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

MEBA TELEX TIMES           APRIL 11, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 15

In this issue...
Latest T-AKE launched...FRC elected...Clinton, Obama responses to M.E.B.A. questionnaire...From Marlboro Country to Tobacco Road, we light up an addictive, hard-pack edition with the low-tar, full-flavor maritime items of the week. The Surgeon General has determined that yellow-teeth, hack newsletters are a real drag and may complicate pregnancy. Those nicotine-stained, cancerous butts should only be inhaled in designated areas. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Take a puff of the non-filtered, hand-rolled Telex Times -- It's a hard habit to break!

LATEST M.E.B.A.-CREWED T-AKE LAUNCHED
The latest Military Sealift Command T-AKE was launched in a nighttime ceremony at San Diego's NASSCO shipyard this week. The USNS AMELIA EARHART, is the sixth newbuild in the Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships that is upgrading the MSC fleet. The 689-foot vessel slid into the water for the first time with red, white and blue streamers flowing from its bow and fireworks lighting the sky overhead. The EARHART is named in honor of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. She received the award after completing a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart disappeared in 1937 over the central Pacific Ocean during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Earhart's niece, Amy Kleppner, served as the ship's sponsor, breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship.

The Lewis & Clark class ships deliver ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to the Navy's carrier strike groups at sea and other naval forces worldwide, allowing them to stay at sea, on station and combat ready for extended periods of time.

The EARHART will be delivered to the Navy later this year which will then turn it over to the MSC. The Navy expects to build 14-TAKEs, the first eleven of which will serve as combat logistics ships. The remaining three are expected to be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future). All 14 of the ships will be owned and operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command and crewed with M.E.B.A. officers.

HORIZON LINES SHIP NABS RESCUE AT SEA AWARD
M.E.B.A.-contracted company Horizon Lines was presented with the AMVER-Assisted Rescue at Sea Award for the extraordinary courage and seamanship of the HORIZON FALCON crew. The vessel is crewed by M.E.B.A. and MM&P officers and an unlicensed crew represented by SIU. AMVER Program Director Captain Christopher Hall presented the award to the HORIZON FALCON's Captain Tom McDorr at the 2008 Lloyd's List London Awards on April 2nd. The crew of the FALCON courageously assisted in the rescue of Chinese crewmembers of the Panamanian-flagged ship, HAI TONG No. 7, after it sank in typhoon-heavy seas 300 nautical miles northwest of Guam last July.

As members know, the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, is a unique, computer-based voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. Horizon Lines has participated in AMVER since the rescue system's establishment in 1958, and all 21 of the company's vessels are enrolled.

FRC COMMITTEE ELECTIONS COMING UP
A rank and file Financial Review Committee was elected at regular membership meetings this week at six Union halls. The six-person FRC will be comprised of Claude Pfeffer (Baltimore), Travis Ellis (Houston), Ed Lee (New Orleans), Frank Dalrymple (New York/New Jersey), Christian Yuhas (San Francisco/Oakland) and Claudia Cimini (Seattle). The Committee will gather at M.E.B.A. Headquarters on April 21 to review Union finances from the 2007 calendar year. Their first order of business will be to select a committee chairman, recording secretary and randomly designate an alternate. Their report will be included in the packet at the regular membership meeting in May.

ANOTHER SHIP OPERATOR GOES DOWN OVER ILLEGAL OIL DISCHARGES
PACCSHIP, the operator and manager of a 10-ship fleet pleaded guilty last week for crimes related to improper transfers and discharges of oil-contaminated waste from two of its ships, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced. They were ordered to pony up $1.7 million in fines.

Specifically, PACCSHIP pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and for using falsified records that concealed improper transfers and discharges of oil-contaminated waste. The company was also sentenced to serve a four-year term of probation during which it must implement and follow a stringent environmental compliance program that includes a court-appointed monitor and outside independent auditing of its ships. The government's investigation began on April 11, 2006, when inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the Sinapore-flagged M/V PAC ANTARES following the ship's arrival in Morehead City, N.C. The inspection uncovered evidence that crewmembers aboard the ship had improperly handled and disposed of the ship's oil-contaminated waste and falsified entries in the ship's official Oil Record Book to conceal these activities. During the inspection, crewmembers lied to Coast Guard inspectors in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. The ship's Second Engineer pleaded guilty on May 7, 2007, in a North Carolina court to making materially false statements in the ship's Oil Record Book relating to management of oil-contaminated waste aboard the ship. On Nov. 5, 2006, inspectors from the Coast Guard, boarded the M/V PAC ALTAIR, another ship operated and managed by PACCSHIP, again in Morehead City. The inspection again uncovered evidence that crewmembers aboard the ship had improperly handled and disposed of the ship's oil-contaminated waste and falsified entries in the ship's Oil Record Book to conceal their activities. The ship's Chief Engineer later pleaded guilty to making false statements in the Oil Record Book.

