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

MEBA TELEX TIMES       AUGUST 21, 2009

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 34

In this issue...
Latest MSC newbuild launched...M.E.B.A. LNG CROs needed...Counter-piracy news...Paved with good intentions, we break loose with a news inferno in a bottomless pit edition that's full-of-the-devil. Abandon all hope ye who read diabolical, soulless newsletters that'll doom you to eternal suffering. We cast them out and lead you into nautical temptation with a sinful amount of fire, brimstone and the burning industry items of the week. Hot damn! Hell hath no maritime fury like the Telex Times!

LATEST M.E.B.A.-CREWED MSC NEWBUILD LAUNCHED
Highly skilled M.E.B.A. engineers are powering the Military Sealift Command newbuild USNS MATTHEW PERRY, the latest ship in the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition newbuild program. The PERRY was christened and launched on August 16 at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The PERRY, designated T-AKE 9, is expected to be delivered to the MSC in early 2010 following a series of tests and sea trials. The 689-foot ship slid into the water for the first time as Hester G. Evans - a great, great, great granddaughter of the ship's namesake and the ship's sponsor - broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the ship's bow.

The ship honors Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), whose distinguished naval career spanned 50 years. In 1853, Perry led a squadron of ships to Japan, where he successfully negotiated a landmark trade treaty with the Japanese. Perry also served during the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and sailed off the coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade.

PERRY is the ninth ship in the Navy's T-AKE class. These ships are owned and operated by MSC and deliver ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to U.S. Navy and other navy ships at sea, allowing them to stay underway and combat ready for extended periods of time. Construction began on PERRY in October 2008. Once delivered to MSC, PERRY is slated to operate out of San Diego. The Navy plans to build 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships, all of which will be turned over to the MSC and crewed by expert M.E.B.A. officers.

M.E.B.A. CHIEF ENGINEER SPOTLIGHTED BY MSC
M.E.B.A. Chief Engineer Girma Ayele was spotlighted recently in a special write-up placed on the website of the Military Sealift Fleet Support Command. Chief Ayele told his story of how he fled the squalid conditions in his native Ethiopia following a Communist overthrow of the government. He eventually graduated California Maritime Academy in 1987 and began shipping out. He was tapped as the very first Chief Engineer aboard the newbuild USNS MATTHEW PERRY which was launched this week. Some excerpts from the article follow:

"...When I finished 10th grade, the Ethiopian government was overthrown by a communist movement. I felt all my dreams and ambitions were shattered. Some of my classmates were killed and some of them were put in jail. Students who finished 10th grade were sent to remote areas to build schools and houses for the farmers and to teach them how to read and write. I too was ordered to go. They sent me to Elebabure Province, 500 miles away from the capital (Addis Ababa) and my family home, where I was to serve for one year. My group was ordered to build schools and wooden bridges. Where we stayed during our time in Elebabure was unacceptable. There wasn't enough food or adequate shelter. We drank untreated water from the ground; as a result most of us were sick. We slept in one of the old schools. We were unhappy away from our parents and unsettled by being in a strange place. The one bright spot for me throughout this experience was being able to help provide a better school for the local children and aid the farmers by building a bridge across the river which would otherwise be impassable during the rainy season.

"When I returned home, the country's political tensions brought about further violence to include the killing of more students in Addis. The capital was not safe and parents were hiding their children .to include my father, who tried his best to protect us. With the help of some friends and a family member, I got a passport and was sent to Sudan and then on to Germany. Shortly after I arrived in Germany, I applied to immigrate to the U.S. At that time, my brother was living in Washington, D.C. After a year and a half in Germany, my U.S. immigration application was accepted and I entered into America on April 18, 1978. I was very happy to be here. Immediately, I started to plan to continue my studies and fulfill my dream...

"...Knowing I had to find a four-year college program to complete my education, I started exploring different schools. I have a great interest in mechanical engineering and, remembering my low grades in history and social science classes when in elementary and high school, I knew the only way I could be successful was if I majored in mechanical engineering. One day my friend took me to visit an American family and the lady of the house asked me what I wanted to major in for my four-year college degree. I told her of my interest and she mentioned California Maritime Academy, in Vallejo, Calif. I immediately went to the academy and was informed of the required courses needed for admission. I toured the campus, including the training ship Golden Bear, and subsequently was selected for admission. That day I felt my dream come true. I was excited. When I was in my senior year, Military Sealift Command personnel came to recruit mariners and I applied. I was offered a job. I graduated in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in marine engineering and a United States Coast Guard-issued third assistant engineer license. Having fulfilled my requirements, I started working full time on different platforms. In my view, my primary goal in the progression up the leader ladder has been based on the achievement of competences of knowledge and understanding of different platforms' mechanical design and problem solving approach. I can say that I am one of the few engineers who have extensive experience on many different power plants: gas turbine, diesel, diesel electric, and steam. I believe working on different platforms refines my problem solving approach and it enhances competency in fostering good working relationships with the crew. This stimulates healthy and dynamic working environments. Ultimately, we can fulfill the ship mission together...

