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

MEBA TELEX TIMES               NOVEMBER 10, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 45

In this issue...
P.A.F. election victories...MarAd boss visits MEBA School... AOTOS & special mariner awards doled out...USNS SUMNER lauded for at-sea vessel aid...Up against the wall, we get a foothold on the latest news as we climb the maritime ladder of success. Rung after rung, we take a step up and help you scale new heights 'til you reach the summit of MEBA knowledge. The new Telex Times is over the top!

NOTABLE ELECTION RESULTS FOR THE MEBA PAF
In this election cycle, the MEBA Political Action Fund was an important part of the Democratic takeover of the US House of Representatives and gains in the US Senate. Many Congressional candidates won the support of local MEBA members in their districts which led to MEBA members volunteering on their campaigns and making PAF contributions. In Washington, DC, MEBA leaders and political staff took time to meet with candidates from across the United States.

Nancy Pelosi (CA-8) is expected to become the next Speaker of the House. MEBA enjoys a good relationship with Rep. Pelosi and her staff as evidenced by the video greeting she recorded congratulating the members of the MEBA timed with the christening of the NCL- America cruise ship PRIDE OF HAWAII earlier this year. The MEBA also has a close relationship with Steny Hoyer (MD-5) who is in line to be Majority Leader and James Clyburn (SC-6) who is in line to be Majority Whip.

In the 110th Session of Congress with the House in Democratic hands, several important Committees with maritime links will be in the hands of MEBA-friendly Congressmen. They include the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to be chaired by Rep. Jim Oberstar (MN-8); the Armed Services Committee which will be chaired by Rep. Ike Skelton (MO-4); and the Homeland Security Committee which will be chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-2). Not a single Democratic incumbent in the House or Senate who ran for reelection lost although Rep. Bill Jefferson of New Orleans does face a runoff in December.

Labor's three biggest Republican supporters in the House of Representatives (and recipients of support from the MEBA PAF) - Peter King (NY-3), Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2), and Steve LaTourette (OH-14) - were also reelected. Rep. King will move from chair of the Homeland Security Committee to Ranking Member (#1 on the Republican side) of the committee. Reps. LoBiondo and LaTourette serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

In the eleventh District of California, Jerry McNerney unseated Richard Pombo, chair of the House Resources Committee. MEBA members from the San Francisco Hall were some of the first union members to support Jerry McNerney, going back to his 2004 attempt to defeat Pombo. MEBA's early support was vital to McNerney's ability to run in 2006 and his victory in the primary back in June. McNerney was the only challenger to defeat a committee chair.

In the second District of Hawaii, not only is anti-Jones Act Congressman Ed Case leaving Congress after losing the Democratic primary for the US Senate to Sen. Daniel Akaka, but Case's House seat he vacated will be held by Mazie Hirono. Hirono is a supporter of the Jones Act for whom MEBA Headquarters organized a fundraiser for in Washington, DC (with over 15 unions participating) that raised over $25,000.

In the eighteenth district of Ohio, Democrat Zack Space won the seat vacated by Bob Ney east of Columbus. The MEBA supported Space in his primary and the general election. Space is a cousin of MEBA member John Fontis.

In the eighth district of Pennsylvania, Democratic candidate and Iraq War veteran Patrick Murphy unseated Republican freshman Mike Fitzpatrick. The MEBA supported Murphy from early on, starting before the primary, as PA-08 includes sections of Philadelphia and its suburbs as well as interests in the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.

With late breaking wins in Montana and Virginia, Democrats have retaken the US Senate for the first time since 2002. Harry Reid of Nevada will be Majority Leader and Dick Durbin of Illinois will take over as Majority Whip. Reid and Durbin will pursue a pro-worker agenda closely paralleling the agenda Speaker-elect Pelosi is planning in the US House. Democrats in the Senate will have a tougher time passing legislation in the Senate than in the House because of their thin 51-49 margin (both independents are expected to caucus with the Democrats). Minority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell is a master of Senate procedure. Look for Republicans to use the Senate to bottle up legislation they don't want President Bush to have to veto.

In Maryland, longtime MEBA friend and Democratic member of the US House Ben Cardin made the step up to the US Senate. MEBA's support was vital to Cardin's primary win earlier this year. The MEBA Baltimore Hall hosted a Labor fundraiser for Cardin that raised thousands for a close primary with a crowded field, and MEBA continued that support into the general election.