CLINTON, OBAMA DECLARE SUPPORT FOR MARITIME INDUSTRY IN M.E.B.A. QUESTIONNAIRE
Senator Hilary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) expressed strong support for the U.S. maritime industry in responses to questions sent to them by the M.E.B.A. As most people know, the two are embroiled in a heated contest to become the Democratic Party's nominee for President. The answers forwarded by both candidates were heartening in that the candidates professed unequivocal support for the Jones Act, Maritime Security Program and other important maritime statutes.

Sen. Clinton's and Sen. Obama's responses follow.

1) What is your position on the Jones Act?

Sen. Clinton: I am strongly committed to using American products as a way of spurring the creation of new jobs in this country. When we use American products in our coastal vessels, we spur more jobs for hardworking Americans and we guarantee that the United States is self-sufficient in constructing ships that will be needed in times of war or national emergency. The Jones Act is essential to our maritime industry, and as President, I will firmly oppose any effort to weaken the legislation.

Sen. Obama: The Jones Act is a vital part of our national defense and supports American workers. As President, I would fully enforce it.

2) Under what conditions would you waive the Jones Act?

Sen. Clinton: I believe that waivers of the Jones Act are appropriate only in very narrow circumstances. While there may be cases where a waiver of the Jones Act is appropriate for reasons of national security, it would not be the policy of my administration to promote or encourage exemptions to the Jones Act.

Sen. Obama: The Jones Act should be waived only under rare circumstances. I spoke out when the Bush Administration ignored the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which applies Jones Act requirements to cruise, ferry and excursion vessels, and contracted Carnival Cruise Lines, a foreign-owned company, to house evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Not only did they earn a higher-than-normal profit, but they violated federal law in doing so. As is required by law, I will only waive the Jones Act when necessitated by national security.

3) Do you support cargo preference for U.S. government-impelled cargoes?

Sen. Clinton: Yes, I believe we should strive for 100 percent of cargo to be carried by carried exclusively on U.S.-flag vessels at fair and reasonable rates.

Sen. Obama: Our cargo-preference laws are an important way for us to regulate and support the maritime industry. Supporting the maritime industry allows us to ensure that we have the resources we need during times of war and national emergency and maintains standards in the industry. I will continue to support cargo preference laws where they uphold our goals in shipping.

4) Do you support cargo preference for P.L. 480 "Food for Peace" and the other food aid programs?

Sen. Clinton: Yes. The Food for Peace program has sent millions of metric tons of food to hundreds of countries worldwide. Billions of people at risk of hunger have benefited from this and other food aid programs.

Sen. Obama: The U.S. is the largest contributor of food aid in the world, and the merchant marines perform an essential role in ensuring that food arrives to those that need it the most. Current cargo preference regulations stipulate that, if U.S.-flag vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates, 75% of food aid must be shipped on U.S.-flag vessels. These cargo preference laws are a way to support our marine fleet and, in turn, invest in national security. I support these laws. We recently learned that business and transportation costs now account for approximately 65% of food aid expenditures. I will work to make the reimbursement system more effective and pursue other strategies recommended by the GAO to reduce transportation costs before dismantling cargo preference for food aid. For example, in food aid contracts, carriers are disproportionately held responsible for logistical obstacles at loading or unloading. As a result, fewer bidders compete for the contracts, and carriers account for this added risk by raising their rates. The GAO argues that redistributing this risk would attract more competitors and lower costs. I think we should consider this option as well as the other recommendations from the GAO report. I will also lead an effort to modernize our foreign assistance policies, tools, and operations to get aid to people who need it. This requires a new partnership with Congress, NGOs, international organizations and, where appropriate, foreign governments. The goal should be to modernize and streamline the bureaucracies, dramatically improve coordination, enhance the implementation of programs, and update legislation that governs foreign assistance.

5) Do you support fully funding the Maritime Security Program?

Sen. Clinton: Yes. The Maritime Security Program is very important for commercial vessels when it comes to international trade. It is also critical in the event of a national defense need. As President, I will make sure that our country has a strong maritime fleet to meet the needs of our economy and our military.

Sen. Obama: Yes. The Maritime Security Program helps ensure US-flag vessels are ready to meet our needs during times of war or national emergency and I support fully funding it.

6) Would you support further expansion of the Maritime Security Program to increase the fleet of U.S.-flag commercial vessels available to the Department of Defense during times of war or national emergency?

Sen. Clinton: Yes, our maritime industry is a critical component of our economy and during times of war or national emergency, it should receive the utmost protection.

Sen. Obama: I support funding the Maritime Security Program so that it serves our nation's national security needs. If the GAO or another independent body finds that the MSP program needs to be expanded, I will support expanding it to the size necessary.

CAR & BIKE SHOW WILL 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 2443, Easton, MD 21601. Visit the Memorial section of the School's website (www.mebaschool.org).

JAX MEETING DAY WILL SHIFT TO MONDAYS STARTING IN MAY
The Jacksonville Union hall will permanently change its regular membership meeting day from Tuesday to Monday beginning next month in May (Monday, May 5). The hour and location of the meetings will remain the same.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, May 5 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, May 6 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, May 7 - Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, May 8 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, May 9 - Honolulu.

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