MEBA Edition

MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION (AFL-CIO)
          "On Watch in Peace and War Since 1875"
MEBA TELEX TIMES              AUGUST 17, 2007

The Official Union Newsletter
NUMBER 33

In this issue...
Ocean Ranger jobs...Drillship work...Day engineer jobs on C-10s... OSG newbuild update...Pushing the envelope, we parcel out our certified stamp of approval on an oversized shipment of priority maritime news. Don't go postal over fourth-class competitors that "mail it in." They're nothing to write home about! Schedule a pickup for the express news 'letter' that delivers - the postage-paid Telex Times is the whole package!

NEW PACT EMPLOYS M.E.B.A. MEMBERS AS ALASKAN OCEAN RANGERS
M.E.B.A.'s President is pleased to announce that the Union has expanded into another new maritime-related arena perfectly suited for our highly skilled membership - that of Ocean Ranger. The Union entered into a tentative agreement with OASIS, an environmental and engineering firm under contract with the State of Alaska to provide Ocean Ranger services. Recently, the Ocean Rangers were mandated by a new Alaska law and are required to be on all large passenger vessels in Alaska waters.

Because this program has just been developed, the duties of the job are still somewhat in flux. Basically, the Ocean Ranger is a "monitor" aboard a cruise ship who will ensure that State and federal water quality standards and other regulations are followed. There is no requirement that any licensed marine engineer engage in watchstanding or in direct shipboard services or supervision. From a practical perspective, the Ocean Ranger is the agent for the State of Alaska in terms of environmental enforcement.

Three immediate job openings were available for dispatch in Alaska for the pilot program that is being launched at the tail end of Alaska's cruise ship season. Members snapped up those opportunities immediately. There will be substantially more Ocean Ranger jobs beginning in May 2008. It is anticipated that there will also be considerable overtime associated with this work. Given the limited length of these jobs, the dispatch to Alaska for the Ocean Ranger positions will be considered as "night card" work. Details on pay and benefits have been sent to each of the M.E.B.A. Union halls.

The only known problem with these jobs at this juncture is that the Coast Guard has not authorized "sea time" or "sailing time" for this work as the jobs are currently considered maritime supernumerary positions. M.E.B.A. is engaged in discussions with the Coast Guard to gain credit (e.g., one hour for each three hours aboard the vessels, etc.), as sea time for these jobs.

M.E.B.A. is committed to working out the details with OASIS and the State of Alaska as we move forward. The long-term prospects for providing good, full-time seasonal jobs aboard foreign-flagged passenger vessels are significant in this situation.

If you have further questions about this matter, please contact Joe Geldhof, M.E.B.A. Chief Counsel at M.E.B.A. Headquarters at (202) 638-5355 or call him via cell phone at (202) 441-5908. You can also contact M.E.B.A.'s Contract Administrator at HQ about this Ocean Ranger program.

DRILLSHIP ENGINEER JOBS ON OPEN BOARD
Armada Companies, is seeking two Engineers with a Second Assistant's license or higher for its contract with Frontier Drilling. The two positions will be Assistant Subsea Engineers onboard the MODU KULLUK. Training as a Subsea Engineer will be conducted on the job. The initial assignment is approximately 90 days. Jobs will be permanent subject to successful evaluation onboard. Vacation is day for day and there is full coverage under all M.E.B.A. Plans including Pension, MPB, Medical & Benefits and Training. The KULLUK is currently positioned in Mackenzie Bay on the North Coast of Canada. These jobs are on the open board nationwide. Contact James Freeman, Armada Crewing Coordinator, at (707) 762-7455 for more information.

PROGRESS ON OSG NEWBUILDS AT AKER
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is reporting progress on the next three newbuilds in a series of vessels being built at the yard. Aker is constructing up to 16 MT-46 Veteran Class product tankers that will be chartered to OSG and crewed up with M.E.B.A. officers. The OVERSEAS HOUSTON and OVERSEAS LONG BEACH have already been completed and delivered. The entire hull structure of the third vessel in the series has just been completed. The vessel will be named the OVERSEAS LOS ANGELES. Originally it was slated to be called the SAN FRANCISCO. Finishing touches on the hull are being made in advance of the ship's float-out in the coming weeks. It is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

The fourth vessel in the series, the OVERSEAS NEW YORK, continues to advance. The lower stern section, to which the vessel's rudder will be mounted, has been painted and is currently being stored on a jig adjacent to the Building Dock. It will be mounted in place just prior to the hull being pushed forward into its permanent position in the dock following the launch of the LOS ANGELES.

Hull 009, to be called the OVERSEAS TEXAS CITY, is currently in the yard's Grand Block Shop. The keel laying for the vessel is expected to take place early this fall.

BILLION DOLLAR CASH INFUSION IN NCL WILL AID EXPANSION
Private equity group Apollo Management, LP has announced that it is making a $1 billion cash equity investment in Norwegian Cruise Lines, a move that further buoys NCL's commitment towards future growth.

