May-June 2012 - The International Organization of Masters, Mates ...

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news briefs Table of Contents Vol. 48, No. 3 May - June 2012 News Briefs 1 New MM&P jobs with APL; unions ask Congress to act on insufficient shipboard manning; Puerto Rico has Jones Act to thank for 20,000 maritime jobs; San Francisco Bar Pilots at the conn of supersize containership; greetings from USACE Dredge Essayons, Maersk Ohio and Maersk Wyoming; Maersk Alabama hosts officers from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Washington Observer 8 During the 2012 Maritime Industry Congressional Sail-In, MM&P joins other maritime unions and U.S.-flag shipping companies in day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. News From MITAGS 10 Congratulations recent chief mate/master graduates Christy Pekara and John Walkup! MM&P Health & Benefit Plans 11 IRS limitations for 2012; how to find a participating medical services provider on the CIGNA website. Pensioners 14 MM&P Federal Credit Union News 15 Open a credit union account and never be late with your dues again. The Master, Mate & Pilot (ISSN 0025-5033) is the official voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (International Marine Division of the ILA), AFL-CIO. © 2012 IOMMP. Published bimonthly at MM&P Headquarters, 700 Maritime Blvd, Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: (410) 850-8700 E-mail: iommp@bridgedeck.org Internet: www.bridgedeck.org Periodicals postage paid at Linthicum Heights, MD, and additional offices. POSTMASTER Please send changes to: The Master, Mate & Pilot 700 Maritime Blvd, Suite B Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953 Timothy A. Brown Chairman, Editorial Board Lisa Rosenthal Communications Director INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS Timothy A. Brown, President Don Marcus, Secretary-Treasurer VICE PRESIDENTS David H. Boatner, Offshore Pacific Wayne Farthing, Offshore Gulf C. Michael Murray, United Inland George A. Quick, Pilots Randall H. Rockwood, FEMG Steven Werse, Offshore Atlantic Cross’d the Final Bar 16 MM&P Directory 18 Thank You for Contributing to the PCF! 22 Printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks and 100% wind power. Vol. 48, No. 2 May - June 2012 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots New MM&P Jobs With APL Unions Ask Congress to Act on Insufficient Shipboard Manning Puerto Rico Has Jones Act to Thank for 20,000 Maritime Jobs San Francisco Bar Pilots at Conn of Giant Containership MM&P Advocates for Our Industry During Congressional Sail-In About the Cover U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dredge Essayons. The vessel was dredging Willow Bar on the Columbia River when this photo was taken by Steven Fritz of Portland, Ore. The Essayons is crewed by licensed deck officers who belong to the MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group. The Navy Jack is a symbol of resistance that dates back to the American Revolution. In accordance with a resolution made by the delegates to the 75th Convention of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, every issue of The Master, Mate & Pilot includes a photograph of the historic flag.
New MM&P Jobs With APL news briefs MM&P is pleased to announce that there will be new jobs for MM&P members at American President Lines (APL). Over the course of the next six months, this long-time MM&P employer will be replacing its four U.S.-flag C-10 Class vessels with four newer S-12 Class vessels as part of its Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet. Two of the four S-12 Class vessels are currently under contract with the American Maritime Officers. These vessels, the MV Cyprine and the MV Pearl, will join the MV Agate and the MV Coral under MM&P contract. The transfer of MSP vessels and the resulting terms of employment are in accordance with the existing collective bargaining agreement between MM&P and APL. Although the C-10 Class ships—MV President Adams, MV President Jackson, MV President Polk and MV President Truman—will be leaving the MSP program, they are slated to remain in U.S.-flag operation under the terms of the MM&P-APL collective bargaining agreement for non-MSP vessels. These developments will result in a net gain of two ships under contract and will safeguard the jobs of all MM&P members currently employed aboard the vessels. APL President Truman. Although the C-10 Class ships will be leaving the MSP program, they are slated to remain under U.S.-flag operation under the terms of the MM&P-APL collective bargaining agreement for non-MSP vessels. Puerto Rico Has Jones Act to Thank For 20,000 Maritime Jobs, MM&P Tells GAO Representatives of MM&P met in San Juan in April with officials of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a research arm of the federal government. Participants in the meeting included MM&P Pilot Group member Capt. Roberto Candelario, MM&P Puerto Rico Representative Eduardo Iglesias and MM&P International Counsel Gab Terrasa. The meeting took place in the context of a study requested by a politician, Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has asked the GAO to examine “the impact of the Jones Act on the economy of Puerto Rico.” The Jones Act is the body of law that requires that ships in America’s domestic trades be built in U.S. shipyards, crewed by U.S.-citizen mariners and operated by U.S. companies. Pierluisi says his goal is “to determine once and for all the impact the Jones Act has on our economy… [because] a broad array of economists in Puerto Rico have expressed concern that the Jones Act hinders the island’s economic growth…” First off, the MM&P representatives told GAO that the Jones Act guarantees thousands of well-paying maritime jobs to residents of Puerto Rico. Candelario, who is president of the San Juan Pilots Association, also underlined the fact that only American maritime workers are subject to Department of Homeland Security background and security checks. He pointed out that exempting Puerto Rico from the Jones Act would give access to the island’s waterways and ports to foreign companies and foreign maritime workers not subject to U.S. background and security checks. Transportation costs of Jones Act ships do not have a significant influence on the final market price of goods in Puerto Rico, the three MM&P representatives told GAO. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, for example, market prices of U.S. manufactured goods are comparable to or higher than those in Puerto Rico. The Virgin Islands, which are part of the United States and in close proximity to Puerto Rico, are outside the Jones Act and completely open to foreign-flag ships. Candelario, Iglesias and Terrasa told the GAO officials that higher market prices in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands compared to mainland U.S. prices are due to a lack of economy of scale in the distribution system and control of the distribution system by a limited number of suppliers. “We don’t believe the final market prices of goods going into or out of Puerto Rico would be significantly changed if U.S. ships were replaced by foreign-flagged ships,” Candelario said. “The major impact would be to shift wages, profits, taxes and the economic contributions of U.S. jobs into the hands of foreign interests—to the detriment of the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs.” The Master, Mate & Pilot - 1 - May - June 2012
Page 1: Vol. 48, No. 3 May - June 2012 The
Page 5 and 6: accordance with the ISM process, co
Page 7 and 8: Greetings From Maersk Wyoming! En r
Page 9 and 10: MM&P Members Aboard Maersk Alabama
Page 11 and 12: MSP and the cargo preference laws,
Page 13 and 14: Masters, Mates & Pilots Plans Admin
Page 15 and 16: Pension Plan Annual Funding Notice
Page 17 and 18: Open an Account at the MM&P Federal
Page 19 and 20: Kenneth Orcutt, 86, died Feb. 6. A
Page 21 and 22: New York/New Jersey Steven Werse Vi
Page 23 and 24: United Inland Membership Group Mich
Page 25 and 26: PCF CONTRIBUTORS Mohamed A. Abbassi
Page 27 and 28: PCF Support the U.S.-Flag Merchant

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