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

MEBA TELEX TIMES       JUNE 25, 2010

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 26

In this issue...
Honolulu hall reopens in new location…Jones Act news…EMORY LAND off to Diego…New course at CMES.

The nonsensical and ill-informed media barrage against the Jones Act has confused some Capitol Hill lawmakers into offering legislation favoring foreign vessels and workers to the detriment of American interests. As noted in last week’s issue, phony reports emanating from bloggers and some "credible" news agencies portrayed the Jones Act as hampering the ongoing oil leak in the Gulf. Both American and foreign vessels are already involved in the clean-up and many additional vessels – including U.S.-flag – are available if called upon.

House and Senate bills were introduced this week to waive the Jones Act for foreign-flagged vessels responding to the oil spill. Upon the bills’ introduction, no mention was made that the Jones Act has not held up the clean-up in any way. The Jones Act does not even apply outside a three-mile limit off the U.S. coast. The Deepwater Horizon explosion and leak occurred 41 miles off the coast and foreign ships and skimmers are already able to respond without the Jones Act coming into play. The bills were referred to their respective House and Senate transportation committees. If the Act were waived, that would free up foreign vessels to undercut U.S. responders within the three-mile limit and take away needed jobs being performed by Americans.

In addition, another bill challenging the Jones Act was introduced late this week by Senator John McCain. His measure would repeal the Jones Act altogether, something the Senator has plotted for some time. The bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. Meanwhile, the Maritime Cabotage Task Force issued a handy press release answering frequently asked questions about the Jones Act and the Gulf leak. A few of the questions and answers are excerpted below. The complete FAQ has been posted on the M.E.B.A. website (www.mebaunion.org).

Hundreds of American vessels are already involved in the Gulf cleanup but there are many more

American vessels standing by waiting to be called. The American fleet is one of the largest in the world and is deeply committed to helping with the cleanup. And when you add in fishing vessels in the Gulf of Mexico that sit idle because of the oil spill, the numbers of American vessels available to assist in the clean-up increases significantly. In fact, foreign vessels can lawfully participate in the cleanup in a variety of ways, and many are already doing so.

The Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School is pleased to announce a new course offering for 2010 – Shipboard Personnel Management. It focuses on maximizing leadership and teamwork skills while minimizing conflict and legal pitfalls when dealing with employees. This course is intended for members in management-level billets and will include but not be limited to the following topics: Leadership and Teamwork; Behavior; Identifying and Preventing Legal Issues Related to People; and Preventative Strategies.

The first class in 2010 will take place from August 2-6 and will be limited to 16 students. Applications may be sent via fax (410) 822-7220 or email to applications@mebaschool.org.

High quality prints of a Mike Nizetich painting are being made available to drum up funds for a great cause. Entitled "Epiphany," the painting depicts a reverential piston pull. 50 prints were created and are available for $100 apiece. As per Mike’s request, all proceeds will go to the M.E.B.A.’s Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation. Nizzy was a popular member and official who was serving as the Union’s Executive Vice President when he died much too young in early May. Mike was an upstanding person and labor stalwart who had great devotion to the M.E.B.A. membership.

The Foundation supports the Memorial located at the Calhoon School that honors fallen mariners who helped blaze the proud tradition our members continue today.

You can send your payment to: M.E.B.A. Headquarters; Attn: Memorial Fund/ Nizetich Print; 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 800; Washington D.C. 20001. Make checks or money orders payable to "M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation" or "MMMMF." A photo of the print can be viewed on M.E.B.A.’s website (www.mebaunion.org). You can call Headquarters for more information. Talk to Memorial Chairman Bill Van Loo at (202) 638-5355.

Following a two-year shipyard availability period and completing the first ever submarine tender hybrid crew conversion, USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam this week. The 649-foot M.E.B.A.-crewed vessel set sail on June 14 from its former homeport of Bremerton, Wash., beginning a two-month, 10,000 mile voyage to the ship's new homeport of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. While the hybrid crew conversion joins Navy Sailors and with Military Sealift Command (MSC) civil service mariners; unlike typical MSC vessels, LAND remains a U.S. ship under the command of a U.S. Navy Captain, currently Capt. Edward B. Seal. LAND transferred to MSC Feb. 1, 2008. 

Cmdr. Christopher Carter, the ship's executive officer, said, "The way the crew has operated the ship during this transit to Pearl is a true testament to the high quality seamanship of our civilian mariners and professionalism of our Sailors. Together we are quickly becoming a formidable team, eager to take our mission forward."

Though the week long stop in Hawaii will be primarily a working port, the crew will have opportunities to see the sights and enjoy everything Hawaii has to offer. LAND's crew has labored countless hours in preparation for this homeport shift voyage. While in port, LAND will undergo two major inspections, the first being an Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection certification inspection, administered by the staff of Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

"This comprehensive assessment will evaluate the entire spectrum of the ship's force protection and security programs, thereby ensuring EMORY S. LAND is fully combat-ready prior to transiting across the Pacific Ocean to Diego Garcia," said Lt. Cmdr Kenneth Teasley, ship's weapons officer. The second inspection is a Ship Material Assessment and Readiness Testing (SMART), which will be performed by inspectors from Military Sealift Command, with support provided by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.

