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

MEBA TELEX TIMES           MAY 23, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 21

In this issue...
National Maritime Day...Argon gas kills port workers...CG issues marine safety plan...Brrrr! In a brisk, deep-freeze edition, we stop you cold with a blizzard of teeth-chattering maritime news that'll give you goose bumps. Don't get burned by hot-headed, inflammatory newsletters that make you sweat and get your blood boiling. We give them a frosty reception and chill out with an issue of glacial proportions so good it'll send shivers up your spine - the Telex Times is the King of Cool!

NATIONAL MARITIME DAY FESTIVITIES
A flurry of events in the nation's capital on Thursday honored mariners past and present on National Maritime Day. Maritime Day was first designated by Congress in 1933 to commemorate the May 22, 1819 Atlantic crossing of the S.S. SAVANNAH that sailed from Savannah, GA. to Liverpool, England, using steam propulsion. The occasion is set aside as a time to reflect on America's maritime heritage and to honor those mariners who gave their lives defending our Nation's freedom.

The Maritime Administration hosted a morning ceremony at D.C.'s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters was the keynote speaker at the event. She praised the men and women of the Merchant Marine saying, "The life of a mariner is a life of service. It is a life defined by long, lonely periods at sea, punctuated with brief reunions with family and loved ones. It is a life filled with challenge, pitting the skill, training, and courage of sailors against the full furies of nature. Yet thankfully, in every generation, America has been blessed with men and women willing to face the difficulties of life at sea in order to safeguard our national security and promote our economic prosperity."

In his speech, among other things, Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton pointed out that it is time to reexamine the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 and define a modern vision for the maritime industry by better reflecting the realities of today. During Roosevelt's time, he said, "each mode of transportation essentially operated independently from each other. That is no longer the case. Our transportation system has become an integrated network, not just within the U.S., but around the world. It is no longer a simple matter of adding roads or rails, or forcing more traffic through already congested ports. These systems must work together seamlessly, and we must use our wealth of waterways to full advantage to keep congestion from overwhelming our transportation network."

M.E.B.A.'s contingent for the Maritime Day ceremony included President Don Keefe, Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo, Baltimore Branch Agent Tom Suneson, Govt. Fleets Rep. Randi Ciszewski, rank and file members Phil Lessard and Dominic Walsh as well as several Headquarters staffers. Later in the afternoon, the Military Sealift Command performed its annual wreath laying ceremony at Washington's Navy Yard to honor mariners. MSC Commander Rear Admiral Robert Reilly, Jr. delivered remarks as did USTRANSCOM Commander Gen. Norton Schwartz.

President Bush released a Maritime Day proclamation on Wednesday. He proclaimed, "Since 1775, the U.S. Merchant Marine has served our country, helping America become a great maritime power. During the Second World War, courageous mariners were among those who suffered greatly -- hundreds of ships were lost to enemy action, and many mariners made the ultimate sacrifice. We pay tribute to these heroes who answered the call to serve when our Nation needed them most. Today, our merchant mariners continue to protect our homeland, including by supporting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In times of peace and war, these brave patriots help keep our Nation safe and strengthen our economy. By transporting American goods across the oceans, merchant mariners facilitate commerce and advance trade. These Americans honor the noble traditions of seafarers and enrich our country's maritime heritage."

MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE
Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton is directing the ships of MarAd's Ready Reserve Force to dress ship on Monday. It is also requested that mariners aboard all U.S. merchant vessels, at port and at sea, ring their ship's bell eight times at 1500Z (UCT). The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause for one minute in an act of national unity.

SEN. KENNEDY DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN TUMOR
The "Lion of the Left" Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has a malignant brain tumor in his left parietal lobe, a condition that has proven fatal within a year for half of those with such a diagnosis. Medical treatment is being explored but surgery is apparently not an option. The tumor was discovered after the 76-year-old Senator suffered a seizure last weekend and checked into Massachusetts General Hospital. Kennedy has served in the Senate for 46 years - since 1962 - and has been a stalwart on labor and maritime issues.

PORT WORKERS KILLED BY GAS LEAK IN SHIP HOLD
Three port workers were killed this week after being overcome by argon gas in a ship hold in Port Everglades, Florida. The workers were employed by Florida Transportation Services which helps vessels dock and move cargo. The incident took place aboard the refrigerated cargo vessel MADELEINE, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship operated by a German-based company. Apparently the second and third victims entered the hold in hopes of rescuing the first man who succumbed to the gas.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration official noted that federal regulations require that gases like argon be kept only in well-ventilated areas to avoid safety issues. Investigators are looking into whether OSHA standards were violated in this case. Florida Transportation Services previously has been subject to numerous safety violation complaints over the last five years. An investigation is underway.

