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

MEBA TELEX TIMES           NOVEMBER 28, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 48

In this issue...
TWIC, piracy news, awards for contracted companies...Holiday party schedule...The bouquet is exquisite! From the M.E.B.A. cantina, we rack up a vintage, magnum-sized issue of all the intoxicating maritime news heard through the grapevine. Don't get bottled up with over-fermented, rot-gut newsletters that leave a bad taste in your mouth. We make them blush and tell those wining, cellar-dwellers to put a cork in it! Like a fine Bordeaux, the full-bodied Telex Times gets better with age!

MONDAY IS TWIC COMPLIANCE DEADLINE FOR GREAT LAKES PORTS
Monday, December 1, 2008, is the compliance date for implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Buffalo, N.Y., Duluth, Minn., Detroit and Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Lake Michigan.

The original October 31, 2008, compliance date for these facilities was extended due to a power outage at a Transportation Security Administration facility that has delayed the activation of some TWICs. TWIC activations nationwide had been rescheduled to begin again the week of November 10, 2008, at which point workers on the Great Lakes, and at ports with compliance dates on or before December 1, 2008, were able to activate their TWICs.

TWIC program pre-enrollment and status checks are still available nationwide and those workers requiring a TWIC are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible. The final compliance date for all licensed and documented merchant mariners and vessel operators who are required to have a TWIC remains April 5, 2009.

Updates on TWIC activation and rescheduling can be found at www.tsa.gov/twic.  Additional information and a framework showing expected compliance dates by Captain of the Port zone is available on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport Web site at http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic.  Captain of the Port zone maps with ports annotated are available on that Web site under General Information, COTP Zone Maps. You may also call 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) or 1-877-MTSA-AID (1-877-687-2243, Option 1) for more information.

ANOTHER CHEMICAL TANKER HIJACKED IN GULF OF ADEN
Armed Somali pirates seized the chemical tanker STOLT STRENGTH with 21 Filipinos onboard in the latest incident of piracy along the world's most dangerous waters. Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the East African Seafarers' Association (SAP) said the pirates hijacked the tanker in the Gulf of Aden late on Monday, making this the second Stolt ship to be hijacked in less than two months. The latest hijacking comes nearly two months after the pirate hijacked MT STOLT VALOR with 18 Indians aboard in September. The vessel's Japanese owners have appointed a professional negotiator to engage in a dialogue with the hijackers.

A Greek chemical tanker - the M/V GENIUS - also hijacked in September, was released by pirates this week with the entire crew and cargo safely aboard. The vessel is on its way to the United Arab Emirates. Details were not available and it was not revealed whether a ransom had been paid to secure the release.

There have been more than 80 piracy incidents of piracy or attempted piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast this year.

On November 18 the Thai trawler FV EKWATANAVA 5 was engaged and sunk by the Indian Naval vessel TABAR. At the time of the engagement EKWATANAVA 5 was under the control of pirates who probably intended to use her as a mothership. The total number of commercial vessels (including one tug) hijacked in Somali waters now stands at 14; over 200 merchant seamen are being held by pirates. The use of motherships seems to be on the rise, and potentially, vessels are hijacked with the sole intention of using them as such.

Of the recent high profile hijackings, the situations remain the same. The Ukrainian ship FAINA with Russian tanks and weapons aboard, hijacked on September 25th, continues its stalemate. Coalition warships still surround the vessel while the pirates continue to make ransom demands. The Saudi oil tanker SIRIUS STAR, hijacked last week, is also surrounded. In both cases, pirates have dramatically reduced their initial ransom demands.

In recent trends, pirates are targeting larger cargo ships including oil, gas and chemical tankers. The attacks are usually conducted by two or three small speedboats with three to five armed persons aboard. The number of boats involved in each incident seems to be increasing.