In Minnesota, Hennepin County (Minneapolis/St. Paul) District Attorney Amy Klobuchar was elected to the open Senate seat. MEBA's PAF was the first political action committee to support Klobuchar of any union. Klobuchar is excited about working with the MEBA on maritime issues concerning the Great Lakes and elsewhere.

In Florida, Democrat Bill Nelson easily defeated challenger Katherine Harris. MEBA has been onboard with Nelson's campaign since day one, contributing the maximum amount allowed to his campaign and hosting two events for Nelson with the maritime community in Washington, DC. Nelson serves on the Armed Services and Transportation committees in the Senate.

In Mississippi, longtime MEBA friend Trent Lott was easily reelected. With the defeat of Senator Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania and the departure of Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, Lott is expected to rejoin the Republican leadership in the Senate in the #2 spot behind Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Important governor races won by MEBA supported candidates include Democrats Martin O'Malley in Maryland, Deval Patrick in Massachusetts and Ted Kulongoski in Oregon, and Republican Sarah Palin in Alaska.

Our friends in Washington, DC, appreciate the support of the MEBA and the MEBA PAF. Special thanks go out to all the MEBA members who volunteered on political campaigns this year and to those who participate in the MEBA PAF. Your work and your dollars make the difference in our relationship with important leaders and legislators.

MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR VISITS MEBA SCHOOL
New Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton spent Monday at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School meeting with School and Union Representatives who took him on a tour of the campus. Both outgoing Director Joyce Matthews and incoming Director Lou Marciello were on hand as well as Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo among others. The Maritime Administrator was accompanied by Assistants Owen Doherty and Tracy Ford. Both Connaughton and Doherty are Kings Point graduates and demonstrated terrific recall in recognizing fellow alum and MEBA member Carol Curtiss who is at the school taking a course. The School's Academic Manager Chuck Eser and Deck Dept. Manager Scott Conway also helped shuttle the MarAd visitors around the facility which included stops in several classrooms, the Damage Control trailer and the bridge simulator which also proved fascinating to the Maritime Administrator - a deck officer from his sailing days.

NCL's VEITCH RECEIVES AOTOS AWARD; MEBA-CREWED VESSELS SINGLED OUT FOR SPECIAL AWARDS
Colin Veitch, President of MEBA-contracted NCL-America, was honored with this year's Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award (AOTOS) along with shipping pioneer Paul F. Richardson. The most prestigious awards in the industry were presented Friday night at a ceremony in New York bursting at the seams with a huge industry cross section that included MEBA representatives. The United Seamen's Service (USS) hosts the annual event.

Under Veitch's stewardship, NCL America placed three U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed (including MEBA officers in all licensed positions) vessels into service in Hawaii. Those ships include the PRIDE OF ALOHA, PRIDE OF AMERICA and the PRIDE OF HAWAII.

Gloria Cataneo Tosi, President of Tosi Maritime Consultants, who recently retired as President of the American Maritime Congress, received the AOTOS Recognition Plaque for her many years of devotion to the industry. The Honorable Helen Delich Bentley, former Federal Maritime Commission Chairman and Congresswoman, presented Paul Richardson his award. SIU President Mike Sacco presented the award to Colin Veitch. MEBA President Ron Davis awarded the plaque to Ms. Tosi.

USS also presented Honored Seafarer awards to heroic merchant mariners involved in rescues. New Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton hosted that segment.

The crew of the USNS SPICA, a Military Sealift Command Combat Stores vessel received the AOTOS Mariners' Plaque. MEBA civilian mariners crew the engine room of the vessel.

The award stems from an incident off the coast of Djibouti, Africa on February 17, 2006. The SPICA conducted search and rescue operations after the crash of two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 heavy transport helicopters during a routine training mission. There were two survivors from the 12 on board. The vessel was about 53 nautical miles from the reported crash site. The ship received a call to help and headed at maximum speed toward the site.

The SPICA'S Puma helicopter was airborne, scouring the ocean for survivors and the vessel launched two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) in the dark to scour for survivors. "The crew members' ability to stay calm under pressure and act professionally and courageously on short notice and in darkness, in a fast and furious operational tempo, was second to none," said the SPICA's Officer-in-Charge, Commander Sidney J. Kim.