COAST GUARD ISSUES PLAN TO IMPROVE MARINE SAFETY
The U.S. Coast Guard published its five-year Marine Safety Performance Plan Thursday and seeks public comment on the plan for the next 60 days. Allen noted that America's maritime transportation system is vital to the country's economy, supporting the flow of more than $950 billion in international commerce and 51 million containers of cargo while providing the most cost effective and energy efficient means of cargo transportation. As big as those numbers are, Allen said maritime commerce is forecasted to increase. "Total maritime trade is expected to double by the year 2020," said Allen. Allen continued by stating that the current fleet of 10,500 U.S. flagged vessels subject to Coast Guard inspection is expected to increase by about 7,000 vessels as towing and assistance vessels comply with requirements of the Marine Transportation Safety Act of 2004.

"For centuries, we've provided marine safety experience and expertise to the maritime community to help ensure our citizens remain safe, our ports are secure, and our waters are protected," said Allen. "Recognizing this exponential growth in maritime trade, we are recommitting ourselves to our Marine Safety Program. We've just completed our five-year Marine Safety Performance Plan. This action plan is designed to improve upon the service's marine safety program with the ultimate goal of a program that will be considerate and responsive to mariners and the maritime community." The plan is available on the Internet by visiting http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/home.do and then clicking on the Marine Safety Performance Plan link. Comments may be submitted via the active e-mail link provided on the site.

FORT LAUDERDALE CONTACT INFO IS CHANGING
M.E.B.A.'s hall in Fort Lauderdale is moving. The new office will be open for business on Monday June 2, 2008. The address of the new location is 1900 West Commercial Blvd., Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309, Room #22. Sherry Keefer is our Plans Rep. there.

It has been learned that the phone and fax numbers will indeed be changing. The new phone number is (954) 202-0971. The hall can be faxed at (954) 202-0972.

AOTOS AWARDS ANNOUNCED
The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2008 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards will be presented to James A. Capo, Chairman & CEO of U.S. Maritime Alliance, Ltd., and Michael D. Garvey, a Founding Partner and Past Chairman of Saltchuk Resources, Inc. A special AOTOS Award will be presented to General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander of the United States Transportation Command.

The maritime industry's most prestigious honors will be awarded at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 7, 2008.

All proceeds from the AOTOS event benefit USS community services abroad for the U.S. Merchant Marine and those of other free world countries. The recipients will share the evening with a group of American seafarers who will be honored for specific acts of bravery at sea. The seafarer awards have not yet been announced.

COAST GUARD RULE ON DRY CARGO RESIDUE DISCHARGES
The Coast Guard has made its proposed rule for dry cargo residue discharges on the Great Lakes available through a notice of proposed rulemaking. The proposed rule would require Great Lakes bulk, dry-cargo carriers to keep records of loading, unloading, and sweepings of dry cargo residues and would encourage carriers to use control measures to reduce the amount of dry cargo residue entering the waters of the Great Lakes. The rule would continue to allow the discharge of non-toxic and non-hazardous bulk dry cargo residues in certain areas of the Great Lakes.

If strictly enforced on the Lakes, those regulations would bring an end to the practice of cargo sweeping. However, since 1993, Great Lakes ships have operated under a Coast Guard "interim enforcement policy" that allow "incidental discharges" of non-toxic and non-hazardous dry cargo residues. That interim enforcement policy specified where dry cargo residue sweeping could and could not occur. Congressional legislation has extended the interim enforcement policy since 1998. The current extension, granted by congress in 2004, expires Sept. 30, 2008. The proposed rule would encourage U.S. and foreign carriers conducting dry bulk cargo operations on the Great Lakes to make voluntary use of measures to control and reduce the amount of dry cargo residue that falls on a ship's deck or within a ship's unloading tunnels and that ultimately may be swept into the Great Lakes. The notice of proposed rulemaking can be viewed online at http://www.regulations.gov/ Once in the site, proceed to simple search, and under docket number, enter USCG-2004-19621. Comments can be submitted online.

CAR & BIKE SHOW BENEFITING MEMORIAL IS TOMORROW (5/24)
The M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation is having a Car & Bike Show tomorrow at the School (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.

Registration begins at 10 am on that day with the judging beginning at noon. All proceeds go to the M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation, Inc. to help with further maintenance on the Memorial. 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 have questions about helping out the Memorial Foundation or want to donate, 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 at www.mebaschool.org.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, June 2 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, June 3 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, June 4 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, June 5 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, June 6 - Honolulu. 

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