In this issue...
Members sailing for the Persian Gulf...LNG conference...Merchant Marine veterans’ bill reintroduced...We sew up another seamless, off-the-cuff issue and pin down a maritime pattern that’ll have you in stitches. Don’t get hemmed in by threadbare newsletters that spin yarns and leave you ruffled. Cut from a different cloth, suit up with the stylish, tailor-made Telex Times – it’s a perfect fit!

M.E.B.A. OFFICERS IN CONTINUING PERSIAN GULF ACTION
Additional M.E.B.A. deck and engine officers crewed up the Keystone Shipping-managed Ready Reserve Force fleet vessel CAPE KENNEDY late last week as the ship was put into Full Operating Status. The vessel is currently loading up equipment on the U.S. Gulf Coast and will sail for the Persian Gulf. With President Bush’s announced plan to increase troops in Iraq, it is likely that more activations of RRF vessels will occur.

Members interested in taking part in any future activations should make sure that their “Member & Applicant Data Sheet” at their Union hall is up to date with their latest contact information so that they can be located at a moment’s notice.

M.E.B.A. officers aboard Military Sealift Command Auxiliary and Special Mission ships are also sailing into the war zone. These MSC vessels perennially provide support to Navy ships around the globe. The M.E.B.A.-crewed USNS ARCTIC, a Fast Combat Support ship, is on the scene in the Persian Gulf as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.

The ships in the group have been conducting missions in direct support of troops participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations.

President Bush just ordered another carrier strike group into the region that he referenced in his speech to the nation on Wednesday. The M.E.B.A.-crewed Fast Combat Support ship USNS BRIDGE is part of the USS JOHN STENNIS carrier battle group that is en route to the Persian Gulf.

CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK HIGHLIGHTS U.S. EFFORTS TO REJOIN THE LNG TRADE U.S.
Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton keynoted a conference held Thursday at the New York Yacht Club in New York City entitled “LNG - The Human Factor.” Sponsored by major maritime law firm Holland & Knight, the conference focused on the growing concern over the expansion of the LNG trade worldwide and the lack of qualified mariners needed to crew these new vessels. In his speech, Connaughton focused on the goal of bringing back the U.S.-flag LNG fleet, the use of American officers and crew onboard vessels making calls on LNG terminals in the United States, and the M.E.B.A.-sponsored changes included in the 2006 Coast Guard Bill that require MarAd to develop plans to advocate for the use of U.S. mariners and U.S.-flag ships in the LNG trade.

A contingent of M.E.B.A. representatives, members and retirees, attended the symposium. M.E.B.A. President Ron Davis and American Maritime Congress Deputy Director Brian Schoeneman along with a number of representatives from the Seafarers International Union and the Masters, Mates and Pilots were in attendance. Administrator Connaughton led the list of a number of presenters including representatives from Det Norske Veritas, Holland & Knight, B.P. Shipping, a French maritime law firm, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The conference heated up during the question and answer period, when the issue of using American mariners onboard LNG tankers was presented to the panel. Despite a common theme of inflated mariner wages for foreign crews, and a recognition of the severe lack of qualified mariners and the critical nature of well-qualified crews to ensure the safety and security of the vessels, when asked directly why American officers weren't being utilized, the foreign flag LNG members of the panel brought up the commonly held, but erroneous, belief that American officers are overpaid and overly litigious.

Many in the audience were pleased when this misconception was strongly rebutted by Administrator Connaughton and several attendees in the audience.

Connaughton also informed the attendees that MarAd was in the process of issuing a federal register notice, set for release on January 17th, requesting ideas and proposals for creating incentives for using American crews and U.S.-flag ships in the global LNG trade.

HOUSE PASSES NEW CONTAINER INSPECTION STANDARDS
In the second action of the Democrats’ 100 hour agenda in the House of Representatives, Members of Congress passed H.R. 1 “Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007” by a vote of 299–128. The bill will be referred to the Senate for action there.

Of note to M.E.B.A. and the rest of the maritime community is Title V of H.R. 1, “Strengthening the Security of Cargo Containers.” Title V requires the implementation of a system to scan incoming containers originating at large ports within three years after the bill’s passage, and all containers from all ports within five years. Cargo from a large port is defined in the legislation as “a container loaded in a country in which more than 75,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of containers were loaded on vessels for shipping to the United States in 2005.”

When the Senate takes up H.R. 1 it is expected that they will more closely examine the practicality of implementing Title V in the next 3 to 5 years.

