In this issue...
M.E.B.A. crews up another MSC ship...Horizon eyes short sea shipping service...Amended TWIC rule...Blackout! Are you groping along powerlessly for illuminating industry items? Don't blow a fuse over dim-bulb newsletters that keep you in the dark! Working the nautical circuit, we switch on the maritime current to reflect a full spectrum of brilliant news flashes. Always a bright idea, the 100-megawatt Telex Times will help you see the light!

M.E.B.A. CREWS UP LATEST MSC VESSEL
M.E.B.A. officers crewed up the Navy rescue and salvage ship USS SAFEGUARD on Sunday after the vessel was decommissioned and transferred to the Military Sealift Command. Following the transfer, the ship proudly assumed the designator United States Naval Ship - USNS SAFEGUARD. The M.E.B.A. engineers, along with MM&P deck officers and SIU unlicensed members reported to the ship after the transfer ceremony in Sasebo, Japan.

SAFEGUARD will remain in Sasebo and will have the same mission and operational capabilities. These missions include: salvage of stranded vessels; rescue and assistance operations; recovery of submerged objects; and manned-diving operations. The civil service crew will be complemented by a four-person military detachment of Navy sailors for communications support, and up to 20 Navy divers as the mission requires.

SAFEGUARD is the fourth and final Navy rescue and salvage ship to be transferred to MSC, joining USNS GRAPPLE, GRASP, SALVOR - each crewed with M.E.B.A. officers.

HORIZON LINES COULD MOVE AHEAD WITH SHORT SEA SHIPPING SERVICE
M.E.B.A.-contracted company Horizon Lines could set up a short sea shipping service along the east coast as soon as next year if conditions are right, the company's President and CEO said this week. Speaking at a shipping conference in New York City this week, Horizon's Chuck Raymond revealed that his company has a plan in place to deploy a trio of vessels in a domestic coastal service that could also help alleviate increasing highway congestion. He pointed out, though, that the company would likely move ahead with the plan only if Congress were willing to help create conditions that would enable the success of such a service like repealing the obstructive Harbor Maintenance Tax. A rededication to Title XI, he also mentioned, the ship loan guarantee program, would also help short sea shippers construct the vessels necessary for a successful service.

Because of the recent influx of five newbuild containerships into their fleet, Horizon has at least three older vessels "on standby" that could be freed up to participate in this proposed east coast service. The company operates 16 Jones Act vessels as well as the five newly constructed ships. M.E.B.A. represents all licensed engineers in the Horizon fleet.

Along with the newbuilds, Horizon has also demonstrated its commitment to growth through a pair of recent acquisitions. They completed their purchase of Hawaiian Stevedores in late June of this year to further strengthen their service in the 50th State. They also closed on the acquisition of Aero Logistics, a full-service, third party logistics provider based in San Francisco, CA. "We have a company that's very well-poised for growth in the future," Raymond told conference attendees.

AMENDED FINAL RULE ON TWIC PUBLISHED
The Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Coast Guard have forwarded a final rule amending a previous final rule that will allow for greater participation in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program and codify final fees to obtain a TWIC. The TWIC is a biometric credential that will be issued to transportation workers allowing them unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and terminal facilities.

This final rule amends Coast Guard regulations concerning vessel and facility security by requiring the use of the TWIC as an access control measure. Specifically, Coast Guard is adjusting its definition of secure areas, to take into account facilities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, whose workers are not required to obtain work visas from the U.S before being allowed to work.

TSA regulations are amended with this filing to allow additional non-resident aliens to apply for a TWIC if they are working in a job that requires them to have unescorted access to a maritime facility. TSA also amends the scope provision of the rule to include additional non-resident aliens that may apply for a TWIC. TSA amends its regulations to clarify those credentialed merchant mariners who may receive a TWIC at a reduced fee. The agency adjusts the fee portion of the regulation, increasing the replacement credential fee from $36 to $60 and codifying the other fees that were announced in March. Finally, TSA announces a reduction in the fee charged by the FBI to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history record checks that are submitted to the FBI electronically. Therefore, under the amended rule that goes into effect as of today, the standard fee for a TWIC is $132.50 and the reduced TWIC fee for applicants who have completed a comparable threat assessment is $105.25.

M.E.B.A. CONTINUES SUPPORT TO JAY CORCORAN FUND
M.E.B.A. members showed up in force to remember popular M.E.B.A. Brother Jay Corcoran and support the fund set up in his name to provide scholarships for Norwell, Massachusetts high school students.

A 22-year member, Jay was on his way back to catch his ship, the APL THAILAND on September 11, 2001, when his airplane was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center.

The Sixth Annual Jay Corcoran Memorial Golf Tournament, that raises scholarship money for youths in Jay's hometown of Norwell, took place on Friday, September 21.

Contributions can continue to be made to the Jay Corcoran Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Citizens Bank, 36 Washington St., Norwell, MA 02061.

HORIZON SHIPS HONORED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
Thirteen vessels operated by Horizon Lines were cited for Environmental Excellence at a D.C. ceremony this week. The Chamber of Shipping of America presented the outstanding achievement awards for the ships, which have been sailing at the highest environmental standards for a combined total of 94 years.

