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

MEBA TELEX TIMES                          APRIL 21, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 16

In this issue...
MEBA ship gets ‘Bravo Zulu’...NCL takes Pride of Hawaii...WSF, Gulf Coast tankers listed as targets...U.S. Navy may step up patrols in Somali waters...We cobble together a chiseled, rock-solid information landslide from the news quarry that'll hit you like a ten ton boulder. A chip off the old block, we cement our gritty reputation to a fault and pulverize the porous, fossilized competition. Taking nothing for granite, the Telex Times leaves no stone unturned!

NCL TAKES DELIVERY OF PRIDE OF HAWAII
Norwegian Cruise Lines welcomed the PRIDE OF HAWAII to its fleet in a handover ceremony this week in Eemshaven, Holland.  PRIDE OF HAWAII is the third in a series of U.S.-flag cruise ships deployed in the Hawaii market joining the PRIDE OF ALOHA and PRIDE OF AMERICA. MEBA represents all officers aboard each of NCL-America’s U.S.-flagged ships.

The ship should arrive in Baltimore by early next week before heading for the West Coast for a series of inaugural events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The PRIDE OF HAWAII is expected to begin sailing in Hawaii on June 5. As part of its regular itinerary, the ship will depart every Monday from Honolulu and spend a full day in Hilo, Hawaii; two days in Kahului, Maui; a day in Kona, Hawaii and two days in Nāwiliwili, Kaua`i.

At just over 93,500 gross registered tons, carrying over 2,400 passengers, and costing over half a billion dollars, PRIDE OF HAWAII is by far the largest and most expensive U.S.-flag passenger ship ever built.

MEBA CREWED MSC SHIP RECEIVES “BRAVO ZULU” FOR BRILLIANT MARINER EXERCISE
Officers and crew aboard the Military Sealift Command underway replenishment oiler  USNS LARAMIE, were favorably acknowledged after conducting 20 at-sea refuelings for 13 ships in 11 days in the North Sea March 27-April 6 as part of exercise Brilliant Mariner 2006. MEBA officers serve aboard the vessel. Brilliant Mariner 2006 is a NATO-led exercise that tests the combat readiness of the NATO Response Force’s (NRF) maritime element. This force, composed of land, sea and air assets from NATO-member nations, was established in 2002. The NRF’s mission is to provide a NATO-led international response to military or humanitarian crises when they arise.

More than 80 ships, submarines and aircraft from 20 NATO-member and NATO-partner nations gathered in the North Sea to run training scenarios for non-combatant evacuations, counter-terrorism and humanitarian relief operations. The exercise was divided into two phases. The first phase, held March 27-31, was scripted. The second phase was the live scenario portion of the exercise, designed to imitate real-life crises where ships must react to rapidly evolving situations and requirements. At the end of the five-day phase, LARAMIE had responded to immediate requests for fuel 15 times.

“It was very dynamic,” said LARAMIE’s master, Capt. Walter P. Nullet. “We kept all our stations rigged and manned so we could respond within 20 minutes of being called.” LARAMIE also participated in a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operation during the exercise. Naval forces from the Spanish ship SPS PATINO boarded the oiler March 28, training for maritime interdiction operations. Maritime interdiction operations occur when a ship suspected of piracy or of smuggling contraband is boarded and inspected by military forces.

Following her work in the North Sea, LARAMIE received a Bravo Zulu message from Capt. David K. Wright, commander, Sealift Logistics Command Europe. “Efforts by Team LARAMIE fully supported and directly contributed to the naval component commander’s goals to combat terrorism, engage new and emerging partners and sustain our longstanding commitments with NATO,” said Wright. “Congratulations on a job well done.”

DOJ REPORT SAYS WA. STATE FERRIES, GULF COAST TANKERS ARE HIGHEST RISKS FOR MARITIME TERRORISM
A recent report released by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General states that both Washington State Ferries and Gulf Coast fuel tankers share the distinction of being the highest-risk targets for maritime terrorism.

Seattle FBI analyst Ted Turner noted that collected information indicates that there is, “an extremely high likelihood, in a handful of incidents, that there was pre-operation planning" for an attack on the ferry system. MEBA officers crew the vessels of the WSF.

The report is based on a breakdown of suspicious incident reporting at maritime facilities around the country. The WSF placed so high on the list because there have been a very high number of incidents of suspicious activity reported in the system. The large majority of the incidents were said to be alleged “surveillance activities.” The Seattle FBI office has acknowledged, however, that the numbers are up because of their special efforts over the years in enlisting assistance from WSF employees to report anything unusual. The office admits that this ‘super vigilance’ probably helped skew the statistics somewhat since potential target areas in other parts of the country probably don’t benefit from the level of alertness displayed by the crews of the WSF along with system passengers. Seattle FBI agent Laura Laughlin noted, “You cannot conclude from the fact that we have a lot of intelligence reporting that we are a #1 target. Obviously, the potential for a terrorist incident is here. But that’s reading a lot into it to say that.”

Officials have apparently made strong efforts to boost ferry security in the last several years on the WSF. They have deployed bomb-sniffing dogs, troopers to ride the ferries and other tactics to minimize risk aboard the boats.