An AOTOS Mariners' Plaque was also awarded to the crews of the M/V CAPE VICTORY and M/V CAPE VINCENT. Both vessels are managed by Keystone Shipping and crewed with MEBA officers on deck and in the engine room. The MEBA Captains of each vessel (David Scott - VINCENT & Kevin Brooks - VICTORY) were on hand at the ceremony to accept the awards on behalf of their ships and crews.

They were honored for their actions in the Port of Beaumont, Texas beginning on September 24, 2005 as Hurricane Rita approached. The City of Beaumont requested that first responder emergency vehicles and personnel from the city and surrounding communities of Port Arthur, Nederland, Groves and Port Neches, be permitted to be safely stowed onboard M/V CAPE VICTORY and M/V CAPE VINCENT, home ported there. Captain Scott and Captain Brooks, in coordination with the Maritime Administration and Keystone, agreed to move 172 vehicles onto CAPE VINCENT and 207 vehicles onto CAPE VICTORY. This included fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, road equipment, and other needed equipment, along with city records, emergency response personnel, and 30 rescue dogs. Everything was stowed safely while 90 percent of the people of the area were evacuated. The ships' crews kept each vessel at berth as the storm passed with heavy rain and winds of 120 miles per hour. The ships' anchors were deployed, lines were adjusted and the bow thrusters were skillfully deployed. The next morning, the ships' stem ramps were lowered for the deployment of emergency vehicles to deal with the damage and aftermath of the hurricane. Beaumont Mayor Guy Goodson was also in attendance at the ceremony to show his appreciation.

The crew of the USNS APACHE, an MSC fleet ocean tug crewed with MEBA officers in the engine room was also honored.

On August 10, 2005 near Monrovia, Liberia, the APACHE was underway when the ship came across an Estonian commercial freighter, the TAHOMA REEFER which was engulfed in flames and being towed from the harbor. Smoke from the burning vessel was spotted from APACHE's bridge as the U.S. Embassy in Liberia phoned the ship and asked for help.

The APACHE sailed toward the stricken vessel, as Chief Mate Troy Bruemmer set out in APACHE's rigid hull inflatable boat to remove a mooring line trailing the burning vessel. APACHE began fire-fighting operations hosing down the port side of the stricken vessel. Bruemmer loaded a portable pump on the RHIB to fight flames on the starboard side and evacuated the freighter's eight crew members and deliver them to shore. While the two ships rolled in four to six foot swells, the captain and chief mate exhibited enormous perseverance under pressure as they shared conning duty, keeping APACHE tight alongside the freighter for more than four hours as the tug's crew fought to bring the fire under control.

Finally, the crew of the Maersk Line, Ltd. vessel SEALAND COMMITMENT, also crewed with MEBA engineers, was honored for their actions near Cape Fear, NC, on January 18, 2006.

The COMMITMENT came to the rescue of the tugboat VALOUR which had sent a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard while towing an oil barge in heavy 25 foot seas and winds of 40 knots. While the ocean towing tug, JUSTINE FOSS began rescue operations of the tugboat, the SEALAND COMMITMENT established communications between the USCG rescue helicopters and the rescue efforts, relaying the location of seafarers in the sea, leading to their imminent rescue when the VALOUR sank.

Their elevated vantage point and communications provided valuable assistance at the scene in the restricted visibility caused by the rough seas and dark night. Through these heroic efforts and seamanship skills of crew of SEALAND COMMITMENT, five crewmembers of the stricken tug were rescued from the water and the fully laden tank barge was prevented from impacting a North Carolina beach.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye was General Chairman for this year's event and sent a message as well, congratulating the award recipients and recognizing the mission of USS, which has been dedicated to meeting the needs of seafarers for 65 years.

USS continues to provide community services for the U.S. Merchant Marine, the American Armed Forces, and seafarers of the world. USS, a non-profit agency established in 1952, operates centers in ports in Europe, Asia, Africa and in the Indian Ocean, and also provides seagoing libraries to American vessels through its affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association.

