In this issue...
OVERSEAS NY keel laying at Aker...Camp honored as Great Lakes Legislator...Sen. John Warner saluted...Easy as pi! All things equal, we factor in a positive equation of multiplied maritime computations rounded off with mathematical precision. Cancel out miscalculating, formulaic newsletters that place greater value on the lowest common denominator -- they just don't add up! Problem solved - our newsletter is a real plus. To sum up, the Telex Times has got your number!

KEEL LAYING FOR OVERSEAS NEW YORK AT AKER
Work on the fourth tanker in Aker Philadelphia Shipyard's current build program reached a milestone this week with the keel laying for the OVERSEAS NEW YORK in the yard's Building Dock. The first section of the double-hulled product tanker scheduled for completion in 2008 was set in the dock adjacent to the third tanker in the series, the OVERSEAS SAN FRANCISCO, also currently under construction. The SAN FRANCISCO is expected to be delivered by the end of the year. The vessels will be operated by M.E.B.A.-contracted company Overseas Shipholding Group and will be crewed with M.E.B.A. officers.

As part of the ceremony, coins were placed under the keel block recreating a long-standing tradition whereby shipbuilders hide special coins in the keel section of a ship as a permanent symbol of good fortune and safe travels. Upon completion, the MT46 Veteran Class tankers will be 600 feet in length and be capable of transporting the equivalent of 14 million gallons of liquid product. The first ship in the program, the OVERSEAS HOUSTON, was delivered earlier this year and is currently in service to Shell Oil Company. The series of up to 16 product tankers will be owned by American Shipping Corporation, a subsidiary of Aker American Shipping, and chartered to OSG. The second tanker in the series, the OVERSEAS LONG BEACH, is nearing completion with testing and commissioning procedures taking place in the yard's Outfitting Dock. The ship will be christened in a ceremony in June. The fifth vessel, the OVERSEAS TEXAS CITY, was recently started with steel cutting of plates that will form part of the ship's engine room. It is scheduled for completion in 2008.

HORIZON EAGLE IS IN SERVICE
Another Horizon newbuild has entered service and was welcomed with a ceremony in Oakland, CA on Wednesday. The HORIZON EAGLE is the third of five new Hunter-class vessels that flagged in under the Stars and Stripes and loaded up with crews of M.E.B.A., MM&P and SIU mariners. The HORIZON HUNTER and the HORIZON HAWK were the first two vessels of the class that Horizon entered into their fleet recently.

Attending the ceremony for the Union was M.E.B.A. President Ron Davis, who also took the opportunity to visit the new Oakland hall on its first day of operation. Jim Staats, a longtime member and new Representative at the Oakland hall, also took part at the ceremony.

The last two vessels of the class, the HORIZON FALCON and the HORIZON TIGER, will join the fleet over the next few weeks.

REP. CAMP HONORED AS GREAT LAKES LEGISLATOR OF YEAR
An M.E.B.A. contingent took part in a Great Lakes Maritime Task Force briefing this week in Washington D.C. where the group doled out its annual Great Lakes Legislator of the Year award. This year, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) was honored for his efforts to foster shipping on the Great Lakes. Rep. Camp's district includes significant Great Lakes shoreline and Traverse City, site of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at Northwestern Michigan College. Rep. Camp also corrected a tax provision that had made U.S.-Flag Great Lakes vessels less competitive when engaged in commerce between the United States and Canada.

"I am truly honored to receive this award," said Congressman Camp. "Great Lakes shipping is critical to Michigan and our nation's economic well-being.Great Lakes shipping is truly an economic lifeline for our state and nation." M.E.B.A. was represented by Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo, Baltimore Branch Agent Bill McHugh, our Cleveland Representative Torey Zingales, Chief Counsel Joe Geldhof, Deputy General Counsel William Doyle and Political Director Michael Bocchini. AMC's Executive Director Brian Schoeneman also attended.

LONGTIME HQ EMPLOYEE FRANK LAURITO STANDS DOWN
Frank Laurito, a mainstay in M.E.B.A.'s Accounting Department for decades, was honored for an amazing career with the Union at his retirement party this week. Frank joined the M.E.B.A. in 1956 after a brief career on Wall Street and with a steel company. He worked at Local 33 (New York) when it was located at 752 Broadway with Bud Lamy and Leon Shapiro among others. Herbert Daggett was the President of the M.E.B.A at that time and Headquarters was located at 17 Battery Place in the Big Apple.