Two vessels, the HORIZON ENTERPRISE and HORIZON NAVIGATOR were especially deserving of the recognition having achieved 34 consecutive years of excellence between them.

Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, who spoke at the event, pointed out that in the early 1970s more than 25 oil contamination events of seven tons or more occurred in and around U.S. waters. But during this past year less than 6% of these events and accumulated contamination have occurred worldwide. "We are proving to be good stewards of our oceans and must continue to focus on achieving excellence in this area," he contested.

The Horizon ships honored included: HORIZON CHALLENGER, HORIZON DISCOVERY, HORIZON ENTERPRISE, HORIZON FAIRBANKS, HORIZON KODIAK, HORIZON NAVIGATOR, HORIZON PACIFIC, HORIZON PRODUCER, HORIZON RELIANCE, HORIZON TRADER, USNS BOWDITCH, USNS HEEZEN and the USNS JOHN McDONNELL.

CREW OF HORIZON FALCON PRAISED ON HOUSE FLOOR
For their amazing seamanship and bravery, the crew of the HORIZON FALCON was commended by North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx before her colleagues on the House Floor recently. Stressing that "ordinary people can do extraordinary good if given a chance," Rep. Foxx recounted the dramatic rescue this summer of Chinese seafarers northwest of Guam by the crew of the FALCON. The ship is comprised of M.E.B.A. and MM&P officers with an unlicensed crew represented by SIU.

She noted that the ship's crew came to the rescue of Chinese crewmembers on a 420-foot log carrier after the vessel encountered the 70-mile-per-hour winds and 24-foot seas of a typhoon. The rough seas apparently caused the log ship's cargo to shift, which led to the loss of the vessel.

"When the HORIZON FALCON arrived, it found survivors in the water surrounded by an oil slick and debris from the sunken ship. With the U.S. Coast Guard on the way, the Horizon Lines' vessel immediately began a search and rescue operation amidst treacherous 30-foot swells and 40-mile-an-hour winds," Rep. Foxx narrated. She told Members of Congress how the crew navigated through heavy seas filled with scores of logs bobbing up and down and managed to get the huge containership within range of a using one of the FALCON's lifeboats. "I cannot say enough to commend the bravery of these men who risked their lives to save someone with whom they had no connection. Their selfless act was a demonstration of profound humanity in the face of extreme danger," said Rep. Foxx.

"Working against time and the power of nature, the captain and crew of the HORIZON FALCON risked their own lives so others might emerge from a disastrous shipwreck to sail another day," she said. "We live in a time when it is easy to pass up opportunities to help someone in distress with the assumption that someone else will take care of it," said Rep. Foxx. "But in the spirit of the Good Samaritan they deserve to be commended for reaching out across boundaries of language and culture and helping people in dire need."

She continued, "I wish to extend my thanks to all the people at this fine North Carolina company (Horizon Lines, the vessel operator) for a job well done. They have shown what they value most, which is to protect human lives at all cost and to reach out to those in need. I hope other companies take notice and follow their lead in this exemplary deed."

BASIC SAFETY TRAINING COURSE ADDED TO 2007 SCHEDULE; ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE
An STCW Basic Safety Training course has been added to the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School's 2007 course schedule. This class will run from October 15-19, 2007. Any member or retiree interested in attending needs to send their application to Registrar Shirley Shelton. You can fax it to 410-822-7220 or register online -- that's right, online! The Online Course Application is now operational on the School's website.

Students who have logged in to the site can now electronically apply for attendance in any CMES course. This creates yet another way to submit course applications along with traditional mail, email, or faxing the forms. You can access the Online Course Application from the Admissions page and by clicking the link on the left-side menu.

GET YOUR MEMORIAL BRICKS
The Memorial Foundation will be placing the next order for bricks on November 9, 2007. Memorial bricks can be engraved with names of loved ones and are part of the retreat at the Merchant Marine Memorial Park located on School grounds in Easton, MD. The park is a tribute to fallen mariners. Anyone wishing to purchase a brick must complete and return a donation form and monies prior to this date. Please continue to help the cause - donations are greatly needed for the maintenance of the park!

For more information and to obtain the form please visit the School's website at www.mebaschool.org and click on "What's New" or contact Jessica Milligan at (410) 822-9600 ext. 306. The e-mail address is memorial@mebaschool.org.

AFL-CIO VOTES IN HOLT-BAKER AS EXECUTIVE V.P.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council unanimously voted in Arlene Holt-Baker as the federation's Executive Vice President, making her the first African-American ever to serve in one of the top three executive offices of the 10 million-member federation. Holt-Baker fills the unexpired term of retiring Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson.

Holt-Baker will work on a range of issues and concerns. She is said to be ready to devote special attention to leadership on health care reform as well as workers' freedom to form unions, and to working on strengthening grassroots union movements in cities and states.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Tuesday, October 9 - Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Seattle;
Wednesday, October 10 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, October 11 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, October 12 - Honolulu.