On a rainy Veterans’ Day of solemn pomp and circumstance in our nation’s capital on Wednesday, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood took center stage and used the opportunity to heap praise on the often overlooked Merchant Marine. The Secretary’s early morning comments were music to the ears of M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe who joined LaHood at the World War II Memorial ceremony along with other guests and attendees including Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, and an assortment of TRANSCOM, MSC and MarAd representatives among others. Sen. Akaka chairs the Veterans’ Affairs Committee which controls the fate of the Senate version of the "Belated Thank You" to WWII Merchant Mariners (S. 663) legislation.

Secretary LaHood’s comments were remarkable and welcome on a day when so much attention is often directed to other branches of service. The World War II Memorial, located at the foot of the D.C. National Mall, was constructed to include a tribute to merchant mariners who were crucial to the Allied victory. Presidents and Generals overseeing the War knew well the importance of the Fourth Arm of Defense and Secretary LaHood referenced remarks of then-General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower who often pointed out the value of the Merchant Marine. Ike had noted, "Every man in this Allied command is quick to express his admiration for the loyalty, courage and fortitude of the officers and men of the Merchant Marine. We count upon their efficiency and their utter devotion to duty as we do our own; they have never failed us yet and in all the struggles yet to come we know that they will never be deterred by any danger, hardship or privation. When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine." Secretary LaHood’s statement, reminded D.C. Veterans’ Day attendees of those forgotten heroes, past and present, for the men and women of the Merchant Marine who still get the job done today. His remarks follow:

Throughout our history, our Armed Forces could not fight a war overseas without the Merchant Marine and the commercial ships they commanded, filled with supplies. In World War II, when our troops and their cargo needed overseas transport, the U.S. Merchant Marine was there – crossing hostile waters and sacrificing thousands of lives to complete their mission. When critical evacuations were needed during the conflict with Korea, the U.S. Merchant Marine was there to rescue thousands of U.N. troops, refugees, cargo, and vehicles.

During the first Gulf War, when troops required four times as much equipment as the Normandy Invasion, the U.S. Merchant Marine was there to deliver life-saving tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopters.

Today, more than 85 percent of the supplies and equipment for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are carried aboard ships crewed by civilian mariners.

Today, we remember all these brave individuals who risked their lives crossing the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Persian Gulf, and many other seas to transport essential goods or bring soldiers and others out of harm’s way.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower said it best: "When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine."

On behalf of everyone at the United States Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration, I want to thank the U.S. Merchant Marine, and all of our veterans, for their selfless devotion to our country. We must also acknowledge the men and women of the Armed Services who protect us today: soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians, and marines who serve us in these times of conflict and are proudly and ably carrying on the legacy of the Greatest Generation."

The Coast Guard has reminded operators of vessels 65 feet or greater in length that the Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Rule took effect last week, requiring those vessels to slow down while operating in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic waters where North Atlantic right whales are known to migrate, calve and nurse. The Coast Guard has worked closely with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries Service division during the past decade to further both agencies’ shared goal of conserving and rehabilitating the North Atlantic right whale population. The speed restrictions, which are based on the migration pattern of the right whale, are in effect in coastal waters from Rhode Island to Georgia and continue through April 30, 2010. Maps of these areas and a compliance guide are available online at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike.  To report a suspected violation in the seasonal management areas call the national hotline at 1-800-853-1964.

Protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the North Atlantic right whale is one of world's rarest animals, with approximately 400 individuals in its entire population. The potential for the species to recover is reduced when Right whales are injured by ship strikes or entanglements resulting from human activity.

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) will be holding monthly meetings to partner with the commercial tanker industry. The intended effect of these meetings is to allow the commercial industry to be more cognizant of the Department of Defense (DoD) Petroleum, Oil, and Lubes (POL) Procurement Process.

The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 10 a.m. The monthly meetings will continue to be held the third Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m. unless otherwise announced. The first meeting will be held at MSC Headquarters, 914 Charles Morris Ct., SE., Washington Navy Yard, DC 20398. For further information contact John Joerger at (202) 685–6305, john.joerger@navy.mil or Ken Allen at (202) 685–5825, kenneth.allen@navy.mil.

Be sure to inform Headquarters if you recently changed your contact information. There is an address change form on our website to help expedite the process. Address changes require a signature for validation along with your new information. You can get the form in either a .pdf or a Word document from www.mebaunion.org.  The form can be printed out by the member or retiree, filled out completely with a signature and faxed or mailed to Headquarters. Those of you with scanners can complete the document with your signature then scan and e-mail it back to us.

Active and re tired members who have not received mailings from Headquarters such as the Marine Officer or other important information may want to log onto our website to clarify their address. Because the M.E.B.A. Plans office in Baltimore and Headquarters databases are NOT linked you must also forward a signed change of address form to the Plans Office if you wish to update your information with them.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking qualified candidates to apply for the position of Training Specialist based in Yorktown, VA. The purpose of the position is to plan, develop, implement and review Coast Guard resident training and distance learning material in support if the seven newly established National Centers of Expertise. That person will produce, analyze and evaluate training materials and delivery methods with regard to Coast Guard policy and mission training, etc. The job pays between $67,000-$88,000 a year.

In addition, Coast Guard is looking for a Marine Inspector based in Morgan City, LA That person will serve as subject matter expert and repository of best practices for the issuance of Certificate of Inspections (COI) and Certificate of Compliance (COC) examinations. They will also monitor and assess inspections on facilities, units and vessels engaged in Outer Continental Shelf activities to ensure uniform application of regulations and policies. The job pays between $67,000-$88,000 a year. Go to http://jobview.usajobs.gov and enter in the announcement number for more information. The Training Specialist is announcement #09-2431-WE-DM-D or M. The Marine Inspector announcement is #09-2091-WE-DM-D or M.

Any member or applicant two or more years in arrears on their dues and/or service charges will be put under review by the District Investigating Committee (DIC) and WILL BE DROPPED from the membership or applicant rolls. If you are in arrears and desire to retain your membership or applicant status, you must contact Headquarters immediately to make payment on your arrearage to return to good standing.

Rear Admiral Allen Worley will resign his position as Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, effective January 4, 2010. "The Merchant Marine Academy has gone through an important rebuilding year and is positioned for reaching the next level," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. "We are confident the Academy is on course to continue as the premier institution in maritime education. We appreciate Admiral Worley’s service."

Secretary LaHood noted that during the last year several steps were taken to upgrade processes at the Academy and to improve educational opportunities for Midshipmen, including cutting student fees in half, hiring an outside accounting firm to improve Academy finances and assigning a blue ribbon panel of national experts to examine the capital needs of the school and make recommendations for its upgrade. Dr. Shashi Kumar, Academic Dean and Assistant Superintendent for Academic Affairs, will act as interim Superintendent upon Admiral Worley’s departure in January. A nationwide search will be conducted to find a permanent successor. Admiral Worley has been the Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy since November 2008, the tenth person to hold this post since the institution’s dedication in 1943.

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, Dec. 7 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, Dec. 8 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, Dec. 9 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, Dec. 10 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, Dec. 11 – Honolulu.