Other items in the House Democrats’ 100 hour agenda are lobby and ethics changes (passed House), increasing the minimum wage (passed House), allowing embryonic stem cell research (passed House), negotiating Medicare drug prices (passed House), reducing student loan interest rates, and curbing tax breaks for oil companies.

MARINER VETERANS BILL REINTRODUCED
Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) has reintroduced a bill that would pay monthly benefits to U.S. merchant mariners who sailed on behalf of our country during World War II. The bill had picked up about 150 co-sponsors in the 109th Congress and had a companion bill introduced in the Senate. However, the measure never received a hearing before the session of Congress expired.

The bill has once again been designated as H.R. 23. Entitled the “Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007,” the bill would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to certain honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946 (or to their survivors). Included are those who served in the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service. Moreover, the benefits paid under this Act would be exempt from taxation.

The Merchant Marine had a higher war casualty rate (3.9 percent) than the Marines (2.94), Army (2.08), Navy (.88) or Coast Guard (.24).

The chances for the bill’s successful passage in this Congress are not tremendous. However, the chances for a scheduled hearing on the matter have greatly increased. In this new Democratically-led Congress Rep. Filner is the new Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

The M.E.B.A. supports this bill and will continue to support legislation that helps our Merchant Marine – past and present.

MARINERS NOW ABLE TO PAY USER FEES ONLINE
Mariners are now able to pay user fees online for the evaluation of applications, examinations, issuance of licenses and merchant mariner documents at http://www.pay.gov/.

Pay.gov allows secure electronic payments to federal government agencies.

Payments can be made directly from an individual's bank account or by credit or debit card, enabling mariners to quickly pay user fees and have proof of payment. This new method of paying user fees is part of the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC) restructuring and centralization project to improve service to mariners and to increase the efficiency of the application review and approval process. Mariners may continue to pay user fees in person at Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers. Regional Examination Centers also offer assistance in using pay.gov.

OSG ACCEPTING RÉSUMÉS FOR NEWBUILD TANKERS
Overseas Ship Management, Inc. is currently seeking résumés from M.E.B.A. members for future Chief Engineer, First, and Second Assistant Engineer positions that will become available due to the expansion of their U.S. flag fleet as the Company takes delivery of the new Veteran MT-46 class Jones Act product tankers currently under construction at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.

Interested members should indicate their prior tanker experience in the résumé or attached cover letter and send to OSG America, Inc. c/o Mr. John Dragone, Two Harbour Place, 302 Knights Run Avenue, Suite 1200, Tampa, FL 33602 phone (813) 209-0600 and fax (813) 221-2769. You can also e-mail résumés to jdragone@osg.com.

CMES TOOK PART IN 2006 WORKBOAT SHOW
The Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School (CMES) was an exhibitor at the 2006 International Workboat Show held in New Orleans. CMES' presence at the show demonstrated to operators and mariners in the Gulf Region M.E.B.A.'s commitment to quality training, and its dedication to the U.S. maritime industry. With many visitors to the CMES booth, the School's reputation as a world-class maritime continuing education rganization has generated significant interest by those involved with off-shore supply and river transportation markets. Much of this interest stems from an expectation of STCW-like credentialing requirements migrating to U.S. inland and offshore mariners.

NASSCO BEGINS WORK ON SIXTH SHIP IN T-AKE PROGRAM
San Diego’s NASSCO shipyard recently announced the start of construction on the sixth dry cargo-ammunition ship in the U.S. Navy’s T-AKE program – vessels that will be sailing for the Military Sealift Command with M.E.B.A. mariners aboard. The as-yet unnamed vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The yard recently held a keel-laying ceremony for the fifth ship in the program. That ship was named USNS ROBERT E. PEARY in honor of the former Navy rear admiral who was one of the first men to explore the Artic Circle.

The ROBERT E. PEARY is scheduled to be delivered to the MSC in the second quarter of 2008. When it joins the fleet, the vessel’s primary mission will be to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea.

The first ship of the class, USNS LEWIS AND CLARK, was delivered to the Navy in June 2006. The second ship, USNS SACAGAWEA, recently underwent her builder’s trials and will be delivered to the Navy shortly. The third ship, USNS ALAN SHEPARD, was launched on December 6, and is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2007. The fourth T-AKE ship, currently under construction, is the RICHARD E. BYRD in honor of the U.S. Navy admiral who explored the South Pole and Antarctica.

CMES STUDENT PHYSICALS WILL BE IN JANUARY 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, January 20, 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 February 5 – Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, February 6 – Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco;
Wednesday, February 7 - Calhoon M.E.B.A. School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, February 8 - Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, February 9 - Honolulu.