Security Takes Center Stage New Contracts for E-Ships, Matson ...

Vol. 42, No. 1 

January – 

February 2006 

The International 

Marine Division 

of ILA/AFL-CIO 

Official Voice of the International 

Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots 

Security Takes Center Stage 

New Contracts for E-Ships, Matson, Sargeant Marine and Dunlap 

MM&P Holiday Party Photos 

The Master, Mate & Pilot January – February 2006 - -

Vol. 42, No. 1 January – February 2006 

Table of Contents 

Company News 1 

New contracts with E-Ships, Matson, Sargeant Marine 

and Dunlap; CP Ships name will change 

News Briefs 3 

Safety award to Sealand Pride; mariners pay price for ISPS 

security gains; kudos to MM&P chief mate for quick response; 

Energy Enterprise port call; merchant mariner career is losing 

its appeal; donations to MM&P disaster fund tax deductible; 

AOTOS award to Mercy crew; jury acquits ILA officials 

Feature 10 

When mariners are asked to bear arms 

Washington Observer 12 

Mixed news for maritime at end of first session of the 

109th Congress; focus on USCG background checks 

Health & Benefit Plans 17 

Changes to MM&P Offshore Pension Plan; impact of Medicare Part 

D on Plans Office; protecting against identity theft; relative value of 

retirement options; problems with Quest Diagnostics; optical benefits; 

use generics to save money; how to recognize the signs of stroke 

Pensioners 22 

MM&P Holiday Party Photos 23 

MM&P Directory 30 

Cross’d the Final Bar 35 

A Message from New Orleans 37 

Contribute to the MM&P PCF 38 

MITAGS News 41 

Focus on Alice Robinson; room and pool renovations at 

MITAGS; math education award to MITAGS and CCMIT 

About the Cover 

MM&P member Mark C. Landow practices his stance, breathing and triggerpull 

techniques during small arms training at MM&P’s Maritime Institute of 

Training and Graduate Studies (MITAGS). The Global War on Terrorism and 

recent attacks on shipping have placed mariners in critical roles in the area of 

vessel security. (Photo by Sara Glik.) 

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. Published bimonthly at MM&P 

Headquarters, 700 Maritime Boulevard, 

Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941. 

Telephone: (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 Boulevard 

Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941 

Timothy A. Brown 

Chairman, Editorial Board 

Lisa Rosenthal 

Communications Director 

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS 

Timothy A. Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President 

Glen P. Banks . . . . . . . . . . Secretary-Treasurer 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Steve Demeroutis . . . . . . . . . . . . .United Inland 

Bob Groh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Offshore Gulf 

Don Marcus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Offshore Pacific 

Richard May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Offshore Atlantic 

George A. Quick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pilotage 

The Navy Jack, a symbol of 

resistance which dates back to the 

American Revolution, flies today 

on the jack staff on the bow of 

all naval vessels. 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.

company news 

New Contract for 

Asphalt Commander 

MM&P has reached an agreement with Sargeant Marine 

on a new three-year contract for the Asphalt Commander. 

Key parties to the negotiations were MM&P Gulf Ports Vice 

President Bob Groh, Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May, 

Houston Port Agent Wayne Farthing and the Master of the 

Asphalt Commander, Captain Manny Kelakios. 

Pictured at the recent contract negotiations for the 

Asphalt Commander are (left to right) MM&P Houston 

Port Agent Wayne Farthing, Atlantic Ports Vice President 

Rich May, Gulf Ports Vice President Bob Groh, Asphalt 

Commander Captain Manny Kelakios and, representing 

Sargeant Marine, Angela Marino and Capt. Hans Hein. 

“We made great strides in a new three-year contract, 

with large increases in vacation, wages and overtime clarification,” 

said Groh. 

Under the terms of the agreement, which took effect 

Jan. 1, wages for both licensed and unlicensed personnel 

were raised substantially during the first year of the contract. 

Other positive changes included in the contract terms are: 

• licensed deck officers’ vacation increased by seven days a 

month; IRAP established at 6 percent plus Feinberg; 

• unlicensed personnel vacation increased by nine days a 

month; IRAP established at 11 percent plus Feinberg; 

• all hands (licensed and unlicensed) received a 3 percent 

increase in wages effective Jan. 1, 2006, and will do so again 

on Jan. 1. 2007, and on Jan. 1, 2008; 

• all hands (licensed and unlicensed) will receive an additional 

vacation day on Jan. 1, 2007 and again on Jan. 1, 2008. 

New Contract for E-Ships 

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May reports 

that the union has signed a new contract with E-Ships that 

extends for the duration of the current Maritime Security 

Program. The new contract, which took effect Jan. 1, 

provides for a 3 percent raise in wages and all wage-related 

items for 2006 and increases in all future years. Masters are 

guaranteed a raise in overtime to two hours per day. Second 

and third mates vacation has been increased by one day in 

the second year of the contract and by an additional day in 

the fifth year of the contract. The foreign port night differential, 

a wage-related item, will increase in the second year and 

each year thereafter. 

MM&P also signed a one-year contract for the 

SS Argonaut that contains a 4½ percent wage and wagerelated 

item increase effective Jan. 1, 2006, and an additional 

day of vacation for all licensed deck officers. 

United Inland Group Has 

New Contract With Dunlap 

MM&P’s United Inland Group (UIG) has a new three-year 

contract with Dunlap Towing, a family-owned marine transport 

company based in LaConner, Wash. 