GETTIN' JIGGY: M.E.B.A. HOLIDAY PARTIES ANNOUNCED
M.E.B.A. is ushering in the holidays with a series of Union hall parties designed to soothe the savage beast. Members will take heart that the first of the festivities begins in just over a week on Sunday, December 7th in Honolulu. Active and retired members will hang loose and enjoy the muumuu-sized revelry from 10 am until 2. This "Big Kahuna" of parties will take place at the Sailor's Home/M.E.B.A. Union hall. Since four hours just wouldn't be enough for most attendees, an additional gathering will likely follow at an unspecified location in downtown Honolulu for those interested. Boston is next on the docket and members kick it up a notch following the last membership meeting of the year on Monday, December the 8th. After Baltimore gets their meeting out of the way on Tuesday, December 9th, a free form fiesta will follow. Expect a special appearance from Headquarters notables including Editor Marco Cannistraro who likes to be "among the people." Two days later in Tampa, members ring in a wingding on December 11th after their own Union meeting. That proves to be a banner day as Norfolk digs in on a shindig that'll have party-goers hootin' and hollerin' right after the 1:00 meeting. The San Francisco/Oakland hall whoops it up on Thursday the 11th around 12:30 at a festive affair held in conjunction with the MM&P. The party is at the SUP Hall (450 Harrison Street, San Francisco). The New York/New Jersey throwdown goes down that day too at 1:30 after their meeting. Headquarters gets funky from 3 to 7 later that Thursday. The M.E.B.A. Editor will regale attendees with dazzling anecdotes and take music requests once guests tire of standard Christmas tunes. As a bonus, the Editor will be showing off his spotless office, available for tours, following his annual clean-up. Don't expect the cleanliness to last.

All month long in Fort Lauderdale, Sherry Keefer will spoil members with cookies and snacks. The hoedown in Houston heats up in a hurry on Friday, December 12th at 1:15 p.m. Jacksonville gets jiggy at a jovial and jubilant jamboree on Friday the 12th at a joint M.E.B.A./MM&P boisterous blow-out at the hall beginning at noon. Combined M.E.B.A. and MM&P merrymaking will also take place at our L.A./Wilmington hall on Friday the 12th. Meanwhile, back in Baltimore, the Plan Office hosts its holiday luncheon, right across the street at LaScala Restaurant on Friday the 12th from 1-5 p.m.

There's great shakes on the Great Lakes on December 18th - Cleveland gets crazy right after job call. That same day, a glorious Gulf Coast gathering will be given the go-ahead as New Orleans gets groovy. On the 19th of December around 12:30 at the MM&P hall there will be a scintillating soiree in Seattle to celebrate the season. And finally, just like the kid who saves his ice cream until everyone else has finished eating theirs, POID will stage their gathering in January, weeks after the yelps of glee have faded away at other halls. Call Jennifer for details on the holiday hoopla in Denver that helps ring in the New Year. In all cases, call your local Union hall or office for further details - and be safe!

INTERESTED IN AN ETC LNG SHIP MODEL?
If you're interested in owning a ship model of an Energy Transportation Corp (ETC) LNG vessel then you're in luck! Ed Carr has located a skilled German ship model maker - who is currently living in the Philippines - who is the go-to guy when shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines needs a promotional ship model. Ed formerly sailed on the ETC vessels and has discovered that the ship model maker will begin work on an ETC ship model if he receives at least 50 orders. If he gets as many as 100, the price would drop dramatically to around $240. Ed says, "I've seen a number of these for different ship types and they are very good quality and detail compared to other small ship models." If you are interested, send an e-mail to Ed at Ed.Carr@molng-europe.com.  He will fill you in with details and send a photo of some of the ships the model maker has created.

SLEW OF M.E.B.A. SHIPS SLOTTED FOR CSA ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS
The Chamber of Shipping of America recently awarded Certificates of Achievement to vessels owned by companies attaining environmental excellence for at least a two-year period. A great number of ships with expert M.E.B.A. officers aboard were honored. Among the M.E.B.A.-contracted companies with multiple ships achieving this milestone were Alaska Tanker Company, Chevron Shipping, Marine Transport Lines/Marine Transport Management, Horizon Lines, Keystone Shipping, Foss Maritime, and OSG Ship Management. The awards are open to all owners and operators of vessels that operate on oceans or inland waterways.

