In this issue...
Pascagoula yard workers get a new deal...Oil discharge leads to prosecutions...Environmental award for M.E.B.A. MSC ship... Building bridges, we span the globe and weld together a structurally sound edition galvanized with concrete industry news cables. We make a connection beam-by-beam in a riveting issue that gets you linked up with the other side of the story. Shuttling you over troubled waters, the steel-plated Telex Times has crossover appeal!

SOLIDARITY OF PASCAGOULA SHIPYARD WORKERS PAYS OFF
Striking electrical and metal trade workers at the Northrop Grumman shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi have agreed to a new contract almost a month after the walk-out began. Over the last month, M.E.B.A. demonstrated our solidarity to the cause by walking the picket line and providing support to our union brothers and sisters.

Workers voted Wednesday night to accept the company's revised contract proposal that will put them back to work on Tuesday. Among other things, the new contract will give workers a raise of $2.78 an hour over the next three years with an immediate raise of $1.68 an hour.

THREE SHIPPING COMPANIES INDICTED FOR OIL POLLUTION COVER-UP
Three companies that own and operate an oceangoing chemical tanker named the M/T CLIPPER TROJAN have been indicted in connection with an attempt by crew members to cover up the illegal dumping of oily waste in international waters, the Justice Department announced.

The 11-count indictment named two Danish companies that own and operate the M/T CLIPPER TROJAN and a Bahamian company that serves as the registered owner of the ship, as defendants. All three companies are part of The Clipper Group A/S, a global shipping consortium based in Denmark.

According to the indictment, crewmembers of the tanker dumped oil sludge directly overboard on two occasions in May and June of 2006, and regularly dumped oil-contaminated bilge water overboard between March and June of 2006. Furthermore, crew members of the tanker attempted to prevent the U.S. Coast Guard from learning of the illegal discharges during an inspection of the ship at Port Newark on June 15, 2006.

According to the indictment, the ship's chief engineer failed to record discharges in the ship's oil record book and included false entries in the book that were intended to mislead the Coast Guard. The chief engineer presented the false oil record book to the Coast Guard during the Coast Guard's inspection. According to the indictment, the chief engineer made several false statements to Coast Guard inspectors and encouraged other crew members to lie to the Coast Guard as well.

The indictment alleges that the crewmembers acted as agents for the three corporate defendants in attempting to cover up the illegal discharges of oily waste. It also alleges that the three companies failed to provide sufficient training to the crew and failed to diligently enforce company policies concerning the handling of oily waste. The indictment further alleges that the companies caused some crewmembers to execute affidavits falsely stating that the crew members had received briefings on the MARPOL Protocol, an international treaty regulating the handling and disposal of oil waste at sea, and U.S. laws concerning oil pollution.

If convicted, the companies face statutory maximum fines of $500,000 on each count or, alternatively, twice the amount of any gain to the corporations that inured as a result of the criminal conduct.

CONTINUED REMINDER ON OILY WATER AND RECORD BOOKS
The above incident underscores the dire necessity to go above and beyond in ensuring compliance with all rules and regulations with respect to pumping of oily water and slops. Officers must make sure they continue to keep accurate records in all Official Log Books including the Oil Record Book. All machinery that has the capacity to pump bilges and oily slops must be operating properly, including the oily water separator.

M.E.B.A.-CREWED MSC OILER WINS NAVY ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
Fleet replenishment oiler USNS JOHN ERICSSON has won the 2006 Secretary of the Navy Environmental Quality Small Ship award. The M.E.B.A.-crewed vessel received the same award from the Chief of Naval Operations in February, and will compete in the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards later this year. "We are extremely pleased to be recognized for our environmental efforts," said Capt. Robert T. Wiley, the ship's civil service master. The 678-foot ship - currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - was cited for its crew's work in preventing pollution, ensuring readiness in responding to environmental issues, conserving resources and complying with environmental regulations.

While the ship voluntarily met standards stricter than required by the Navy, it also ensured that each mariner received special training in environmental management, used environmentally friendly chemicals and conducted monthly spill drills. As a result, in two years, Ericsson transferred almost 82 million gallons of fuel in 353 separate fuelings at sea without a significant mishap.

The Secretary of the Navy Environmental Awards program recognizes Navy and Marine Corps individuals, teams, ships and installations for exceptional environmental stewardship.

NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR AOTOS MARINERS' PLAQUES
In conjunction with the Admiral of the Ocean Seas (AOTOS) award ceremony scheduled for September 28, 2007 in New York City, "Honored Seafarer Awards" will be given out to mariners who have demonstrated heroism on the high seas over the past year.

United Seamen's Service sponsors the AOTOS ceremony which is the maritime industry's most prestigious awards event. To honor those who have performed acts of bravery and outstanding seamanship, USS is asking the industry to recommend candidates deserving of either the Mariners' Plaque, given to the officers and crews of vessels, or Mariner's Rosette, awarded to individual seafarers.

The AOTOS Committee asks that you forward your nominations by April 16th. M.E.B.A. will be submitting a list of vessels involved in heroic situations but your nominations will help supplement our submission and perhaps detail a ship rescue or some incident involving bravery at sea of which we had not previously been aware. You can forward your nominations to the M.E.B.A. editor at editor@d1meba.org. You can also call him at (202) 624-1668. Fill in as many specifics as you know about the incident as you know making sure to include dates, times and names of those involved.