More than 60 UIG members work at Dunlap on a range 

of vessels that includes 25 tugboats and seven barges. In 

addition to its corporate office in LaConner, the company 

has offices in Everett, where ocean operations are based, and 

in Olympia and Port Angeles, where local harbor tug services 

are marketed. 

“MM&P looks forward to a bright future with Dunlap,” 

said UIG Vice President Steve Demeroutis. He commended 

all parties involved for their hard work in negotiating the 

contract, which passed by an 84 percent “yes” vote. 

“MM&P Branch Agent Mike Murray and I want to 

thank the bargaining committee of MM&P deck officers: 

Terry Andersen, Michael Cahill, Steve Dewitt, Jon Larson, 

Danny Nystrom and Peter Olsen,” Demeroutis said. He also 

extended thanks to representatives of the company—Jim 

Dunlap, Russ Johnson, Gordy Taylor and Scott Manly—“for 

their good faith bargaining with the union.” 


company news 

Demeroutis said the company “stepped up to the plate 

during negotiations regarding health and welfare, compensation 

and other working conditions that will continue to 

provide family wage jobs for our MM&P licensed deck officers 

working at Dunlap.” 

Agreement With Matson 

for Kvaerner Hull #4 

After numerous rounds of negotiations, MM&P and 

Matson Navigation reached an agreement in November 

2005 regarding terms of employment aboard MV Maunalei. 

The vessel is the last of four purchased by Matson from 

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. The Maunalei is scheduled for 

delivery in the summer of 2006. 

Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), the Sailors 

Union of the Pacific (SUP) and the Marine Firemen, Oilers, 

Watertenders and Wipers (MFOW). 

A thanks is also in order to the members of the various 

rank and file bargaining committees who had negotiated 

with Matson on their own time since April 2004. 

CP Ships Brand Name 

to Be Phased Out 

On the heels of its recent purchase of CP Ships Ltd., Hapag- 

Lloyd AG has announced it intends to phase out the CP 

Ships brand name at an as yet unspecified time. CP Ships 

Ltd. operates five vessels that receive funding under the 

Maritime Security Program (MSP) and are crewed by 

MM&P members and supporters in Honolulu leafletted 

the headquarters of Matson’s parent company, 

Alexander & Baldwin, at intervals during the contract 

negotiations. (Left to right) Russel Rippetoe of MEBA, 

Kanoa Parker, MM&P representative Randy Swindell, 

MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Don Marcus, 

Louis Mendez, Anders Brinch and Russell Cooper. 

MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Don Marcus 

described the contract gains as “modest, but hard-fought.” 

Marcus said the agreement, which also covers three other 

Matson new-builds (the “ CV 2600” Class vessels) that are 

now in operation, addresses wage inequities contained in 

the original CV 2600 collective bargaining agreement. The 

contract also reallocates funds for an additional day of vacation 

when the vessels are engaged in foreign service. 

MM&P extends heartfelt thanks to the members of 

several other unions who supported the Masters, Mates & 

Pilots during the negotiations with Matson: the Marine 

Photo courtesy of CP Ships 

CP Yosemite was reflagged in October after having 

been renamed. Hapag-Lloyd has announced it will 

ultimately phase out the CP Ships brand name. 

MM&P licensed deck officers. The Hapag-Lloyd purchase of 

CP Ships makes the new business the fifth largest container 

carrier in the world. The decision to phase out the CP Ships 

name is in keeping with similar marketing strategies adopted 

recently by A.P. Møller-Maersk—which will discontinue use 

of the names “Sealand” and “P&O Nedlloyd” —and by other 

international shipping companies. 

- - January – February 2006 The Master, Mate & Pilot

NEWS Briefs 

Prestigious Safety Award for 

MM&P-Crewed Sealand Pride 

Master, officers and crew of the Maersk Line Ltd. 

MV Sealand Pride have received the Jones F. Devlin Safe Ship 

Award for having operated for 1,326 days without a lost-time 

accident. The participants in the awards ceremony, which 

was held aboard the Sealand Pride in November, included 

MM&P Norfolk Representative Patti Powell, Maersk shore 

managers and representatives of MEBA and SIU. 

(Above) MM&P licensed deck officers receive the 

award. (Left to right) Chief Mate John Kelly, Second 

Mate Steve Marvin, MM&P’s Patti Powell, Third 

Mate Randell Moore and Captain James Brennan. 

Seafarers Pay High Price 

for ISPS Security Gains 

Significant workload increases and restrictions on shore 

leave are just two of the negative effects experienced by 

seafarers as a result of implementation of the International 

Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, according to a 

recent study by the International Transportation Workers 

Federation (ITF). 

Implemented on a fast track in 2004 in response to 

the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the ISPS Code establishes a range 

of requirements intended to improve maritime security, 

including the use of ship and company security officers and 

measures to monitor and control access to ships and ports. 

To gauge the effectiveness of the code and its impact on 

seafarers, in January 2005 the ITF sent a questionnaire to 

230 trade unions and 127 ITF inspectors. The unions that 

responded represent a combined membership of approximately 

165,000 seafarers worldwide. 

The survey found that the “ISPS Code is improving 

security at the expense of seafarers, who are increasingly 

overworked and treated with suspicion,” the ITF said. “This 

is happening at a time when disproportionate security 

measures not related to the code are also having a negative 

impact on crews.” 

At the next meeting of the International Maritime 

Organization’s Maritime Security Working Group, the ITF 

intends to submit a position paper calling for the ISPS 

Code to be reopened to address the issues raised. MM&P’s 

participation in the initiative is being spearheaded by George 

Quick, vice president of the union’s Pilot Membership 

Group, who has provided the ITF with reports of numerous 

complaints that members and other seafarers have filed with 

MM&P over the course of the past six months because they 

were improperly denied access to a terminal or port. 

