An eleventh hour agreement, prompted by pleas from labor and industry, has rescued a sizeable chunk of the Great Lakes fleet from obsolescence after Congressional negotiators reached a deal Tuesday to shield the most vulnerable U.S.-flag Lakers from overbearing new EPA regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency issued proposed rules setting tough engine and fuel standards for ships operating within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Canada and the United States, including the Great Lakes.

50% of the U.S. Great Lakes fleet would have been jeopardized had the ruling been implemented as proposed. Half of the ships currently operating on the Great Lakes are already in compliance with the proposed rule but 13 Lakers would have been put out of business completely by 2012 because their engines are unable to process the cleaner fuel. Additionally, the rule would have seriously damaged the operation of 13 other diesel-powered ships with Category 3 compression-ignition engines that would have been hit with titanic fuel costs that otherwise would necessitate major cost-prohibitive modifications.

"Unfortunately, the EPA did not look at how the proposed rule would impact the Great Lakes region," Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) pointed out. "Shipping on the Great Lakes accounts for a small fraction of the pollution caused by the maritime industry…Increasing the costs of Great Lakes shipping will drive up the price of American steel products, jeopardizing our economic recovery."

Putting the Lakers out of business would not only devastate the regional economy – with thousands of U.S. steel, mining and manufacturing jobs at risk – it could actually increase air pollution. A Great Lakes ship emits 18 tons of carbon dioxide to move 1,000 tons of cargo 1,000 miles. If that cargo were shifted to a railcar, it would emit 55 tons of carbon dioxide for the same job. A truck would emit 190 tons.

The rescue of the Great Lakes fleet was enabled through the contributions of members to the Political Action Fund. A pair of recent meetings at M.E.B.A. Headquarters, that also included labor industry representatives, brought the impending Great Lakes situation to the attention of two Members of Congress. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) were outraged that the EPA rules would effectively evaporate a sizeable amount of U.S. jobs on the Lakes. Rep. Miller, who serves on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure immediately made her Committee’s Chairman, Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), aware of the devastating effect the EPA’s rule would have on the fleet. Oberstar joined forces with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wisc.) whose Committee oversees the EPA budget. Following a meeting with key industry and union representatives including the M.E.B.A., the powerful lawmakers were able to then broker a deal with the Environmental Protection Agency to spare Great Lakes shippers from the EPA axe. Their three-part compromise helps achieve that end:

• The 13 Great Lakes steamships that cannot burn low-sulfur fuel without risking a catastrophic engine explosion will be exempted from the new regulations.

• The final rule issued by EPA will include a waiver provision to address either the inadequate supply of low sulfur fuel or serious economic hardship caused by the increased cost of such fuel. The Category 3 diesel ships on the Great Lakes would be able to apply for the waiver.

• EPA will evaluate the economic impact of the final rule on Great Lakes carriers and issue a report within six months.

The compromise language was added to the fiscal year 2010 Interior and Environment appropriations bill, which falls under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on appropriations Committee. "This is just plain common sense," Obey said. "I’m glad that we’ve been able to bring the plight of workers and businesses in places like Superior and the Great Lakes region to the attention of the bureaucrats at the EPA so that we get a more rational and balanced approach to dealing with our nation’s economic and environmental challenges…This compromise will allow EPA to go ahead with a new clean air rule without sinking the Great Lakes fleet – and all the jobs it creates in the region."

The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force said that they "believe that a full understanding of the commercial vessels operating on the Great Lakes, their small environmental footprint, their large environmental benefits, and tremendous economic impact can result in a balanced approach that meets the needs of all." They noted that "even the Government of Canada took the highly unusual step of asking the EPA to undertake further analysis before proceeding with the Great Lakes portion of this proposed regulation lest 50 Canadian-Flag ships be put at risk. By closely examining the impacts and unintended consequences of over-regulating air emissions from vessels, the Great Lakes region can be protected without impeding our regional and national economic recovery. The U.S.- Flag Great Lakes fleet already burns cleaner fuel than that used by many of the world’s oceangoing vessels."

