MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION (AFL-CIO)
         "On Watch in Peace and War Since 1875"

MEBA TELEX TIMES       FEBRUARY 01, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 5

In this issue...
Get your TWIC...Lump sum factors final...Car & bike show to benefit Memorial...Knock knock! From New York, New York to Walla Walla, Washington, we make you think twice with a muumuu size issue of maritime bon-bons that reads like an industry Who's Who. Don't get buddy-buddy with so-so, two-timing newsletters that murmur out doublespeak. Its the same old-same old! We pooh-pooh them and send those yo-yo, repeat offenders back to Never-Never Land. Hear hear! You'll go gaga over the Telex Times. Its a win-win!

AFTER SEPTEMBER 25, NO TWIC MEANS NO WORK
There are less than 170 business days left until all U.S. mariners MUST have their TWIC in order to continue to sail. It takes at least 30 days between the time you go to a TWIC center to make your initial application until you can pick up the card and activate your TWIC.

Estimates are that, if all mariners needing a TWIC are to get one by September 26, 2008 (the date they're required to have one by) the TWIC centers will have to process 1200 applications a day. These centers are currently processing about 400 applications per day.

If you wait much longer you may not secure your TWIC by the time you need it to continue working.

Members should pre-enroll for TWIC on the TSA Web site (www.tsa.gov/twic). Pre-enrollment speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This reduces waiting and in-person enrollment times for each individual. More information on the TWIC program is available at www.tsa.gov/twic and additional information on port security is available at the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport site at http://homeport.uscg.mil by clicking on the Maritime Security link.

UPDATE ON LUMP SUM FACTORS
The Pension Plan Actuary has calculated lump sum factors using the interest rate corresponding to the months of August, September, October, November and December and the applicable mortality table. The lump sum factors determined using the month of November result in the most favorable lump sums for Plan Participants planning retirement during 2008. The Table containing the Lump Sum Factors based on the November interest rate was published in the January 4, 2008 edition of the Telex Times. For further information call the Pension Department at the Plan Office.

SCHOOL SETS CAR & BIKE SHOW TO BENEFIT MEMORIAL
The M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation is having a Car & Bike Show that will take place at the School on May 24, 2008 from 10 a.m.5 p.m. There will be raffles, food, live music, and trophies for winning contestants all for a $5 admission fee for those not entering a car or motorcycle in the show.

If you are showing in the event, there will be a $25 Registration Fee for a Car, $15 for a Motorcycle. All proceeds go to the M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation, Inc. to help with further maintenance on the Memorial. Registration begins at 10 am on that day with the judging beginning at noon. A band will rock out the show starting at 1 p.m. The Burn Out begins at 2 p.m. with the raffle and door prizes at 3 p.m.

If you want to register or just plain donate or need to ask about vending opportunities, please contact Jessica Milligan at (410) 822-9600, ext. 306 or jmilligan@mebaschool.org. Checks should be payable to MMMMF, Inc, P.O. Box 4332, Easton, MD 21601. Visit the Memorial section of the Schools website (www.mebaschool.org).

MAERSK GETS A PIECE OF HOEGH
Höegh Autoliners and A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S have announced their agreement for Mærsk to become a 37.5% shareholder in Höegh Autoliners.

At the same time Höegh acquires A.P. Moller-Maersks fleet of 18 car carriers (including six newbuilds). Höegh will commercially operate the combined fleet of about 67 vessels globally from its offices in Oslo and about 30 locations world-wide under the Höegh Autoliners brand. Vessels already ordered by the Company will grow its carrying capacity by 45 percent to 85 ships by 2012. Closing of the transaction is expected to take place in March 2008 once any applicable regulatory approvals have been received. This builds on the parties existing tonnage cooperation that began in February 2007 in which Maersk entered its fleet of 12 car carriers into a commercial operation controlled by Höegh.

MARAD UNLOADS THREE RUSTBUCKETS FOR $$$
Taking advantage of the growing demand for scrap steel, the Maritime Administration has sold three obsolete ships, all to be recycled at facilities in Brownsville, Texas, for a total of $161,673. These arrangements provide a fiscally responsible way to speed ship disposal, explained Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton.