The overwhelming response to the ITF survey was that 

ISPS had seriously increased seafarers’ workloads without 

any increase in staff, pay or training, and was associated with 

grave restrictions on shore leave, especially in the United 

States. “Although the ISPS Code includes provisions to avert 

problems of access to ports, shore leave and welfare facilities, 

it is clear from the survey that these are being neglected in 

the code’s implementation,” the ITF said. One respondent 

Today’s seafarers “are expected to 

embrace the role of security guard 

whilst simultaneously being treated 

as potential terrorists,” according to 

one respondent to the ITF study. 

commented that seafarers “are expected to embrace the role 

of security guard whilst simultaneously being treated as 

potential terrorists.” 

“If flag states and shipowners are serious in their 

desire to reduce the risk of attacks on ships and port facilities, 

considerably more attention must be paid to staffing 

resources,” the ITF said. “To move beyond a token ‘lip 

service’ approach to security requires increased investment 

in training and a practical recognition of the workloads 

generated by the code.” 


NEWS Briefs (continued) 

The results of the study, published as the report “Access 

Denied: Implementing the ISPS Code,” are at www.itfglobal. 

org/infocentre/pubs.cfm/detail/1446. To report instances 

in which you or a fellow crew member were improperly 

denied access to a port or terminal, send an e-mail to: 

AccessControl@Bridgedeck.org. 

Praise for MM&P Chief 

Mate in Flooding Incident 

MM&P member Gene Spaulding and several other members 

of the crew of SS Meteor have been commended for their 

quick and effective response to a recent flooding incident 

aboard the vessel. At 1900 hours on Christmas day, when 

the MARAD Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessel operated 

by Matson Navigation lay in her Alameda, Calif., berth, 

Spaulding discovered progressive flooding in the starboard 

shaft alley caused by a wasted drain line from the stern tube. 

An estimated 100 gallons of water per minute was flowing 

into the ship. After securing the shaft alley watertight door, 

Spaulding called ship crew members ashore and Matson 

shoreside personnel. Less than two hours later, Spaulding 

and other members of the crew had brought the flooding 

under control. In a widely disseminated memo, Matson 

Government Services Program Director Tom Stapleton 

commended Spaulding and the other crew members 

involved for their “resourcefulness and dedication” in 

responding to the incident. 

Energy Enterprise Port Call 

Licensed deck officers (LDOs) of Energy Enterprise, operated 

by MM&P-contracted Central Gulf, received a visit 

from union headquarters staff when the vessel docked at 

Baltimore’s Locust Point Marine Terminal in December. 

(Left to right) Third Mate Matt Holt, Captain Paul 

Camirand, Second Mate Carl Schoote and Port Relief Officer 

Brian Rogers in the wheelhouse with Mike Rodriguez, 

Executive Assistant to MM&P International President Tim 

Brown. Not pictured are Chief Mates Bob Perkins and Ed 

Roach, who are assigned to the vessel, and Second Mate 

Shane Murphy, who is scheduled to rejoin it. Rodriguez and 

the Energy Enterprise LDOs discussed the ongoing contract 

negotiations between the union and Central Gulf. (Photo by 

Lisa Rosenthal, MM&P communications director.) 

MM&P member Gene Spaulding, chief mate 

on the SS Meteor, has been commended for 

quick thinking and resourcefulness. 

Merchant Mariner Career 

Now “Less Appealing” 

“The retention of quality merchant mariners is becoming 

increasingly difficult” because the profession “is losing its 

charm,” according to an article published in a recent issue of 

Navy Proceedings, the magazine of the U.S. Naval Institute. 

“Gone are the days when merchant mariners were welcome 

in every port and treated as global citizens,” writes master 

mariner Shashi Kumar, associate dean at Maine Maritime 

Academy, in the May 2005 issue of the magazine. Kumar 

says the denial of shore leave in U.S. ports as a result of the 


implementation of new anti-terrorism measures has been 

“highly demoralizing for merchant mariners from most 

developing countries.” In the article, he projects that the 

shortage of senior officers will only get worse, especially in 

specialized areas such as LNG transport. Kumar contrasts 

the waning status of the U.S. maritime sector to the growing 

role of China, which by 2020 is expected to house “two of 

the world’s largest shipping companies, the world’s largest 

shipyard, the world’s largest port complex and two of the 

world’s largest maritime universities, besides being the 

world’s largest supplier of crew members for the open 

registry fleet.” 

MM&P Member Organizes 

Hurricane Aid Concert 

In the aftermath of the hurricanes in New Orleans and 

Mississippi, MM&P member John Nicoll organized a 

concert in Saugus, Mass., that raised over $7,000 for victims. 

Six bands and a total of 45 performers were on hand for the 

event. 

MM&P General Executive 

Board Meetings Scheduled 

The members of MM&P’s Offshore Advisory Committee 

(OAC) and General Executive Board (GEB) have announced 

their official 2006 meeting schedule. The officials will meet: 

March 14-15; June 6-7; Sept. 12-13; and Dec. 5-6. All the 

meetings will be held at MM&P International Headquarters 

in Linthicum Heights, Md. 

(Above) Concert-goers said the Blues Brothers 

act “tore down the house” at the fundraiser, 

which was dubbed the “Kure for Katrina.” 

Nicoll is master of the Horizon Fairbanks. 

