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

MEBA TELEX TIMES                          JULY 07, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 27

In this issue...
MEBA to supply reliefs for WHOI fleet...Union posts TWIC comments...Pay raises for Civmars...MEBA revamps website...Happy trails! One step ahead, we stay on track, take great strides and set the maritime pace. Doing the legwork, we gain ground with the latest news and keep you on your toes with an issue for every walk of life. The Telex Times puts its best foot forward!

MEBA TO SUPPLY ENGINEERS FOR WOODS HOLE RESEARCH VESSELS THROUGH PATRIOT
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) research vessels will benefit from the services of MEBA relief engineers through a new agreement made with our contracted company Patriot Contract Services. Patriot already has an understanding with the Commerce Department to supply MEBA relief engineers on NOAA research vessels and this new research vessel contract is a similar arrangement. The deal was finalized by MEBA President Ron Davis along with Atlantic Coast V.P. Don Keefe and will be put into effect for an initial period that goes through Sept. 30, 2007.

WHOI operates a fleet of four vessels that conduct research missions ranging from one-day to many weeks along U.S. coastal waters and in various locations around the world. The vessels include the R/V ATLANTIS, R/V KNORR, R/V OCEANUS and R/V TIOGA.

The Memorandum of Understanding will be made available to each of the MEBA union halls by early next week.

MEBA POSTS TWIC COMMENTS
MEBA, along with rest of maritime labor, has officially weighed in on the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard's proposed Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). The comment period on the TWIC notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register expired this week.

The TWIC program was conceived and mandated by Congress to enhance the security of our nation's seaports. While supporting the overall implementation of identification credentials, MEBA criticized certain provisions such as the cost of the proposed card being borne by mariners, and the need for federal preemption to prevent states from implementing competing identification card systems.

MEBA's comments underscored that American merchant mariners are already thoroughly vetted, and are an important asset in the war on terror. The Union's comments also emphasized that TSA and the Coast Guard must take into account the legitimate rights of maritime workers and ensure that those covered by the TWIC program are afforded basic and reasonable protections. MEBA's submission on TWIC can be accessed by visiting the MEBA website at www.meba.us.

PAY INCREASES FOR MSC CIVMARS
MEBA President Ron Davis is pleased to announce that MEBA civilian mariners aboard Military Sealift Command vessels will be provided a 2.83% increase in base pay, overtime, penalty, and non-watch rates (except as limited by Public Law 109-115 of Nov. 30, 2005 and 5 USC 5348 which caps base wage and aggregate pay). The increases become effective on July 1, 2006 for MEBA Civmars aboard tankers and are retroactive for Civmars serving on Dry Cargo & Special Mission ships to January 1, 2006. Members can expect retroactive payments within 8 weeks.

MEBA REVAMPS WEBSITE
The long stagnant MEBA website has received a facelift. The site can be accessed at www.meba.us. Certain aspects of the site are still under construction but will be available shortly. One section that is still being built is the Political Action Fund area that will be password protected. Members, retirees, applicants and MEBA staff (including Plans, School & AMC staffs) can register for the P.A.F. site. All the regular features (such as BBS, Telex Times issues and other important news items) are still available and additional features and content will continue to be posted as merited.

MEBA REUNION A SUCCESS
A great time was had by the hundreds who poured onto Calhoon MEBA Engineering School grounds last week to celebrate the CAA Reunion. New Calhoon Alumni Association President Ernie Clements oversaw the affair which proved to be a success by all accounts. Besides a full slate of entertainment, food and drink, the Reunion helped raise money for both the CAA and for the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial. As is the tradition, awards were presented both for members distinguishing themselves in the MEBA golf tournament as well as for those who made significant contributions to the Union and the CAA.

Mike Matthews was honored as the CAA Man of The Year Award. The Roy Luebbe Excellence in Education Award went to School Instructor Scott Conway. Rick Simonson was given the CAA Distinguished Service Award. A trio of CAA meritorious awards were handed out. Recipients included the CMES Maintenance Team, CMES Housekeeping Team and the CMES Food Service Team.