Regarding tankers, the report noted that there have been “a substantial number of threats along the Gulf Coast, which most likely involved suspected surveillance of energy facilities and oil tankers.”

CG SETS SECURITY ZONES AROUND AMHS VESSELS
The U.S. Coast Guard has established permanent moving security zones around all escorted high capacity passenger vessels (HCPV) and Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) vessels. Commercial fishing vessels are exempt from these provisions which go into effect on May 15. The rule applies to those vessels transiting in the Coast Guard’s 17th District which covers the entire State of Alaska.

Specifically, the rule establishes permanent 100-yard security zones around HCPV and AMHS vessels that are being escorted by a Coast Guard surface, air, or by other state or federal law enforcement agency designated by the Captain of the Port (COTP) during their transit through the 17th Coast Guard District. Persons desiring to transit within 100 yards of an escorted HCPV or AHMS vessel in the 17th Coast Guard District must contact the designated on scene representative on VHF channel 16 (156.800 MHz) or VHF channel 13 (156.650 MHz) and obtain permission to transit within 100 yards of the escorted vessels.  For further information please contact Lt. Matthew York, District 17, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801; Phone: (907) 463–2821.

REPORTS SAY U.S. NAVY OKAYED TO PATROL SOMALI COAST FOR PIRACY
The Somali press has reported that the U.S. Navy has received permission from the Government of Somalia to patrol the country’s coastal waters in an effort to combat piracy. However, while admitting that various discussions have taken place, U.S. officials insisted that a deal has not been finalized.

A Somali lawmaker revealed that an agreement was hammered on the matter by Somalia’s Prime Minister and the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya in Somalia where the country’s parliamentary body was meeting. Somalia has had no coast guard or navy since warlords ousted the government in 1991 and then turned on each other, carving the nation of an estimated 8 million people into a patchwork of anarchic clan-based fiefdoms. The Somali prime minister attested that future discussions would also take place regarding a plan for the U.S. to assist Somalia in setting up a coast guard to secure the country’s coastline.

In the past year, hijackings and piracy have risen as armed pirates have been taking advantage of a lack of law and order in Somalia. Early this month, pirates who seized a South Korean fishing vessel and its 25 crew were able to escape from U.S. and Dutch navy vessels by entering Somali waters. Two other vessels are being held by pirates in Somalia's central region, including a United Arab Emirates-registered oil tanker. Somalia's transitional government signed a two-year 50 million dollar contract with U.S. Company Topcat Marine Security in November 2005 to help fight piracy but the work is yet to begin.

COAST GUARD ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR PHOTOS ON MARINER DOCS
The Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center has issued a Guidance Document addressing the appearance of an applicant as shown in photographs to be used on either a merchant mariner’s document or an STCW certificate. The text of the Guidance Document can be viewed on the web at www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/marpers/pag/DOC011.pdf.

To summarize, the photograph must provide an accurate representation of the individual. An applicant may wear headgear or a full beard because of religious belief or wear a wig or sunglasses while undergoing medical procedures. Similar considerations do not apply to an individual who wishes to wear a head covering solely for vanity or personal reasons that do not rise to the level of a Constitutional or medical consideration. Regardless, the photograph must permit the ascertainment of the applicant’s current facial appearance. An applicant submitting a photograph showing the applicant to be wearing headgear, a wig, sunglasses, or full beard should provide evidence demonstrating the applicant’s legitimate interest.

UPCOMING GALA MARKS 50th YEAR OF IDEAL X VOYAGE – START OF CONTAINERIZATION
An upcoming D.C. event will honor the 50th year of containerization which began with the sailing of Malcom McLean’s IDEAL X, the first vessel to carry containerized cargo in its voyage between the ports of New York/New Jersey and Houston, Texas.  The History of Containerization (HOC) Foundation, in cooperation with the Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII), will host the official Gala Celebration marking the occasion at a black tie dinner on April 27, in Washington, D.C.

It takes place at the Rotunda of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 50 years to the day after the historic voyage.  Support for the HOC Foundation will help this charitable organization to achieve its very important mission. Donors will receive complimentary invitations to the Gala Celebration in gratitude for your support. For more information on how you can help them achieve their mission, please call (866) 520-HOCF or e-mail info@hocfoundation.net.

In other Malcom McLean news, a group of shipping industry leaders has announced the formation of the McLean Container Center at Kings Point to collect and preserve records, photographs and other items important to the history of containerization. This material will be maintained at the American Maritime Museum and Bland Library at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, where it will be available to historians, researchers, students and the public. It is also envisioned that the McLean Container Center at Kings Point (MCC@KP) will foster publications and conferences and otherwise promote the dissemination of information on the history of containerization. Another goal of MCC@KP is to be a resource and catalyst for the further advancement of the technology of containerization. While the name was selected to honor Malcom McLean, a clear objective of MCC@KP is to include all of the many companies who have contributed to the success of containerization.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
Monday, May 8 – Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, May 9 – Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco;
Wednesday, May 10 – Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, May 11 – Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, May 12 – Honolulu.

CAA Reunion is June 30th-July 2, 2006. Plan accordingly and support the CAA!

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