Welcome to MM&P’s Boston Hall 

(Below, left) MM&P Boston Representative Dan Cartmill and member Jeff Davis pose with a print of the side paddle-wheeler 

Seawanhaka, by artist and pilot member Brian Hope. The union has distributed framed copies of the print to all its halls. 

(Below, right) Member John Nicoll and applicant Robert Neumyer pose with Cartmill. The busy Boston Hall services a core 

group of several hundred members and retirees throughout the New England area. 



Union venerables honored: Two long-time members of the Masters, Mates & Pilots, Richard Connelly 

and Joe Milkavich, have received their 50-year pins and certificates from union officials. (Left) MM&P 

International President Tim Brown presented the award to Connelly at a recent union meeting in Los 

Angeles/Long Beach. Brown sailed as chief mate for Connelly, who has actually been a member of MM&P 

for 60 years. (Right) In New York, Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May presents a 50-year pin and 

certificate to Milkavich, who joined the union in 1943 and has thus been a member for over 61 years. 

MM&P Disaster Relief Fund 

Gets Tax-Exempt Status 

The MM&P Disaster Relief Fund has officially been 

approved as a tax-exempt organization. Tax-exempt status 

means that all contributions to the fund are tax deductible. 

Since its inception in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the 

fund has raised over $106,000 and made more than $73,000 

in disbursements. To contribute to the fund, please send a 

check, made payable to “The MM&P Disaster Relief Fund,” 

to 700 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. For 

more information, or if you have suffered losses as a result of 

the hurricanes and wish to apply for aid, call (410) 850-8700 

ext. 11 or 12. 

Daughter of MM&P Member 

Wins Scholarship 

Shannon Casey, daughter of MM&P member Joseph M. 

Casey, is the recipient of one of two $2,500 prizes awarded 

by the Baltimore, Md.-based law firm Ashcraft & Gerel. The 

firm sponsors two, one-time only scholarships for college 

students whose immediate family members belong to a 

Baltimore-area AFL-CIO affiliated union. Shannon, who was 

unable to attend the event, intends to seek a master’s degree 

in mental health and counseling. She expects to graduate in 

June 2009. Present at the awards ceremony were (left to right) 

MM&P Special Projects Director Richard Plant, attorney 

William F. Mulroney, a partner in the firm that made the 

awards, and Ernie Grecco, president of the Metropolitan 

Baltimore Council AFL-CIO. 


A Union Affinity 

Spanning Decades 

MM&P Government Group member Edward A. Morehouse 

writes that for decades, his father carefully conserved a 

70-year-old dues receipt for membership in the “Masters, 

Mates, Pilots, Marine Engineers, Deck Hands, Firemen, 

Oilers, Cooks and Tankermen,” then ILA Local 333. “I 

think it’s interesting that, as the organization progressed, 

everyone started out together, branched off into competing 

trades, and here we are coming together again,” the younger 

Morehouse writes. When the elder Morehouse turned 20, 

he got a job as deckhand on a tugboat which ran from New 

York City to the Erie Canal. “That job began his relationship 

with what was to become MM&P,” writes “Captain Ed,” 

today master of Dredge Wheeler. “The second photo shows 

one of the proudest moments of my father’s life, when he 

was with me on the day I graduated from the U.S. Merchant 

Marine Academy. When I obtained my unlimited master’s 

license, he always told me he was proud to see that I was able 

to accomplish what he had dreamed of for himself. Thus 

was our joint connection to the U.S. Merchant Marine and 

to the Masters, Mates & Pilots.” In the third photo (above), 

“Captain Ed” presents a retirement certificate to Doyce 

Cooke, retiring third mate. 

Jury Acquits ILA Officials 

A federal jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., has cleared two 

International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) officials 

on criminal charges that had served as the foundation for a 

civil suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against the 

union. An article published in the January 2006 edition of 

American Shipper termed the jury’s decision “a heavy blow” 

to the government’s attempt to prosecute the ILA. Acquitted 

in the decision were Harold J. Daggett, ILA assistant general 

organizer, and Arthur Coffey, an ILA vice president. Another 

ILA official, Al Cernadas, had earlier pleaded guilty in the 

case. The ILA has responded to the indictments by making a 

code of ethics and the role of an “ethical practices counsel” 

permanent in its constitution. ILA International President 

John Bowers called the day of the acquittals “a wonderful day 

for our union.” 



Surprise Birthday Party 

for MM&P’s Bob Darley 

Former MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Bob Darley was 

honored at a surprise 70th birthday party this fall that drew 

family and friends from across the country. 

Members of Cape Jacob’s deck department take 

a break while underway in the Far East. Manning 

and operating the six-hatch gear aboard this “stick 

ship” is routine work for the break-bulker, which 

Matson Navigation operates for MARAD. (Left to 

right) Master Joseph J. Klenczar, Third Mate John 

King, Chief Mate Mike Lee and Second Mate Gary 

Frame. Not pictured is Third Mate Chris Rogers. 

MM&P Officers at 

Propeller Club Event 

MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer Glen Banks and 

four of the union’s five vice presidents were among the 

maritime industry leaders who attended the Washington, 

D.C., Propeller Club’s holiday reception. The annual event 

draws congressional staffers and representatives of shipping 

companies and maritime unions from around the country. 

In the photo above, Darley and wife, Dot (center), 

who organized the event, are pictured with (left to right) 

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May, Wally 

Becker of Horizon Lines, Ed Morgan of E-Ships and MM&P 

International President Tim Brown. 

