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

MEBA TELEX TIMES               NOVEMBER 17, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 46

In this issue...
Tanker construction news from Aker...Contract with Black Ball... Hapag brings in newer vessel...Bridge simulator used for re-enactment...Raze the roof! Coming at you like a wrecking ball, our demolition edition takes a sledgehammer approach and bulldozes through the industry for maritime rubble. Have a blast with an implosion of smash-up news that'll hit you like a ton of bricks. The Telex Times brings down the house!

OVERSEAS HOUSTON NAMED AT AKER; KEEL-LAYING ON 3rd OSG TANKER
The OVERSEAS HOUSTON, the first of a series of newbuild product tankers being constructed at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard for OSG Shipping, will undergo her sea trials this month following her naming ceremony last Saturday. The 600-foot long MT 46 Veteran Class tanker vessel is crewed up with MEBA officers. The HOUSTON will be delivered by the end of the year. The as-yet unnamed second ship in the series will be completed by mid-2007.

The yard also announced that the keel-laying for the third vessel in the series was performed on Monday. The first section of the double-hulled product tanker scheduled for completion in late 2007 was lowered into the yard's Building Dock, the same dock where construction is underway on the second ship. As part of the ceremony, coins were placed under the keel block recreating a long-standing tradition representing a permanent symbol of good fortune and safe travels.

When completed, the vessels will each weigh 46,000 deadweight tons (dwt) and be the most modern product tankers in the U.S. domestic fleet. Production on the fourth tanker in the series is advancing, with steel cutting for that vessel having begun four weeks ago.

NEW DEAL WITH BLACK BALL TRANSPORT
MEBA's new agreement with Black Ball Transport covering the 2006-2010 period was recently ratified by MEBA members sailing in the Black Ball fleet. Negotiations had been conducted in September with MEBA represented by Executive V.P. Louie "Bud" Jacque, then-Seattle Patrolman (now Branch Agent) Karol Kingery, and MEBA members Mark Holloway and Richard Colleen. Both Mark and Richard work on the M/V COHO as Chief Engineer and 1st A/E respectively. Also contributing input to the new contract was Chief Engineer Tim Stone and 1st A/E Steve Jovanovich.

This contract covers one vessel, the M/V COHO. The M.E.B.A. represents four full time engineers on board, along with a summer relief 2nd A/E. The 341-foot vessel can carry 1000 passengers and 110 vehicles and operates between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, British Columbia.

HAPAG-LLOYD CHANGES OUT CP LIBERATOR FOR NEWER SHIP
M.E.B.A. members sailing on the CP LIBERATOR will now have a more modern ship to take care after Hapag-Lloyd changed out the ship for a newer vessel. Age restrictions on ships sailing under the Maritime Security Program has prompted the company to trade out some of its older ships for newer vessels that had been sailing in Hapag-Lloyd's international fleet.

The CP LIBERATOR was returned to the international fleet and the M.E.B.A. officers took control of the CP DENALI which was then reflagged to the Stars and Stripes and dubbed the WASHINGTON EXPRESS. The LIBERATOR has also sailed under the name of STELLA LYKES.

The vessel is managed by M.E.B.A.-contracted Marine Personnel and Provisioning, also known as MTL.

A few weeks ago, as reported in the Telex Times, the company traded out the aging CP DISCOVERER (ex-MARGARET LYKES) and flagged in the CP YELLOWSTONE which was then renamed ST. LOUIS EXPRESS.

CMES SHIP'S BRIDGE TRAINING SYSTEM HELPS CANADIANS
The Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School has been assisting the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in its investigation of the B.C Ferry QUEEN OF THE NORTH sinking. The vessel which was sailing on a scenic coastal run south of British Columbia sank just after midnight on March 22, 2006.

The School's involvement mainly includes re-creation and replay of the vessel's passage using the TRANSAS Ship's Bridge Trainer (SBT) Simulation System. More information will become available following the release of the official report by the Canadian Government.

MARYLANDERS: HERE'S A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT - M.E.B.A. LICENSE PLATES!
Can you imagine a better holiday gift than M.E.B.A. license plates for those members who live in Maryland? I think not. Yes, that's right - you can ride around in style in the "Old Line State" sporting the M.E.B.A. blue & gold. Make all your friends jealous! Already, dozens of Marylanders have taken advantage of this amazing offer and their cars have never looked better! Incredibly, this fantastic license plate can be yours for the low, low price of $25. M.E.B.A. has placed a link to the form on our website. Go to our homepage at www.meba.us.  Once you click the scrolling license plate article at left you will be able to view what the plate looks like and will be provided a link to the form (in .pdf format). Fill out the form and send it back to Bette Doranz at Headquarters along with your $25. Call or e-mail Bette for further information at (202) 638-5355 or e-mail bdoranz@d1meba.org.

FCC PROPOSES MARITIME COMMUNICATION CHANGES
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a notice stating that it is proposing a variety of regulatory amendments relating to maritime communications. According to the analysis of the notice by the law firm of Holland and Knight, the FCC proposes to cease authorizing Inmarsat-E emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRBs) due to the planned cessation of this service by Inmarsat. It seeks comment on whether to require Global Positioning System (GPS) capability in VHF-DSC handset units and on whether to require carriage of at least one VHF handheld marine radio transceiver on all small passenger vessels that do not have a reserve power supply. It also seeks comment on whether there is a need to make additional spectrum available for ship station facsimile communications, or to permit transmission of data on VHF maritime voice channels. FCC would like input on whether there is any need to continue limiting the number of frequencies that may be assigned to any particular private coast station. Finally, it proposes to add a rule clarifying that GMDSS vessels subject to subpart W (relating to GMDSS requirements on certain vessels) are required to test GMDSS radiotelephone equipment on a daily basis. Comments should be submitted by January 8, 2007.

TIGHTER OIL TRANSFER, SPILL CONTINGENCY REGS IN EFFECT IN WASHINGTON STATE
The Washington State Department of Ecology's new oil transfer rules for vessels and facilities and the new oil spill contingency plan rule are now in effect as of two weeks ago. The rules are designed to prevent oil spills to Washington waters and improve oil spill response readiness. They regulate how oil will be transferred over water to tank vessels, fishing, cargo and passenger ships, other non-recreational vessels, oil storage facilities, marinas and, for the first time, tank trucks and rail cars.

Under the new rules, some vessels and oil-handling facilities are required to deploy oil-spill containment boom prior to transferring oil. If it is not safe or effective to pre-boom during an oil transfer, the rules require that alternative response measures be met.

The State has also updated Washington's oil spill contingency plan rule that requires tank vessels, cargo and passenger ships, oil storage facilities, and pipeline companies to demonstrate that they can mount an effective, timely response if they spill oil. The oil spill contingency plan rule is aimed at mitigating the environmental effects of spills, large and small. The rule focuses on early spill response actions, staging response equipment throughout the state, and conducting scheduled and unannounced spill readiness drills.

CMES STUDENT PHYSICALS WILL BE IN DEC. AT BALTIMORE CLINIC
Members attending courses at the Calhoon M.E.B.A. 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.

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

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