MEBA-CREWED SUMNER COMMENDED FOR AID TO DISTRESSED VESSEL
The crew of the USNS SUMNER has been commended by the Commander of the Military Sealift Command Rear Admiral Robert Reilly for her professional response in assisting a stricken vessel in danger of being swallowed by the sea in late September. The Cambodian-registered cargo vessel SHUN TONG was adrift and without power south of Korea in deteriorating weather on September 21st with a crew Chinese crew of nine. The SUMNER is an oceanographic survey ship managed by Horizon Lines for MSC. MEBA represents the engineers, radio operator positions and port engineers under our contract with Horizon. MM&P crews the deck officer positions and the unlicensed crew is SIU. The ship has been operating in the Western Pacific for several years and is often referred to as "SUMNER MARU."

SUMNER's Third Mate John Dean, Mate on Watch at the time, and Lookout AB "Pete" Harper noticed a red parachute flare off the ship's starboard side at about 2330 local time September 21st. Master Fred Smallwood was notified and ordered that the ship break her survey line, proceed to investigate, that additional engines be started and placed on line and that the Bow Thruster be made ready for immediate use. The ship's Engineers (Chief Engineer Pat Tomaszewski, 1st A/E Derek Melanson, 2nd A/E Lawrence "Woody" Woodson and 3rd A/E Robert Trifonoff quickly) accomplished this and readied the plant for maneuvering.

An unlighted contact was seen approximately eight miles away and upon closing to hailing distance, SUMNER's crew learned the disabled ship had lost all power and was listing approximately 15 degrees in brisk winds.

Chief Mate Jo Anne Cantu was called out and along with Bosun Rafael Franco rigged a cargo net over the side and the Pilot ladder and stood by on deck in case rescue efforts were necessary. SUMNER notified the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Coordination Center in Alameda, California and they in turn passed information on the disabled ship to the Korean Coast Guard. The Koreans dispatched a vessel to the area to assist, and SUMNER remained on station a few hundred meters from the vessel throughout the remainder of the night in case conditions onboard deteriorated further and crew rescue became necessary as well as to coordinate rescue communications. The Korean Coast Guard unit arrived at 0530 local and SUMNER was released from On-Scene Commander duties. 

In addition to Admiral Reilly's commendation, Captain Smallwood commended the entire crew for their professional response throughout the long night. "What can I do to help?" was a question asked by almost every member of the crew.

NEXT CMES STUDENT PHYSICALS WILL BE IN DEC. AT BALTIMORE CLINIC
Members attending courses at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School will next have the opportunity to get a physical at the Baltimore Clinic on Saturday, December 9, 2006. Up to seven students can sign up for this field trip.

The School will provide transportation if needed. Those wishing to sign up can contact Laurie Swaine at (410) 822-9600, ext. 200 or e-mail her at lswaine@mebaschool.org.

MARAD TO RID GHOST FLET OF 5 MORE SHIPS
Five ships moored in Virginia, California, and Texas will be headed to recycling yards under contracts announced this week by the Maritime Administration. Two of the ships are from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, Calif.; two are from the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas; and one is from the James River Reserve Fleet in Newport News, Va.

"These recycling contracts are good for the economy, and removing ships from our fleet sites is good for the environment," said Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton. He noted that plans worked out with Congress called for the removal of at least 13 ships from the fleet sites in 2006, and that the agency has almost doubled that number, removing 25.

The ships scheduled for recycling include the VULCAN, a former Navy repair ship built in 1941, which will leave the James River site to be dismantled at Bay Bridge Enterprises, LLC, of Chesapeake, Va., under the terms of a contract worth $494,000. In 1978, the VULCAN was the first Navy ship on which women were deployed, except for hospital ships. The two ships from Suisun Bay are QUEENS VICTORY, a 1945-vintage Victory Ship, which will go to Esco Marine, Inc., of Brownsville, Texas, under terms of a contract work $1,180,000, and JASON, a Navy repair ship built in 1943, which will go to Marine Metal, Inc., of Brownsville, to be dismantled at a cost of $1,426,035. The two ships from Beaumont will go to Esco Marine: MAUMEE, a tanker built in 1956, will be dismantled at a cost of $405,726, and MARYLAND, a container ship built in 1963, will be dismantled for $400,000.

The companies have up to 45 days to remove the ships from the fleet sites.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday December 4 - Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, December 5 - Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco;
Wednesday, December 6 - Calhoon MEBA School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, December 7 - Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Tampa; Friday, December 8 - Honolulu.

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