AOTOS Seamanship Award 

to Hospital Ship Mercy 

MM&P officials joined other maritime industry leaders 

in honoring the captains and crew of Military Sealift 

Command hospital ship USNS Mercy at the 39th Admiral of 

(Left to right) MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer 

Glen Banks, Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May, United 

Inland Group Vice President Steve Demeroutis, Pacific 

Ports Vice President Don Marcus, Special Projects Director 

Richard Plant and Gulf Ports Vice President Bob Groh. 


the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) awards gala hosted by the United 

Seamen’s Service in New York this fall. The award recognizes 

American mariners who have demonstrated extraordinary 

seamanship, devotion to duty and courage. On behalf of 

the ship’s crew, Capt. Nathan Smith, one of the masters of 

Mercy, accepted the AOTOS seamanship award from MSC 

Commander Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III for relief work 

following last December’s tsunami. The following MM&P 

Government Group members served as licensed deck officers 

aboard the Mercy during some or all of the vessel’s 

tsunami relief mission: Dustin Dresner, Michael Flanagan, 

Craig Gallagher, Michael Keller, Michael Leahy, Teague 

Murphy, Richard Paramoure, Ursula Rutledge, Joseph Siddell 

and Nathan Smith. 

Photo: Frank Cianciotti 

Also in attendance were MM&P International President 

Tim Brown (not pictured), MM&P International Secretary- 

Treasurer Glen Banks (second from left) and MM&P 

Pacific Ports Vice President Don Marcus (second from 

right), pictured with (left to right) Seafarers International 

Secretary-Treasurer Dave Heindel, MM&P’s Executive 

Assistant to the President Mike Rodriguez, American 

Maritime Officers (AMO) National Executive Vice President 

Tom Bethel and AMO National Assistant Vice President At 

Large Robert Kiefer. 

Have You Been Denied Access 

MM&P has received reports of terminals and port facilities 

improperly denying access to crew members and visitors to 

and from ships in violation of the ISPS Code. The union is 

planning to protest the practice at the national and, if need 

be, the international level, but to do so, we need your help. 

Please send an e-mail to AccessControl@bridgedeck.org 

to report incidents of access denial, as well as cases in which 

a fee to access port facilities is levied on crew members or 

their visitors. Please provide the day the incident took place, 

the names of the port, facility and ship, and a brief description 

of what occurred. 

Officer Shortage to Worsen 

A “modest shortfall” in the number of qualified licensed deck 

officers worldwide is expected to get worse over the course 

of the next decade with the addition of new ships to international 

fleets, according to a recent study. The BIMCO/ISF 

Manpower 2005 Update quantified the current shortfall in 

approximately 2 percent, equal to about 10,000 officers. The 

study also found “a significant overall surplus” of ratings, 

although “doubts exist as to how many are available for 

international service.” The authors said there is little room 

for more manning reductions on ships because of increased 

workloads from the ISPS Code and other requirements. 

Civilian Mariners to Man 

Amphibious Assault Ships 

According to an article published in the December 2005 

issue of SeaPower, the official magazine of the Navy League 

of the United States, the Navy is weighing a plan that would 

entail “manning LHA(R) and LHD amphibious assault 

ships—and perhaps other ships as well—with crews that 

would consist of mariners other than U.S. Navy sailors.” The 

article, which quotes unidentified sources in the Navy, said 

the options under consideration include staffing vessels in 

the Maritime Prepositioning Force with civilian mariners 

(CIVMARS), Marines or contractors, but that it was too 

early to reveal other details of the plan. 

New Contract for 

Faculty and MATES 

Mike Rodriguez would like to thank Hao Cheong and Eric 

Friend for their part in settling a new contract for the faculty 

at MITAGS. MITAGS faculty are members of MM&P’s 

Offshore Group. The agreement is a significant step toward 

strengthening the MATES program by creating a way for 

the faculty to participate with management. “Our agreement 

allows the faculty and the MATES program to explore, 

together, the whole range of solutions to the challenges 

facing our program,” Rodriguez said. “I would like to thank 

Barry Reese and Pablo Rodriguez of MATES as well for their 

effort in making this whole thing happen.” 


on the cover 

When Mariners Are Asked to Bear Arms 

Mike Rodriguez 

In 1985, six hijackers seized the Achille Lauro, killing one 

passenger and holding the rest hostage along with the vessel’s 

crew. Seventeen sailors were lost and 39 others injured when 

the USS Cole was bombed while taking on fuel in Yemen in 

2000. The French tanker Limburg was attacked in 2002 by 

terrorists in a small boat laden with explosives. One crewmember 

was killed and 12 others were injured. The damage 

to the ship was put at approximately $45 million. As recently 

as November 2005, pirates armed with rockets attacked the 

Seabourn Spirit, a cruise liner carrying 150 passengers and 

a crew of 160. Only swift action by the crew prevented the 

pirates from boarding the vessel. 

As we enter 2006, it has become almost cliché to 

talk about the new world we live and work in following 

the September 11 attacks. We drive past signs that tell 

us to report suspicious activity, but who can remember 

the number to call Today it makes hardly a ripple when 

the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raises the 

national threat level. In speech after speech, seemingly in 

every public appearance, federal officials talk about the 2001 

attacks and their effect on specific government agencies and 

departments. 

Given our ability to adjust to changes in the status 

quo, it is natural that we should start to discount the idea 

of a threat when there is no evidence that one exists at that 

specific time. Yet, as evidenced by the series of incidents 

described at the beginning of this article, the threat of 

attacks on shipping is a real one. 