One of only two submarine tenders in the Navy's ship inventory, LAND will provide expeditionary ship repair and maintenance capabilities to fast-attack and guided missile submarines operating in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility from its forward-base in Diego Garcia.

Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 3,187,868 net tons in May, an increase of 27.2 percent over April, but a decrease of 11.5 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings were down even more – 24.6 percent – when compared to the month’s 5-year average.

Shipments from Lake Superior ports decreased by roughly 24 percent from both a year ago and the month’s 5-year average. Loadings in Chicago increased by about 2 boatloads compared to a year ago, but were 36,000 tons off the month’s 5-year average. The coal trade out of Lake Erie increased 15.8 percent compared to a year ago, but was 31 percent off the 5-year average.

Year-to-date coal shipments stand at 6.8 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to a year ago. However, the total a year ago was depressed by the recession. A better measure is the 5-year average for the January-May time, and in that regard, 2010 loadings are 35 percent off the pace.

Former Matson Navigation president and CEO Michael Wasacz died on Sunday in San Francisco at the age of 73. Wasacz’s career with the company spanned from 1959 to 1990 and included eight years as president of Matson and two years as president of its parent company, Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin. Several key initiatives implemented during Wasacz’s tenure have had a long-lasting impact on Matson. In December 1988, Wasacz led a restructuring effort of the entire Matson organization, establishing marketing and operations as the major entities in the corporate structure, which remains in place today. Wasacz also began moving forward with significant investments in information technology, with the objective of designing and building new information systems that better serve Matson’s customers, providing them with timely information about their shipments. After leaving Matson, Wasacz continued to work as a consultant, notably with the Bechtel Corp. in Houston. He also worked as executive director at the Institute of Human Origins in Berkeley, Calif.

Be sure to inform Headquarters if you have recently changed your contact information. There is an address change form on our website to help expedite the process. You can get the form in either a .pdf or a Word document from www.mebaunion.org.  Under the "Members" tab click "Address Change." Address changes require a signature for validation along with your new information. 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.

Those active and retired 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 International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) has launched the first International Seafarers’ Welfare Awards to recognize and encourage excellent welfare facilities and services for seafarers. The awards will recognize companies, ports, welfare organizations and individuals who provide excellent welfare facilities and services to seafarers on land or at sea. They will be presented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General, Admiral Efthimios Mitropoulos, at an event in London on 1st December 2010.

There are four award categories – seafarer center of the year, port of the year, shipping company of the year and welfare personality of the year. The first three categories will be nominated directly by seafarers via dedicated website www.seafarerswelfareawards.org or by post and email. The fourth award can be self-nominated or nominated by seafarers’ organizations or individuals involved with seafarers’ welfare. Judging will take place in October and the winners will be notified by October 31, 2010.

As you know, the District-wide nomination period for elected officials’ positions and national representatives began on Monday, June 7^{th and will continue until July 9, 2010 – the deadline to forward nominations to Headquarters.}

It is important that nominations sent to District Headquarters be addressed to the "Credentials Committee." Nomination forms are available at M.E.B.A. Union halls. You can also request a nomination form from Headquarters. However, use of the form is not required. You may use your own form provided you meet all the requirements of the National Constitution and District No. 1-PCD, M.E.B.A. By-Laws. It is encouraged that statements and photos sent to the Credentials Committee be submitted in electronic format. This is not required but will better ensure the integrity of the public materials when published in the special election edition of the Marine Officer.

In addition, the last Credentials Committee strongly recommended that nominees include a copy of their last Dues Receipt in each nomination instead of just the Dues Receipt number. This is not required but the Committee felt that a Dues Receipt copy will help expedite the qualification process.

A five-person rank and file Credentials Committee will be elected at the regular July membership meetings. The Committee will go into session at M.E.B.A. Headquarters on Tuesday, July 13 and authenticate the qualifications of nominees for candidacy. One member each will be elected at the meetings in New York (New Jersey), New Orleans and San Francisco (Oakland). Alternates will be elected at the meetings in Baltimore (CMES) and Houston. No officer or candidate for office or job is eligible for this committee. Ballots will be mailed to the membership on September 1.

M.E.B.A. Port Engineers are in demand in the outskirts of New Orleans and in Charleston. ASM/Patriot can use a Port Engineer for work with the LMSRs USNS SHUGHART and USNS YANO berthed in Violet, LA near New Orleans.

ASM just announced that it needs another Port Engineer for the drydocking of the USNS WATERS this summer in Charleston. This work could lead to additional opportunities. All qualified candidates will be considered. Members should e-mail their resumes to Baltimore Branch Agent Tom Suneson at tsuneson@mebaunion.org or Tim Gill at tim.gill@asmhq.com.

Tuesday, July 6 – Baltimore/Calhoon School at CMES @1430; Boston@1200; Houston@1315, Jacksonville@1300;
Wednesday, July 7 – Charleston@1400; New Orleans@1315; San Francisco (Oakland)@1230; Seattle@1300;
Thursday, July 8 – L.A. (Wilmington)@1230; New York (New Jersey)@1300; Norfolk@1230; Tampa@1300;
Friday, July 9 – Honolulu@1100.

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