The Task Force, which promotes domestic and international shipping on the Great Lakes, stated that "ships burn less fuel and produce fewer emissions than trains and trucks. The thirteen vessels that currently are powered with Category 3 diesel engines using intermediate fuel hauled 29 million tons of cargo in 2008. It would take 1.1 million trucks or 290,000 railcars to replace their carrying capacity. We all win when we keep these cargos on vessels working the Great Lakes."

Members are encouraged to have their documents in order before showing up at their Union hall. Those who have recently upgraded their license should make sure that their STCW reflects the upgrade. Your license, passport and other important documents should be valid for at least six months from the time you begin working aboard ship. Your drug-free certificates have to be valid at least until the day you join your ship.

If flying with your documents on the way to a hall, double-check that you haven’t left any essential documents at home and make sure to keep your documents with you in your carry-on luggage. The primary documents you’ll need include your License, STCW, MMD, TWIC, Passport, Annual physical card, Drug free certificate, Group Card, Dues Receipt, proof of Return to Work Date and your 1% medical card. Certain jobs require proof of Horizon or Maersk qualifications, benzene or your shot records. Some mariners have the new orange color Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). That document combines your license, MMD and STCW together. If you have questions about your documents, direct them to your local hall.

By a vote of 385 to 11, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for 2010, which strengthens the Coast Guard’s ability to implement its core mission of marine safety. H.R. 3619 authorizes $10 billion in fiscal year 2010, and includes provisions addressing marine safety, Coast Guard management structure, acquisition reform, and workforce development.

Just in time for the World Series, 12 members of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have added their names to the broad coalition in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. The players have signed a statement and appeared in print ads in Washington, D.C., papers. World Series participants Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Mark Teixeira took part. They were joined by Heath Bell, Dave Bush, LaTroy Hawkins, Torii Hunter, John Lannan, Andrew Miller, J.J. Putz, Justin Verlander and Adam Wainwright. In a joint statement, these players say:

"All Americans should have the same opportunity we’ve had—to be able to join a union without being fired and to negotiate with their employers without being penalized. Today, our country is facing some tough times. Health care costs are skyrocketing. Families are losing homes. Savings and retirement income are disappearing overnight. Now more than ever, we need a strong union movement to protect our jobs, our pensions, and our future. The Employee Free Choice Act simply guarantees a level playing field for all workers. It makes sure everyone plays by the same rules. That’s as important in the workplace as it is in baseball."

A critical piece of legislation pending before Congress, the Employee Free Choice Act would guarantee all workers the freedom to bargain collectively for fair wages and better benefits. It holds corporations accountable by increasing penalties for those who break the law and ensures workers will get a contract by requiring a neutral third party to determine and enforce a fair agreement.

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) has awarded contracts for removal and recycling of two WWII-era cargo ships currently moored in Suisun Bay, California – the first ships to be disposed from the fleet since January 2007. There are currently 84 non-retention ships moored in the Reserve Fleet, of which 57 are located in Suisun Bay. MarAd Acting Administrator David Matsuda said, "The Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet is an important national security site. Performing our mission here needs to be done with great respect for the environment and we are committed to doing just that."

M.E.B.A.-contracted Liberty Maritime Corporation needs Chiefs, 1st A/Es, and C/Ms for their Fleet of Bulk Carriers and new PCTCs. Resumes can be e-mailed to personnel@libertymar.com.  You can also fax them to (516) 488-8806. They can be mailed to: Nina Timonina, Personnel Manager; Liberty Maritime Corporation; 1979 Marcus Avenue, Suite 200; Lake Success, NY 11042. Call Nina or Joe MacEwen (516) 488-8800 for more information.

M.E.B.A.-contracted OSG Ship Management needs Chiefs and 1st A/Es for four of their product tankers. Members MUST be qualified with Tankerman PIC or Tankerman Engineer for these positions. Resumes can be e-mailed to OSG Crew Manager Fred Meyer at FMeyer@OSG.com.  You can also fax them to (813) 221-3179. They can be snail mailed to Fred at OSG America, Inc., Two Harbour Place, 302 Knights Run Avenue - Suite 1200, Tampa, FL 33602. For further information please contact Fred Meyer at (813) 209-0683.

Monday, Nov. 2 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, Nov. 5 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, Nov. 6 – Honolulu.