Our nation’s armed forces are continually concerned 

with antiterrorism (AT) because of the nature of their 

mission and because military installations and personnel 

are always potential targets. Department of Defense (DOD) 

Directive 2000.12, the DOD Antiterrorism (AT) Program, 

establishes DOD’s antiterrorism policy. It also describes 

which elements within DOD are affected. It does this 

by establishing a chain of command that starts with the 

Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and flows through the 

Combatant Commands. Military Sealift Command (MSC) 

is covered by 2000.12 since it is part of the United States 

Photo: Sara Glik 

MM&P member Benjamin D. Mantey practices 

drawing a 9-mm handweapon from a holster 

as part of a small arms training class taught at 

MM&P’s training institute, MITAGS, last April. 

Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), one of the 

nine Combatant Commands. 

Directive 2000.12 encompasses DOD contractors, 

including the private sector companies that MSC contracts 

with to manage its own ships and those that MARAD 

works with in the context of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) 

program. 

In response to directive 2000.12, the Commander of 

MSC (COMSC) issues and updates instructions for its 

implementation. The current MSC instruction that defines 

MSC’s antiterrorism policy is COMSCINST 5530.3B, a 

- 10 - January – February 2006 The Master, Mate & Pilot

comprehensive document which contains detailed procedures, 

checklists and other requirements dealing with ship 

security. 

Let’s look now at how the DOD and MSC documents 

that establish AT policy operate with respect to MM&Pcontracted 

companies and our members aboard the 

affected vessels. 

Although 2000.12 gives military commanders at all 

levels the responsibility to establish security measures, the 

authority to set the threat level, or force protection condition 

(FPCON), for a particular area of responsibility (AOR) 

is assigned to the geographic combatant commanders. Local 

commanders, including ships’ masters, have the discretion to 

establish AT measures which are more stringent than those 

set by the combatant commander; they may not, however, 

substitute their own, less stringent, measures for the more 

demanding ones set by the combatant commander. 

What this means, for example, is that the local 

commander in Diego Garcia must comply with the AT 

measures for that FPCON which have been set by the 

commander of the Pacific Command. The local commander 

may, however, require each ship to use AT measures that 

are even more stringent. For example, it is well within the 

authority of local commanders to require ships’ officers to 

carry small arms while on watch. 

Some MM&P masters and deck officers have expressed 

concern over what they see as the safety and liability issues 

implicit in carrying weapons while on watch. According 

to MSC antiterrorism staff, there is no liability so long as 

Sound suppressors lowered, MM&P member James 

Howard Hix III listens to a briefing by instructors in 

the small arms training course. The specially designed 

shooting glasses he wears reduce glare without 

interfering with his ability to see the target. 

the weapons are properly maintained in accordance with 

prescribed maintenance plans and are issued only to those 

who are qualified to carry them. Mariners achieve qualification 

through an approved small arms course. 

It is inevitable that questions and concerns will arise 

over the level of threat and the means to meet it. To answer 

these questions, ships’ masters and officers should: read the 

documents issued by DOD, the Navy and MSC; discuss their 

concerns with the company; and speak with the relevant 

people in the chain of command in their own area of operations. 

DOD directives are posted at: http://www.dtic.mil/ 

whs/directives/. To view material relating to COMSC, go to: 

http://www.msc.navy.mil/instructions/instructions.asp. 

If you have any questions on this topic, please contact Mike 

Rodriguez, Executive Assistant to the President, at (410) 

850-8700, ext. 23, or by e-mail: mrodriguez@bridgedeck.org. 

MM&P’s Directory 

Is Now Online 

Photo: Sara GliK 

MM&P members practice firing a 12-gauge shotgun. 

Visit http://www.bridgedeck.org/ 

to find up-to-the-minute contact information 

for all of MM&P’s staff and offices 

The Master, Mate & Pilot January – February 2006 - 11 -

Washington Observer 

Mixed News for Maritime as Congress Wraps Up First Session 

C. James Patti 

As the first session of the 109th Congress comes to an 

end, now is a good time to review what we were able to 

accomplish in 2005 to help preserve and strengthen the 

U.S.-flag merchant marine and to maintain and create jobs 

for members of the International Organization of Masters, 

Mates & Pilots (MM&P). Typically when a session of 

Congress breaks for the year, we can look back and find that 

there are some issues that were decided very clearly in our 

favor, some where the result is less favorable 

than we had hoped, and some where 

it is still to early to tell; so far, the record 

of this Congress closely matches our 

experience in this regard. 

Fiscal Year 2006 Maritime 

Security Program Funding 

Our most important victory in 2005 came 

when President Bush signed into law 

legislation providing full appropriations 

for the Maritime Security Program (MSP) 

at the new, higher level authorized by 

Congress. Full funding for MSP for fiscal 

year 2006 was passed by Congress and 

sent to the President on Nov. 18. The President signed HR 

3058 on Nov. 30 as Public Law 109–115. With passage of this 

law, the vessels now enrolled in the program and crewed by 

MM&P members will be able to continue to operate in MSP 

under the U.S. flag. 

In recognition of the importance to our nation’s 

commercial sealift capability of the U.S.-flag merchant 

marine and its cadre of American merchant mariners, the 

fiscal year 2006 funding measure for MSP included the full 

$156 million strongly advocated by MM&P, MIRAID, our 

contracted MSP-participating shipping companies and 

others in the industry. The amount is necessary to support 

the expanded 60-ship MSP fleet at the $2.6 million per 

vessel per year level. Without these funds, and without MSP, 

American-flag vessel operators would have an even harder 

time competing against heavily subsidized, state-controlled 

fleets for the carriage of America’s foreign commerce. 

