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

MEBA TELEX TIMES           DECEMBER 26, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 52

In this issue...
Letter to Obama promotes shipbuilding...TWIC info...T-AKEs confirmed...Piracy protection for M.E.B.A. ship in Gulf of Aden...It's a wonderful life! In a Bedford Falls, George Bailey edition we make a difference and bank on a Christmas miracle of an issue that really earns its wings. Don't lose a fortune to mean and miserly newsletters that make you wish you'd never been born! We send them to Potter's Field and give you a second chance with a helping of Zuzu's petals and maritime news to make you the richest man in town. Attaboy Clarence! Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his Telex Times!

CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS SIGN OFF ON LETTER TO OBAMA PROMOTING STRONG SHIPBUILDING POLICY
A letter signed by almost 20 Senators, along with a House version signed by over 40 Members of Congress, urges the incoming Obama administration to support robust shipbuilding policies that would support the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard and re-energize commercial ship construction in the United States.

The Senate letter penned by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) states that the stronger shipbuilding policies they are advocating will help create new jobs and strengthen national security. The letter, which was cosigned by 16 other senators, points out that while military leaders have documented a minimum national requirement of 313 ships to support America's Navy and Marine Corps, the Navy's fleet has declined to 284 ships. In order to attain 313 ships, 12 ships need to be budgeted annually.

"Expanding American shipbuilding has the duel benefit of strengthening a critical branch of our national defense while bolstering our strained economy," Sen. Landrieu said. "Attaining the minimum 313 ships that military leaders advise means we will have a naval fleet that competes with those of our potential adversaries. At a time when American manufacturing jobs are moving overseas, we have an opportunity to create highly-skilled jobs for the American manufacturing workforce here at home. I look forward to working with the Obama Administration to ensure that we support our military by building the necessary ships to protect our homeland and advance security needs abroad."

"With the smallest number of ships in the United States Navy since before World War II, I am deeply concerned by the insufficient size of today's fleet and that funding for shipbuilding has not been adequate to achieve the 313 ships necessary to meet national security requirements," Sen. Collins said. "We must maintain the skilled workforce necessary to expand and modernize our naval fleet to counter existing and emerging threats. Building more ships would also boost our economy by creating and preserving thousands of good jobs. As the new Administration prepares its budget, I hope our bipartisan letter will encourage adequate funding for shipbuilding."

In pressing their argument for an increased budget for defense and commercial shipbuilding in the United States, the senators highlighted both the economic and homeland security benefits that would accompany such a policy. An estimated 400,000 people in 47 states are employed by the shipbuilding industry, which consists of six major shipbuilding yards, several smaller ship construction and repair yards, and more than 4,000 major manufacturers of ship components and systems.

The Senators also highlighted the national security benefits to increasing America's shipbuilding. "While America's naval fleet is in decline, the navies of potential adversaries are on the rise," the letter reads. "Russia has made rebuilding its naval power a priority, and the navy of China is expanding rapidly. By 2015 the Chinese Navy is projected to be larger than ours, and Russia has stated its intention to have the second largest Navy in the world by 2022. These countries may be building their naval forces to deny America access to critical regions and to limit America's influence around the world."

Sens. Landrieu and Collins' letter is co-signed by Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Joseph Lieberman (I/D-CT), Chris Dodd (D-CO), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), David Vitter (R-LA), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

A similar House letter was signed by Reps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Steve Kagen (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Susan Davis (D-CA), Rodney Alexander (R-LA), Henry Brown (R-SC), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), James McGovern (D-MA), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), John Carter (R-TX), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Randy Forbes (R-VA), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Mike Michaud (D-ME), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Travis Childers (D-Miss.), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Bob Latta (R-OH), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Bob Filner (D-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Gene Green (D-TX), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jo Bonner (R-AL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Pete Visclosky (D-IN), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) and Timothy Bishop (D-NY).

LINK FOR TWIC ENROLLMENT CENTERS, COMPLIANCE DATES
The Coast Guard continues to urge maritime workers who have not yet enrolled for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to apply as soon as possible before unescorted access to U.S.-regulated waterfront terminals is prohibited. Beginning Apr. 14, 2009, maritime workers including terminal employees, longshoremen, truck drivers, agents and contractors must have a TWIC to gain unescorted access to secure areas of any waterfront terminal regulated by the Coast Guard under the Maritime Transportation Security Act.