The sale stands in contrast to most ship disposal contracts in recent years, which have involved the federal government paying to have ships recycled. High worldwide prices for scrap steel have recently made such ships more valuable to the recycling facility, which has the right to sell the steel and other materials recovered from the ships.

The three ships are: the BAYAMON, a roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier built in 1970, sold to All Star Metals LLC of Brownsville, Texas for $12,221; the DEL VALLE, a breakbulk freighter built in 1968, sold to All Star for $62,726; and the MAINE, a breakbulk freighter built in 1944, sold to ESCO Marine for $86,726. When the BAYAMON departs, it will be the 67th vessel to be removed from the James River Fleet since January of 2001. The DEL VALLE and the MAINE will be towed from the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas, to Brownsville, Texas.

SEN. WEBB REITERATES MARITIME SUPPORT
M.E.B.A. hosted a maritime fundraiser for first-term Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) at Headquarters this week attended by a cross section of industry representatives. The Senator becomes Virginias Senior Senator next year after Sen. John Warner retires. A Naval Academy graduate, Sen. Webb was a decorated Vietnam veteran having served in the Marines and is a former Secretary of Navy. He is quite familiar with maritime issues already and voiced his strong support of the Jones Act and Maritime Security Program. The M.E.B.A. was pleased to meet with him and expects to a have a long and positive relationship with him.

KEEFE, ILAs HUGHES JOIN MTD EXECUTIVE BOARD
M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe along and Richard Hughes, Jr., President of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) are new members of the executive board of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO (MTD).

Hughes, was elected to the presidency of the ILA last year taking over for John Bowers. He is a Navy veteran who started working on the Baltimore docks in 1954 and worked himself up the ILA ranks.

The MTD is an AFL-CIO coalition of maritime-oriented unions and port councils.

INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO PROTECT MARINERS FOLLOWING ACCIDENTS
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have joined forces in a new initiative to help protect seafarers involved in maritime accidents. The three organizations, which represent maritime employers and trade unions worldwide, announced that they have united to support and promote the IMO and ILO Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers In The Event Of A Maritime Accident.

As part of the campaign the three groups are distributing posters (supported by websites and leaflets) worldwide to show seafarers how the Guidelines can help protect them. They are also encouraging their members - national shipowners associations belonging to the ISF and ICS, and seafarers unions affiliated to the ITF - to approach their governments in order to promote the Guidelines and to monitor how effectively they are being implemented.

ITF General Secretary, David Cockroft, remarked: The knee-jerk scapegoating of seafarers following accidents at sea is a growing concern to us all. In recent years the response of too many national authorities has been to reach for the handcuffs first and find out what actually happened last. Incidents like these prove how vital the Guidelines are. Im proud to say that the ITF and ISF in their capacity as ILO social partners, with support from ICS and other industry organizations, helped to develop these Guidelines, which were the product of tripartite negotiations with governments prior to their agreement by IMO and ILO.

STILL TIME TO SECURE WORK ABOARD HAYES & WATERS
Patriot Contract Services, LLC is accepting resumes for positions on the USNS HAYES and USNS WATERS. The HAYES will turn over to Patriot operation on approximately February 28th. The vessel operates in and out of Port Canaveral, FL. The WATERS will turn over to Patriot on approximately April 30th. The vessel splits time between the Pacific and Atlantic, operating from Hawaii and Southern California when in the Pacific, and from Port Canaveral, Florida when in the Atlantic. Completion of the Calhoon Schools Government Operations Course (which includes HAZMAT, Damage Control, MSC Environmental Programs, CBRD) and the First Aid course (which includes CPR & AED Certification) are required for these positions. Individuals must be eligible for a secret security clearance. For further information, send questions or a resume by e-mail to john.howe@asmhq.com,  or fax your resume (877) 573-1094.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, February 4 Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, February 5 Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco;
Wednesday, February 6 Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, February 7 L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, February 8 Honolulu.

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