When Headquarters was relocated to Washington D.C. in the Summer of 1977, President Jesse Calhoon lured Frank away from the New York hall to serve as Comptroller at 444 North Capitol Street. He was part of the M.E.B.A. for many of the groundbreaking Union events and has a story to tell about each of them. He took a hiatus from the Union in the late 1980's and ran an auto insurance business in Gaithersburg, MD. But Frank was remembered when the Union ousted corrupt President DeFries from office in the early 1990's and reestablished M.E.B.A. democracy. Frank was then brought on board first as a consultant, then hired on full-time once more. He is proud of the fact that he always ran a clean operation for the Union and did things the right way. Among other well-wishers at Monday's celebration to honor Frank were Calhoon School Director Lou Marciello and Roy Luebbe, the very first School Director who joined the Union in 1959.

His co-workers at M.E.B.A. will miss him and are appreciative of how Frank "showed them the ropes" when they came onboard at HQ. We wish you the very best, Mr. Frank...get out there and live it up!

SEN. JOHN WARNER SALUTED AT PROP CLUB EVENT
The International Propeller Club of the United States has honored Sen. John Warner (R-VA) with its prestigious Salute to Congress Award for 2007. Senator Warner was selected for his consistent and strong support of the U.S. maritime industry. An M.E.B.A. contingent was on hand at the ceremony that draws an impressive industry turnout along with many maritime-friendly legislators that included, among many others, Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) who sat at the M.E.B.A. table.

Sen. Warner is a World War II naval veteran who also served in the Marines during the Korean War. He later served as the Secretary of Navy before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1978 where he has been ever since.

M.E.B.A. CONTINUES SUPPORT OF CADETS AT TEXAS A&M MARITIME
The M.E.B.A., as part of its commitment to foster young talented engineers to join the ranks of our Union, continues to support the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Drawing from the M.E.B.A. Training Plan Fund, our Houston Union hall presented $2,000 to the Maritime Program to support six promising young cadets. The scholarship is available to sophomores and upperclassmen who are seeking a 3rd engineer steam/motor license and have a strong desire for a seagoing career. Houston Dispatcher and M.E.B.A. member Erin Bertram is an A&M Maritime alumnus (class of '91). Houston Patrolman Donn Reamer announced the scholarship awards at the Academy's Spring Award ceremony. This year's Scholarship winners are Timothy Cullen ($500), Christopher Rabalais $500), Stephanie Blummer ($250), Grant Williams ($250), Graham Monahan $250), and Jeremiah Winters ($250). Congratulations!

MARITIME DAY CEREMONY AT SCHOOL/4MF SILENT AUCTION
As they did last year, the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School will play host to a Maritime Day commemoration. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 24 at 3 p.m. at the Memorial Park on School grounds.

Later that evening, a silent auction and raffle to benefit the M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial is scheduled to be held at the School in the members' lounge. The event, which runs from 6 p.m. to 11 that night, is being hosted by the M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation (4MF). The $10 cost will include hors d'oevres and the kickin' tunes for the festive atmosphere. Besides the silent auction, there will be a series of raffles that will increase your chance for coming away with some great stuff.

The proceeds from this auction will help usher in additional improvements and necessary maintenance of the Memorial. Your donations of any items that will draw a bid or be good for the raffle would be greatly appreciated.

The IRS has confirmed that contributions made to the 4MF are tax deductible. You can also support the Memorial by purchasing an engraved memorial bench or a brick that will be part of the Memorial.

Please contact Jessica Milligan about donations or to purchase a brick or a bench by calling her at (410) 822-9600 ext. 306. Her e-mail address is jmilligan@mebaschool.org.  You can also get information or a donation form from the School's website located at www.mebaschool.org and by clicking on "What's New."

THIRD PGM C/E GUILTY IN "MAGIC PIPE" VIOLATIONS
A third Chief Engineer sailing in the fleet of Pacific Gulf Marine, Inc. (a non-M.E.B.A. company) has pleaded guilty to oil pollution violations achieved by utilizing the infamous "magic pipe."

Frank Coe, who formerly headed up the engine room aboard the M/V FIDELIO (renamed the M/V PATRIOT) pleaded guilty to conspiracy and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. The vessel operator, Pacific Gulf Marine Inc. (PGM), based in Gretna, LA., previously pleaded guilty to its role in deliberately discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil-contaminated bilge waste from four of its giant car-carrier ships, including the FIDELIO. PGM was sentenced in January to pay $1 million in criminal fines and $500,000 in community service, and serve three years of probation.

Coe is the third chief engineer to plead guilty in the continuing investigation joining another former Chief of the FIDELIO and a third Chief who headed up the engine room aboard the M/V TANABATA (renamed the M/V RESOLVE). A fourth Chief (also of the TANABATA) has been indicted and the investigation is continuing.

During a March 29, 2003, inspection, Coast Guard inspectors in Baltimore lifted a deckplate and found a permanently installed bypass pipe on the FIDELIO that was part of the ship's original construction. The Coast Guard directed the removal of the bypass pipe -- and found that it was filled with black oil.