It can take four to six weeks from the time of enrollment to the time that an applicant receives a TWIC, so maritime workers need to enroll as soon as possible to meet the Apr. 14 enforcement date. Since the commencement of the national TWIC program, there have been 149 fixed enrollment centers and more than 180 mobile sites opened nationwide.

To view a regularly updated schedule of nationwide TWIC enrollment centers, follow this link:
http://twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov/twicinfo/schedule.jsp

Again, the national compliance date, when all workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels and all U.S. credentialed mariners must have a TWIC, is April 15, 2009. However, TWIC requirements for regulated maritime facilities will be phased in by Captain of the Port (COTP) zones leading up to April 2009. Workers needing unescorted access to secure areas at those facilities will be required to possess a TWIC.

To view the latest schedule for COTP zone compliance, follow this link:
 www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/twic_ faqs.shtm#required_twic_date.

For more information, the TWIC Program Help Desk can be reached at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942). The help desk is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 12 a.m. EST. The TWIC Help Desk can also be contacted via email at credentialing@dhs.gov.  For U.S. Coast Guard TWIC enforcement questions, please contact 1-877-MTSA-AID (1-877-687-2243).

NAVY CONFIRMS CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL T-AKEs
The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics NASSCO with a $940 million contract for the construction of two T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ships and to purchase long-lead construction materials for two additional T-AKE ships. M.E.B.A. engineers crew all the vessels in the T-AKE class.

Under the contract, NASSCO receives full funding for the construction of USNS WASHINGTON CHAMBERS (T-AKE 11) and USNS WILLIAM McLEAN (T-AKE 12). Earlier this year, NASSCO received a total of $200 million to purchase the long lead materials for these ships. Construction of the WASHINGTON CHAMBERS and the WILLIAM McLEAN is scheduled to begin in the first and fourth quarters of 2009, respectively. The new contract also provides $200 million for procurement of T-AKE 13 and 14's engines and other components that have significant manufacturing lead times. A contract that fully funds both ships is expected by February 2010. Construction of the unnamed thirteenth and fourteenth ships is scheduled to begin in the second and fourth quarters of 2010, respectively.

With the contract award, the Navy is exercising its remaining options to build all 14 ships in the T-AKE class. NASSCO has already delivered six T-AKE ships and is currently building the seventh through tenth ships of the class.

FORCE PROTECTION FOR M.E.B.A. MSC SHIP IN GULF OF ADEN
Sailors from Navy Mobile Security Squadron Three (MSS 3) are providing force protection for the fleet replenishment ship USNS TIPPECANOE, an M.E.B.A.-crewed Military Sealift Command oiler that is conducting operations in the Gulf of Aden. MSS 3 has been tasked with safeguarding the ship's crew and cargo while it conducts replenishment at sea operations off the Somalia coast.

"We're embarked to provide maritime security and deter piracy attempts against Tippecanoe while the ship conducts its operations," said Chief Master-at-Arms Eric D. Hancock, Mission Commander aboard TIPPECANOE. "Keeping 5th Fleet ships supplied allows them to remain at sea and provide invaluable support for Coalition forces operating off the east coast of Somali and in the Gulf of Aden."

Fleet replenishment oilers, like TIPPECANOE deliver passengers, mail, cargo, ammunition, fuel and food throughout the 5th Fleet area of operations helping to ensure sailors aboard ships have what they need to complete their mission.

"I'm glad they're here," said Joseph Trogdlen, the ship's MM&P master for the TIPPECANOE. "We feel more secure having them aboard."

DEADLINE FOR VACATION & PORT RELIEF BENEFITS AT PLAN OFFICE
The deadline for filing for Vacation and Port Relief Benefits at the Plan Office in Baltimore is Monday, December 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Today was the last day for filing for such benefits at the Outports.

Split Your Vacation Payments Between 2008 and 2009 Remember that you may submit an Application for Vacation Pay prior to the end of the year and request that your vacation wages be split between 2008 and 2009. It MUST, however, be a continuous vacation period. Please contact the Vacation Plan staff in Baltimore at 800-811-6322 or 410-547-9111 if you have any questions.

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

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