"...My words of advice for those mariners working their way up--work to achieve competency, knowledge, understanding of different ships platform with a mechanical design, problem solving approach, and you will achieve your highest goal. By striving to achieve these goals, one can learn how to create healthy and dynamic working environments. Ultimately, anyone can reach to a high level if equipped with competency of mechanical engineering and management skills. If you set your mind to it, if you have goals, honesty and hard work anything can be achieved."

LNG CONTROL ROOM OPERATORS - TEMPORARY POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Alaris Companies has job openings for one of their shoreside employment brokering contracts with M.E.B.A. Their client, Excelerate Energy, is operating an LNG facility in Kuwait that needs additional Control Room Operators. M.E.B.A. has an agreement with Alaris to supply technically qualified and experienced manpower to meet Excelerate's needs.

Due to the specialized nature of this work, the company has the right of selection. The terms of employment based on the agreement are substantial. This opportunity may become more than temporary in the future. For those with LNG cargo handling experience interested in this position, please contact Alaris Companies for more details about the assignment. Those retirees who have this experience are also encouraged to contact the company, but they will only be eligible for selection if no other qualified members or applicants are available. Contact James Freeman at Alaris Companies. E-mail: jobs@alariscompanies.com Phone: 707-762-7455 Fax: 877 762-7507.

MEMBERS WORKING ON ARMY CORPS' BOAT ASSIST RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING MID-AIR COLLISION
Members aboard the M.E.B.A.-crewed Army Corps of Engineers drift collection vessel DRIFTMASTER were the first responders and led recovery efforts recently after a deadly mid-air collision of a single-engine plane and tourism helicopter. It happened on a stretch of the Hudson River in New York right in front of where the DRIFTMASTER was busy clearing debris from navigable areas. Crewmembers raced into action in hopes of locating survivors but the massive impact betrayed that hope as all 9 people involved in the collision were killed. The DRIFTMASTER deployed her steel nets scooping up debris from the crash and later positioned its 20-ton crane to recover the wreckage of the helicopter and the plane which were lying at the bottom of the Hudson in depths up to 62 feet. The heartbreaking mission diverted the boat from its routine for more than two days. Crewmembers also spent numerous hours coordinating with the NTSB, FAA, FBI, NYPD, FDNY, medical examiners and numerous other agencies called onto the scene in the wake of the collision.

M.E.B.A. members aboard the DRIFTMASTER responding to the disaster included Chief Engineer Dan Reddan and Assistant Chief Bill Carl. MM&P members aboard included Master Daniel Florio and Assistant Master Dan Petrie.

HOUSTON/GALVESTON PORT NEWS
The Coast Guard oversaw the salvage operation of the 40-foot, 25 gross ton Uninspected Towing Vessel Jerry Picton, Thursday, in the vicinity of Pier 21 in the Port of Galveston. The Picton sank in approximately 40 feet of water in the Port of Galveston after a crane boom fell onto the vessel, Wednesday. Divers from T&T Marine Salvage placed straps around the vessel to lift it out of the water. Once lifted, fuel was removed from the vessel, and it was taken to a local shipyard for repair.

At approximately 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, a crane from the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Ocean Star failed while transferring a skid pan to the UTV Jerry Picton. This apparently caused the crane boom from the Ocean Star to fall onto the Jerry Picton, ultimately sinking the vessel. There were no injuries.

In recent months, the Coast Guard received complaints alleging that certain waterfront facilities within the Sector Houston-Galveston area of responsibility have not ensured coordination of shore leave for vessel personnel or crew change-out, as well as access through the facility for vessel visitors. Upon investigation, they substantiated some of these allegations. In other cases, vessels have been denied the delivery of stores due to a facility's refusal to screen large packages.

As a means to facilitate this balance, Marine Inspectors will continue to scrutinize all Facility Security Plans for procedures regarding access for seafarers and the delivery of vessel stores/services. Sector Houston-Galveston will continue to host workgroups where all port stakeholders sit in the same room and develop port-wide solutions to concerns. The next workgroup begins at 0930 on Wednesday, August 26. This workgroup will be held at the Houston International Seafarers' Center, 9250 High Level Road. All port stakeholders with a stake in seafarer rights and facility access concerns are encouraged to attend.

INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO BATTLE EXPECTED UPTICK OF SOMALI PIRACY
23 nations met in Bahrain recently to improve coordination efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia and in other hotspots. The meeting of the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) group included the European Union, China, Russia, NATO and members of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). A number of agreements were reached. "These meetings are critical to the effective use of all counter-piracy efforts in the region," said Royal Navy Commodore Tim Lowe, deputy commander, CMF. "With the weather improving in the area, attacks on shipping are expected to increase, but as a result of today's and previous meetings the multinational forces will be better prepared to deter and disrupt acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia." As more nations deploy maritime forces to the region, working-level meetings like SHADE serve as a forum for the sharing of lessons learned and best practices among all naval forces providing support to counter-piracy operations.

In related news, NATO's counter-piracy efforts entered a new phase when its North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved Operation Ocean Shield. This new mission builds on the experience gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATO's previous counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts. While at-sea counter-piracy operations will continue to be the focus, a new element of regional state counter-piracy capacity building has been developed for Operation Ocean Shield. NATO's capacity building effort will aim to assist regional states, upon their request, in developing their own ability to combat piracy activities. This element of the operation is designed to complement existing international efforts and will contribute to an improved maritime security situation off the Horn of Africa.

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION AT THE SEATTLE HALL
The Seattle M.E.B.A. Hall is celebrating Labor Day on Tuesday September 8, 2009 (Membership meeting day). In addition to a barbeque, Pacific Northwest Historians Guild member Ron Magden will give a talk between 1230 job call and meeting start. Dr. Magden is considered one of the foremost authorities on Puget Sound maritime and labor history. He has recently been researching M.E.B.A.'s early days in the Northwest and is the author of several books, including: The Working Waterfront: The Story of Tacoma's Ships and Men.

COAL SHIPMENTS DOWN ON GREAT LAKES; DREDGING REMAINS HUGE ISSUE
Coal shipments on the Great Lakes in July totaled 3.2 million net tons, a decrease of 1.1 million tons compared to a year ago. In terms of a percentage, the trade was 26 percent off the pace of a year ago. It is difficult to find anything positive about the coal trade in July. Loadings at only one port, Toledo, Ohio, were on par with a year ago. Every other dock saw shipments dip. The dredging crisis continued to take its toll on the trade in July. The month's top loads were nearly 5,000 tons less than vessels' optimum capacity. Full loads will not return until the Corps of Engineers' dredging program on the Great Lakes is adequately funded by the Federal government. The lack of adequate funding is galling to industry, as the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which is funded by a tax on waterborne commerce, has a surplus that is approaching $5 billion. The Great Lakes Navigation System could be restored to functional dimensions for about $230 million. For the year, coal shipments stand at 14.2 million tons, a decrease of approximately 28 percent compared to a year ago. The trade is almost 30 percent off the 5-year average for the January-July timeframe.

CORCORAN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 18th
M.E.B.A. members will be supporting a fallen brother on September 18th for the 8th annual Jay Corcoran Memorial Golf Tournament. Jay was a popular M.E.B.A. member for 22 years who sailed out of the West Coast. On September 11, 2001, he was on his way back to catch his ship, the APL THAILAND, when his airplane was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center. Since then, a memorial golf tournament has been set up in his name to benefit Norwell, Massachusetts high school students. Norwell was Jay's hometown. The Foundation has awarded $230,000 in grants over the last eight years. This year's tournament takes place on September 18th at Bay Pointe Country Club in Onset, Massachusetts. You can sign up for the tournament and/or attend the dinner that evening. Members can also sponsor golf holes for the tournament at $100 apiece. To help support the event, organizers are asking for donations of goods or services for the raffle and silent auction that evening. The Jay Corcoran Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization, and donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to the Jay Corcoran Memorial Scholarship Foundation and mailed to Laura Lundstedt, 112 Pond View Dr., Kingston, MA 02364. For more information call Laura at (781) 585-3318, Tom Piepenbrink at (781) 585-2667 or M.E.B.A. Boston Union hall Rep. Bill Campbell at (617) 261-2338. Bill can be e-mailed at wcampbell@mebaunion.org.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, September 7 - Labor Day - No Meetings
Tuesday, September 8 - Baltimore/Calhoon School (at CMES), Boston, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco (Oakland), Seattle;
Wednesday, September 9 - Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, September 10 - L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, September 11 - Honolulu.

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