The TANABATA was found to have a removable bypass pipe that was used repeatedly to discharge oil-contaminated bilge waste overboard, since as early as 1998. According to statements, the pipe was then concealed during port calls in the U.S. to prevent its discovery by the Coast Guard. On both ships, false entries were made in the respective oil record books.

MARAD LIFTS SUSPENSION ON GHOST FLEET DISPOSALS
The federal government will resume disposing of ships from the James River Reserve Fleet, Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton announced Friday. The announcement follows a February 2007 decision by the agency to suspend ship disposal until regulatory discrepancies among federal and various state agencies had been resolved. "Fast and favorable action by the Commonwealth of Virginia allows us to move forward with disposing of these vessels in an environmentally sensitive manner," said Connaughton.

Connaughton also announced that his agency expects to make contract announcements for three ships soon, and to have the first ship move out from the James River within a month. He added that while the Maritime Administration has reached an agreement with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the agency is still working to reach similar agreements for the fleets in Beaumont, Texas, and Suisun Bay, California.

SIGN UP FOR THE GOLF TOURNAMENT AT THE SCHOOL!
Contenders for the prestigious "U&F Cup" are encouraged to sign up soon before time runs out. The Calhoon Alumni Association golf challenge will take place on June 30th with many members determined to make a weekend out of it.

The registration period ends on June 15th but it would be wise to sign up early and reserve a room if you wish to stay overnight. Check-in opens up at 4 p.m. on June 29th and a special barbecue is scheduled from 5-7 that evening. The next day, there will be a morning brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. so members can fuel up for the golf tournament. The golfing will be a four person/Chief's Choice format and will take place at the Easton Club, 28449 Clubhouse Drive. That night, there will be a buffet dinner at the Easton Club. Those wishing to stay the night on Saturday can wake up to a continental breakfast the next day beginning at 10 a.m. Sponsors are still needed for golf holes and tees, golf balls and shirts. Hole & Tee sponsorship is only $100. $135 covers the whole weekend per person (golf with dinner, room, breakfasts, BBQ.) It will be $110 per person for those who wish to golf and take advantage of the dinner but don't wish to stay overnight or go to the BBQ. It's $50 per spouse of the player for dinner & BBQ.

You can visit the School's website to find out more or to get a sign-up sheet or sponsor form. For more info, e-mail Mike Fanning at mjfann@dmv.com or Rick Simonson at simonson@mebaschool.org. Jessica at the School can also handle inquiries. She can be reached at (410) 822-9600, ext. 306.

IMB REPORTS DECLINE IN PIRACY
The most recent statistics produced by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) indicate that the number of reported piracy attacks in the first quarter of 2007 worldwide declined significantly when compared with the same period for 2006. IMB's Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report for the first quarter of 2007 cites 41 incidents of piracy in the first three months of 2007. This figure is 20 less than the 61 incidents reported in the first quarter of 2006. IMB Director Captain Pottengal Mukundan stated, "Although we remain concerned about piracy and violence against ships, we are pleased to see that the number of reported attacks is decreasing. Despite this positive trend, there are a number of regions that continue to be plagued by piracy, most notably Nigeria and Somalia."

IMB's Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report for the first quarter of 2007 not only lists key facts and figures, but also analyzes developments in piracy and identifies multiple piracy-prone areas so that ships can take preventive action. On a trial basis, IMB is offering the report free of  charge. A copy of the report can be requested by logging on to www.icc-ccs.org.

NEW S.F./OAKLAND HALL IS UP AND RUNNING - HERE'S THE SCOOP ON CONTACT INFO
At long last the new M.E.B.A. Union hall located in Oakland, CA is up and running. It officially kicked off on Wednesday, May 2nd with members participating in job call.

The hall is located at 548 Thomas L. Berkley Way, Oakland, CA 94611. The old phone and fax numbers, as well as the Dispatcher and Plans numbers will remain operational since they have been linked to the new hall. However there are a whole set of direct phone and fax numbers that will work for the hall and may be a better choice for those having problems connecting or those who are calling from Oakland. They are: Oakland Hall Phone/Fax: (510) 291-4912/510) 291-4928; Dispatch Phone/Fax: (510) 291-4917/(510) 291-4929; Plans Phone/Fax: (510) 291-4919/(510) 291-4930.

The phone and fax numbers of the Diagnostic Center have, in fact, changed. That information was not readily apparent when we went out with different information in last week's issue. The Center is contained inside the new hall but will carry a new phone number: (510) 663-6810 and fax number: (510) 663-6818. In all cases, e-mail addresses are unchanged.

The official "christening" party for the hall will be on Tuesday, June 5 following the regular membership meeting. Everybody is welcome to attend.

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.