Top golf tournament honors went to the team consisting of John Farrell, Rick Haynes, Gary Gregorek and Dan LeSage. The group represents MEBA members who sail as Master, Chief Engineer, Chief Mate and 2nd Engineer aboard the E-Ships vessel M/V MAERSK NEVADA. The second place team was made up of Bill Van Loo, Mike Fanning, Bob Smith and Mark Hertelendy. Longest drive award went to Pat Stevens (Hole #6) and Ron Endzel (Hole  #18). Closest to the pin honors were taken by Steve Fromnick (Hole #7) and Dan LeSage (Hole #11). Those golfers who turned in the most pathetic scores and were urged to try bowling instead included the all-star grouping of JB Christensen, Bill Hrubovcak, Steve Meyers and Rob Oberling. In the first annual Video Game Tournament Award, the winner list included Nick Clash (1st Place), Jim Nardi (2nd Place) and "Zack" (3rd Place).

The coveted "Last Man Standing Award" for Reunion 2006 was shared by Jackie Hrubovcak (who showed all male challengers she could hang with the best of them) and Mike McHugh.

U.S. SHIP OPERATOR GUILTY OF OIL POLLUTION HIGH JINKS
Pacific-Gulf Marine, Inc. (PGM), a U.S.-based ship operator, has agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges that it engaged in deliberate acts of pollution involving its fleet of four ships.  As part of the plea agreement, PGM will pay a $1 million criminal fine and $500,000 for community service, if approved by the court. In a related case, a federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging two former Chief Engineers of the M/V TANABATA (one of the ships in the fleet), with various environmental crimes.

According to documents filed in court, including a Joint Factual Statement signed by the company's Chief Executive Officer, PGM admitted that ship records misrepresented that hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil-contaminated bilge waste were properly discharged overboard through required pollution prevention equipment, when in reality the ships used bypass equipment to circumvent the oily water separator.

In agreeing to plead guilty, PGM admitted that its shore-side management "failed to provide sufficient management resources and support to the ships, and also failed to exercise sufficient supervision and management controls to prevent or detect criminal violations by its employees." The motive for the criminal conduct was to save money, according to papers filed in court.

The criminal investigation began on September 2, 2003, after U.S. Coast Guard inspections of the M/V TELLUS and M/V TANABATA in Baltimore, MD. However, like an earlier inspection on March 29, 2003, in which a bypass pipe laden with oil was found hidden under the engine room floor of the M/V FIDELIO, another ship managed by PGM, engineers denied any illegal conduct. On the M/V TANABATA, the pipe used to bypass the Oily Water Separator was referred to on board as "the Magical Pipe," and it was allegedly thrown overboard by the ship's Chief Engineer after the Coast Guard inspected the vessel in Baltimore.

MURKOWSKI, MURRAY SEEK CONCLUSION TO EXXON VALDEZ SETTLEMENT
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Patty Murray (S-WA) have announced a bipartisan effort to convince ExxonMobil Corporation to finally provide compensation to more than 32,000 individuals nationwide that were damaged after the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound more than 17 years ago. The Senators gathered the signatures of nearly a quarter of the U.S. Senate onto a letter to new ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rex Tillerson asking that the corporation either restart settlement talks or simply pay the $4.5 billion in damages awarded by a federal jury 12 years ago.

In 1994, a federal jury, after deliberating for 22 days, returned a unanimous verdict against Exxon awarding total damages of $5 billion. Exxon appealed on multiple grounds, filing 60 petitions, and over 1,000 briefs and motions, delaying a final verdict in the case that has been to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for review on nine different occasions. While the damages have been upheld three times, the amount has been reduced to $4.5 billion, plus interest. The case was heard again by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in January, but without new settlement talks or a change in ExxonMobil's legal strategy, the case could take years longer to reach a final resolution in the courts.

MANHATTAN 9/11 EVACUATION IS THEME OF NY EXHIBITION
An exhibit at the Water Street Gallery in New York City that will be on display through September 30th tells the story of the massive response by New York's waterfront workers during the terrible events of September 11, 2001. MEBA's mariners aboard the Staten Island ferries and NYC Fireboats had a huge role in the rescue and relief efforts. As the days wore, our members aboard the Army Corps of Engineers vessels and MSC ship USNS COMFORT contributed to relief operations. Through taped words and photographs, the exhibit helps introduce visitors to individual heroes and allows them to understand the vital contributions of harbor workers to the city's economy and culture.

The exhibit which is sponsored by the Seamen's Church Institute, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The Water Street Gallery is located at 241 Water Street in New York City. For directions please go to www.seamenschurch.org. A virtual exhibit can be accessed online at www.southstseaport.org/world.port/911exhibit.shtm.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, August 7 - Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, August 8 - Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco;
Wednesday, August 9 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, August 10 - Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, August 11 - Honolulu.

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