May 5 - Baltimore/Calhoon School (at CMES), Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, May 6 - Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, May 7 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, May 8 - Honolulu.

--------FINISHED WITH ENGINES---------