Joseph J. Cox, President & CEO of CSA said, "These awards celebrate the dedication to environmental excellence of our seafarers and the company personnel shore-side who operate our vessels to the highest standards. In today's world, it seems our industry only gets front-page news when spills or other environmental problems occur. It is encouraging to see how many vessels go for years achieving environmental excellence. It should be clear to the American public that we in the maritime industry take our stewardship of the marine environment very seriously."

M.E.B.A. COMPANIES HONORED WITH MARITIME SAFETY AWARDS
A pair of M.E.B.A.-contracted companies were honored with safety awards recently at a function in New York City. American Maritime Safety, Inc. hands out these awards annually for those deserving few who best demonstrate compliance with Coast Guard regulations and international protocols.

Two of our contracted companies were selected for awards this year on the basis of their sterling safety records. Maersk Line Limited was the winner of the Responsible Vessel Carrier Award. LMS Ship Management also took home one of the prizes designed to recognize AMS members for proactive efforts in achieving safe and responsible maritime practices. At the awards ceremony and dinner, American Maritime Safety, Inc. also celebrated its 20th anniversary.

AMS' President, Louis Meltz, Esq., told the Telex Times that, "The AMS Consortium has maintained a close working relationship with the M.E.B.A., since its establishment in 1988 to facilitate the maritime industry's compliance with US Coast Guard regulations and international protocols. The AMS Consortium currently administers maritime safety programs for M.E.B.A. contract companies and its instructors have provided training for M.E.B.A. members at the Calhoon School over the last 12 years."

Mr. Meltz stated that "the AMS Consortium presents member companies with Maritime Safety Awards during the annual membership dinner event in recognition of the selected companies' dedication to preserving the marine environment and promoting safe vessel navigation, operation and maritime work practices."

"GO TO SEA!" CAMPAIGNED LAUNCHED AT IMO
A campaign to address the global shortage of seafarers, especially officers, has been launched by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in association with the International Labor Organization, the "Round Table" of shipping organizations - BIMCO, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO/INTERTANKO - and the International Transport Workers' Federation.

The campaign calls on governments, industry and IMO, supported by ILO and other international organizations, to take specific actions, within their areas of influence, to increase the recruitment of seafarers to tackle the problem.

A recent report issued by maritime industry analysts Drewry Shipping Consultants assessed the current shortfall of officers in the global shipping fleet to be some 34,000, against a total requirement of 498,000. Moreover, based on Drewry's fleet growth projections, and the assumption that officer supply will only increase at the current rate, the report predicts that, by 2012, the officer shortfall will have grown to 83,900.

"As everyone in shipping is aware, the global shortage of seafarers, especially officers, has already reached significant proportions and is now a source of genuine concern to all involved in the industry," said IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, speaking at the launch of the campaign.

The shipping industry can provide the basis for a fulfilling and satisfying life-long career and the problem is one of recruitment, rather than retention in the profession, he added, noting that this required a shift in the public perception of shipping, particularly amongst the young.

Amongst specific calls for action in the campaign document, the shipping industry is urged to take the lead and more can to promote itself through the media, in particular the electronic media. The industry should continue to provide support for and endorse campaigns aimed at improving its image and use some key industry figures as examples of career progression. It is also urged to do more to make life on board and away from home more akin to the life enjoyed by others ashore; to encourage women to work in the seafaring profession; and to promote the industry at non maritime-related events.

Governments are asked to give greater prominence to the maritime perspective, by doing more to support and encourage the shipping industry in any initiatives it takes to enhance its image and to remove adverse actions that may damage that image. Maritime training facilities need to be resourced adequately (both in financial and human resource terms) to ensure a supply of competent seafarers. Governments could do much to promote a wider take-up of a sea career through, for example, recognition of sea service instead of compulsory military service, training of jobless persons and promoting the career for women.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, December 8 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, December 9 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, December 10 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, December 11 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, December 12 - Honolulu.

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