Equally important, without the MSP fleet of privately 

owned, militarily useful U.S.-flag commercial vessels and 

their American crews, our government would have to rely 

on foreign-flag, foreign-crewed vessels to support American 

forces overseas, a scenario that would put American service 

men and women at risk. 

Congress must make funds available each fiscal year 

to support the continued operation of the MSP fleet. 

Notwithstanding our success in achieving full funding for 

fiscal year 2006, we will therefore have to 

wage the fight to maintain our fleet and 

our jobs again for fiscal year 2007. 

National Security Personnel 

System (NSPS) 

To date we have achieved partial success 

in our efforts to have the civil service 

mariners (CIVMARS) who crew the 

vessels owned and operated by Military 

Sealift Command (MSC) excluded 

from all aspects of the Administration’s 


proposed National Security Personnel 

President, MIRAID 

System (NSPS). In early 2005, the 

Department of Defense (DOD) agreed to 

exclude CIVMARS from the human relations and appeals 

provisions of the NSPS. While this is a significant and 

important development for MM&P and the other maritime 

unions that represent CIVMARS, it is only a partial 

victory, and we will continue to fight the decision by the 

Administration and DOD to include CIVMARS under the 

labor relations portion of the NSPS. If CIVMARS were ultimately 

to be covered, DOD would have unilateral authority 

to waive or change the terms and conditions negotiated in 

collective bargaining agreements, effectively eliminating the 

labor rights now enjoyed by these American workers and 

the ability of the unions involved to properly represent their 

members. 

On Nov. 17, 2005, a coalition of AFL-CIO unions 

sued to block implementation of various portions of the 

NSPS regulations dealing with labor relations, mandatory 

removal offenses and appeals. After a series of discussions 

among representatives of DOD, the Office of Personnel 


Management (OPM), the Department of Justice, and the 

plaintiff labor unions, DOD voluntarily agreed to delay 

implementation of portions of NSPS until Feb. 1, 2006, at 

the earliest. Under the terms of the agreement, the Court has 

been asked to set a hearing date for the case in early January. 

Going forward in our fight, we are joined by a number 

of former DOD officials who were at one time responsible 

for the missions performed by the vessels crewed by 

CIVMARS. These officials—including three former MSC 

commanders and two former commanders-in-chief of 

the United States Transportation Command—have told 

the Secretary of Defense that “including CIVMARS in the 

NSPS would be counterproductive and would potentially 

jeopardize the proven mission effectiveness, flexibility, 

and accountability of the existing CIVMAR system.” They 

warned that because the NSPS “will eliminate the direct 

cooperative relationship between the Military Sealift 

Command and maritime labor,” it could “threaten the depth 

and quality of the pool of CIVMARS… thus impairing 

mission effectiveness and increasing costs.” 

We will continue to work with friends and supporters 

on Capitol Hill who understand how well the existing 

CIVMAR system has worked and who share our concern 

(and the concern of the former DOD officials) that 

including CIVMARS in the NSPS could impair our sealift 

capability and readiness. We expect that Congress will 

have its first opportunity to address changes to the NSPS, 

including the exclusion of CIVMARS, in early 2006. 

“Belated Thank You to 

World War II Merchant Mariners” 

The report on HR 23, the “Belated Thank You to World 

War II Merchant Mariners,” is a good news, bad news 

story. The good news is that this legislation, introduced by 

Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), is attracting a growing number 

of cosponsors. As of the end of the first session of the 109th 

Congress, the bill had 238 cosponsors, which demonstrates 

that a clear majority of members of the House of 

Representatives agrees that the proposed legislation should 

be enacted into law. The bad news: it hasn’t happened 

yet. Until it does, the deserving and eligible World War 

II merchant mariners or their surviving spouses will not 

receive the $1,000 monthly benefit intended to provide 

long-overdue recognition to those whose dedication and 

sacrifice contributed immeasurably to the Allied victory. 

HR 23 (and its companion Senate legislation, S 1272) 

have not been acted on because neither has yet been 

“scored” by Congress. Since enactment of the legislation 

would result in the expenditure of federal funds, the 

Congressional Budget Office must first estimate how much 

money will be spent if the bill is enacted, and Congress must 

then determine where the money to pay for the benefit is 

going to come from. 

It has consistently been our position that the “cost” of 

this legislation pales in comparison to the contributions 

made by America’s World War II merchant mariners, contributions 

that often included loss of life. We will continue to 

push for “scoring” and for the enactment of this important 

piece of legislation. 

Foreign Riding Gangs 

An issue that has sparked a great deal of controversy and 

remains unresolved is employment of foreign riding gangs 

on U.S.-flag commercial vessels to do routine maintenance 

and shipyard-related work while vessels are underway. The 

use of riding gangs is common in the international maritime 

community but has not been a usual practice aboard U.S.- 

flag ships. 

When the proposal surfaced as part of pending 

Coast Guard legislation, MM&P expressed its concerns to 

Congress, noting that the language was too broad. Although 

the proposal would preclude such foreign workers from 

being part of the crew complement, performing watchstanding 

functions or being members of the stewards’ 

department, MM&P argued that the proposal did not ensure 

that the employment of foreign riding gangs would not 

result in a decrease in the employment of American mariners. 

MM&P also expressed concern that the language could 

enable foreign riding gangs to perform the work of longshoremen 

when the vessel was in U.S. ports. Finally, MM&P 

noted that the legislation did not subject the foreign workers 

to the same thorough background and security checks that 

American mariners must undergo. 