M.E.B.A. mariners and our contracted vessels have been part of these awards in every year in recent memory and we hope to continue that streak. Last year, five of our vessels and their crews were honored as part of these special accolades.

M.E.B.A.-CREWED SHIP HOSTS QATARI DELEGATION IN THANKS FOR KATRINA CONTRIBUTION
The Keystone-managed Ready Reserve Force vessel CAPE KNOX recently played host to a reception for a Qatari delegation in honor of their generous donation to U.S. Gulf Coast relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The Government of Qatar donated more than $100 million dollars to various relief and rebuilding efforts to help the region recover after the devastating storm. M.E.B.A. deck and engineering officers crew the KNOX.

The Qatari government's generosity holds special meaning for CAPE KNOX and her crew. The ship is homeported at Poland Street Wharf in New Orleans' 9th Ward, the area of the city most severely affected by Hurricane Katrina. The majority of CAPE KNOX's 27-person civilian mariner crew also lives in the U.S. Gulf Coast region; a number of them lost their homes during the storm. Ten of CAPE KNOX's current crewmembers were also onboard the ship in New Orleans when Katrina hit. After riding out the storm, the ship housed relief workers cleaning up oil spills in the city's port.

"The Gulf Coast has endured hurricanes before but never one of Katrina's magnitude," said CAPE KNOX's M.E.B.A. master Capt. Rick Jordan, who also noted that the reception was a very personal way for him to express his gratitude. Capt. Jordan was born and raised in Mississippi and currently lives in New Orleans, where his home suffered storm damage. His mother's Mississippi home was also destroyed. She is currently living in a FEMA trailer.

"In the past, we've relied on our neighbors to help us get back on our feet but this storm knocked out our neighbors as well," said Capt. Jordan during the event. "We are so grateful that new neighbors, the people of Qatar, stepped forward from thousands of miles away to help. The crew and I are humbled by your compassion."

INCREASE IN HIJACKING AND PIRACY OFF SOMALIA
The International Maritime Bureau has issued an alert noting that there has recently been a marked increase in attacks and hijackings off the Southern part of Somalia, particularly off Mogadishu. The attacks are mainly targeted towards vessels with cargo for Somali ports.

They advise vessels to steer well clear of Somali waters at all times and only approach once full clearance to enter the port has been received.

RANK & FILE FRC ELECTED AT APRIL MEETINGS
Six rank and file members were elected at the April meetings to serve on the Financial Review Committee. The FRC will gather at M.E.B.A. Headquarters on the morning of April 23rd to review Union finances. This year's committee will consist of Claude Pfeffer (Baltimore), Travis Ellis (Houston), Charles Feist (New Orleans), Joe McElhinney, Jr. (New York), Colin Murray (San Francisco) and Courtney Lamm (Seattle). Their first order of business will be to select a committee chairman and randomly designate an alternate. Once they finish their work, their report will be put to a vote at the regular membership meetings in May.

CMES STUDENTS CAN SIGN UP FOR APRIL, MAY CLINIC TRIPS
There are still openings for members attending courses at the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School to sign up for physicals at the Baltimore Clinic in both April and May.

Up to seven students can sign up for the April trip which will take place on the 28th. The School also just announced that members can sign up now for the clinic visit taking place on May 12. However, due to a scheduling conflict, there likely will be no student visits to the clinic in June -- so sign up now for the April or May outing. 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.

CONTINUE TO FORWARD ADDRESS CHANGES
You can continue to forward your address changes to us using an address change form provided on our website. Address changes now require a signature for validation along with your new information. We have provided a copy of the address change form, in either a .pdf or a Word document on our website. You can get it by visiting the main page (www.meba.us), going to the "Members Only" tab and clicking on "Address Changes." The form can be printed out by the member or retiree, filled out completely with a signature and faxed or mailed to Headquarters. Those of you with scanners can complete the document add your signature then scan it and e-mail it back to us.

Those active and retired members who have not received mailings from Headquarters such as the Marine Officer or other important information may want to log onto our website to clarify their address. Because the M.E.B.A. Plans office in Baltimore and Headquarters databases are NOT linked you must also forward a signed change of address form to the Plans Office if you wish to update your information with them.

COAST GUARD MEETS SAFE PORT ACT DEADLINE
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that it met the April 1 deadline mandated by the SAFE Port Act of 2006 to track all large commercial vessels within U.S. waters.

"Using the full range of classified and unclassified vessel tracking information available to the Coast Guard, we are meeting all vessel tracking requirements of the act," said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard. "Beyond the SAFE Port Act, we need to focus our attention on closing other gaps in maritime security, including long-range tracking of vessels outside U.S. waters and coming to grips with potential threats posed by smaller vessels. While we have done a lot since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we need to build a maritime security architecture that does more than just simply react to the last threat or terrorist event."

The Coast Guard is working with the International Maritime Organization, the recreational boating community, small commercial vessel operators, and others to close existing gaps in maritime security to help keep American citizens safe and secure.

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