M.E.B.A. deck and engineering officers serve on NCL-America vessels. The new investment, in the form of common stock alongside NCL's existing sole shareholder, Star Cruises, is designed to strengthen NCL's balance sheet and its ability to continue to expand what is fast-becoming the youngest fleet in the industry.

"To have an investment on this scale by one of the very top names in the private equity world is a huge vote of confidence in the new NCL we have created since Star Cruises became the owner in 2000," said NCL Corporation's President and CEO Colin Veitch.

Steve Martinez, Partner at Apollo Management, added, "We are very excited to be forming this partnership with Star Cruises and the existing management team of NCL. Our investment will help NCL complete its transition into the youngest fleet in the cruise industry, with a truly original next generation product with its F3 concept ships. We believe the NCL brand has significant growth potential over many years to come."

MAERSK G-CLASS SHIPS BULK UP U.S.-FLAG MIDDLE EAST SERVICE
Maersk Line, Ltd. will complete a swap-out of three older Maritime Security Program ships for three newer ones next week. The vessels will be the centerpiece for a weekly U.S.-flag service to the Middle East.

Three E-class vessels were sent to the company's overseas fleet and were exchanged for three newer G-class container vessels. The MAERSK MARYLAND (ex-M/V ENDURANCE) headed out and M.E.B.A. officers took over the MAERSK GUERNSEY which was renamed the MAERSK MONTANA. The MAERSK VERMONT (ex-M/V ENDEAVOR) sailed overseas and was replaced by the MAERSK GOSFORTH - a ship renamed the MAERSK OHIO. Next week, the MAERSK IOWA (former MAERSK GREENOCK) will flag in to the U.S. registry and the MAERSK MAINE (ex-M/V ENTERPRISE) goes to the international fleet.

The addition of the three vessels, all built in 2006, will allow Maersk to offer greater frequency, capacity and reliability to U.S. flag customers on the Middle East route.

"These vessels represent a significant investment in the U.S. flag fleet and will shape the future of MLL's U.S. Flag Liner Business," said John Reinhart, MLL President and CEO. "The changes announced today signal Maersk's ongoing commitment to better serve our U.S. flag customers."

The new service route will begin each week with port calls in Newark, Norfolk and Charleston before crossing the Atlantic and hitting Cagliari, Italy; Port Said, Egypt; Salalah, Oman; Jebel Ali, UAE; Port Qasim, Pakistan and Nhava Sheva, India.

DAY ENGINEER JOBS OPENING UP AT EAST COAST PORTS AS C-10s START SUEZ EXPRESS RUN
Three more C-10 class vessels crewed by M.E.B.A. officers for American President Lines are redeploying to the East Coast for APL's Suez Express service. The fourth C-10, the PRESIDENT ADAMS, has been sailing the Asia to U.S. East Coast run via the Suez Canal for almost a year now. The three other C-10's, formerly based on the West Coast, will now be joining the ADAMS for the service.

The ADAMS as well as the PRESIDENT JACKSON, PRESIDENT TRUMAN and PRESIDENT POLK will be making stops in New York, Norfolk, Charleston and Savannah before sailing again for Middle Eastern ports. M.E.B.A. day engineers will be needed for the ship visits. Our New York, Norfolk and Charleston Union halls have schedules that will allow M.E.B.A. members to plan in advance for when those jobs go up on the board.

The ships will transit eastbound through the Suez Canal stopping at a Mid East port, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka before returning to U.S. East Coast ports.

CMES OFFERS COMPUTER APPLICATIONS PROFICIENCY TEST ONLINE
CMES has made it easier for the membership to complete training requirements for Maersk. The Computer Applications proficiency test is now available online.

Additional details and instructions may be found by logging on to the school's web site at www.mebaschool.org and clicking on the link for Online Testing. Any questions regarding the process may be directed to dl@mebaschool.org.  Please note that the successful completion of this online proficiency test will only give the student credit towards their Maersk training requirements. No course certificate or other form of endorsement will be issued.

BREAKDOWN OF 2008 COURSES AT CALHOON SCHOOL
Members currently shipping out have expressed a desire to get a look at the upcoming 2008 course load recently announced at the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School. The Telex Times announced that the schedule had been released last week and is currently available at the halls and on the School's website.

However, members currently at sea do not have access to those resources. Therefore, we present a whirlwind breakdown of the course list below. Please note that members cannot sign up for these courses until October 8, 2007 at the earliest.

ROADWORK ON ARTERY NEAR SEATTLE HALL UNDERWAY
Major roadwork on a highway that many members use to drive to M.E.B.A.'s Seattle Union hall continues after beginning a week ago tonight. The Washington State Department of Transportation is urging drivers to take alternate routes and account for the round-the-clock road closures on I-5 between Spokane Street and I-90. The work continues until August 29th.

You can visit a special webpage set up by the State (accessed from www.wsdot.wa.gov)  to apprise drivers on the latest information regarding the work and the associated delays. The hall will be operating on a normal business schedule throughout the closures. But it continues to be a good idea to call ahead when visiting our offices on South Homer Street.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Tuesday, September 4 - Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Seattle;
Wednesday, September 5 - Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, September 6 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, September 7 - Honolulu.

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