As the first session of the 109th Congress ended, 

the proponents of the riding gang legislation had made 

significant changes to their proposal to address many of 

the concerns raised by MM&P and others. The latest draft 

would add cargo handling and other longshore-related 

work to the list of prohibited activities so that the proposed 

(Washington Observer, continued on page 16) 


Washington Observer 

Background Checks for Merchant Mariners 

Richard Plant 

Mariners are well aware that a thorough background check 

is now required for the renewal of their merchant mariner 

document (MMD) or Z-card. Background checks are also 

required for the first-time issuance (but not for the renewal) 

of a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) license. 

Although the USCG National Maritime Center (NMC) 

has been authorized to perform background checks based 

on the National Drivers Record (NDR) since 2003, the 

background check process has recently undergone significant 

changes. Background checks as they are now being 

performed can slow the renewal process, in some cases by 

weeks or even months. What’s more, there can be serious 

consequences if the mariner neglects to list on the application 

a particular incident—even a minor one which 

occurred decades earlier. This article is intended to offer 

some guidance to the limited number of mariners who are 

concerned that a particular incident, in particular on their 

driving record, might emerge during the course of a background 

check. 

Why and how the process has changed 

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the NMC was 

given funding to carry out background checks that were 

more thorough than the ones it had been performing up 

to that time. In addition, in the course of recent years, the 

technology used by the FBI to carry out fingerprint checks 

has been greatly enhanced. These two factors help explain 

why all mariners who seek to renew an MMD or obtain an 

original-issue USCG license are now subject to an extensive 

background check. A second change is that the NMC has 

begun going back as far as possible into mariners’ records, a 

substantial divergence from the practices of other branches 

of government. Today, in fact, a “Secret” clearance to sail 

aboard government-contracted vessels requires a check that 

goes back 10 years at most. NMC, for its background checks, 

is going back as far as records exist. NMC officials have said 

that there should be no time limit on background checks 

for MMD or Z-cards since a principal objective is to reveal 

past infractions with implications for safety (such as serious 

driving violations), no matter how old. 

A related problem has also begun to emerge. A limited 

number of mariners have discovered in fact that in cases 

in which they had been told years earlier that their record 

would be expunged [a plea-bargain agreement, for example, 

or a probation-before-judgment for driving-while-underthe 

influence (DWI)] the incident has emerged in the 

NMC-FBI background check. When a mariner fails to list 

an incident and it shows up on the background check, the 

MM&P Special Projects Director Richard Plant poses 

with all the documents he will need to renew his USCG 

license: Z-card, existing USCG license, drivers license, 

passport, application form downloaded from the USCG 

website and fingerprint cards (necessary in some cases). 

omission is considered to be tantamount to making a false 

statement on an official government document. Correcting 

the situation can take days, weeks or months, and possibly 

require the intervention of a lawyer. Today, in fact, the 

NMC considers any omission grounds for denying the 

mariner an MMD. For this reason, the best course of action 

is to list any incident that could have resulted in an arrest, 

police or court record, even if it was not listed on prior 


A do-it-yourself background check 

Having a background check performed on yourself can show you what your record might contain, although 

for purposes of license renewal, the NMC will not accept a background check that you yourself have arranged 

to have carried out. The best place to have your own background check performed is through the Department 

of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the same source the NMC uses for its background checks. 

Mariners can by law request a copy of their own records directly from the Department of Justice, as stated in 

Title 28 USC 16.30.** 

Here’s how to proceed. First, go to your local police department, explain what you are trying to accomplish 

and ask to be fingerprinted. Send the FBI your fingerprint card and proof of identify (a copy of your driver’s 

license, passport, Z-Card and USCG license). How long does it take the FBI to issue a background check to an 

individual mariner acting on his own behalf To find out, I began the process myself in mid-November 2005. 

In an upcoming issue of The Master, Mate & Pilot, I will update readers on how long the process took and on 

whether or not the FBI charges a fee for the service. 

Another option is to request a background check over the Internet. A Google search on “background 

checks” generates a list of sites. As an example (this is not a recommendation that you use this particular site), 

www.choicepoint.com offers to perform an immediate background check for $25 or a more thorough check for 

about $50. The second option takes a few days and the results are sent out by regular mail. (Please note, however, 

that it is possible that the companies that offer this type of web-based service may not use the same database the 

FBI does, a factor that could be of critical importance when your goal is to view the same information that will 

be accessed by the NMC.) 

If you are concerned that a questionable event could emerge during the course of your background check, 

the best advice may be to go the FBI route first, well in advance of filing the application for your MMD and 

license renewal. After receiving your FBI background check, fill out the NMC application as thoroughly as 

possible. If you realize you have left something out, call the NMC immediately at (202) 493-1001 to explain. If 

you experience problems, please contact MM&P with details (rplant@bridgedeck.org), since the union is monitoring 

the situation on behalf of members. USCG officials have said that in most cases, when relevant material is 

left out, the mariner will simply be asked to update his or her application to include it. 

applications. Mariners may also want to consider running a 

background check on themselves. 

What should be done on the national level 

Together, the maritime unions are working to inform 

lawmakers in Washington, D.C., of the importance of 

placing a reasonable time limit on how far back the checks 

can go. It is clear that the standards that the NMC is using 

to analyze the information entered on MMD and Z-card 

applications should be modified to conform to the intent 

of Congress and that a time limit should be placed on 

background checks. As stated earlier, a “Secret” clearance 

requires a 10-year background check only. The Maritime 

Transportation Security Act of 2002 requires a seven-year 

check for certain felonies before a Transportation Workers 

Identification Card (TWIC) can be issued. The NDR specifies 

that a three-year check of driving records be performed 

prior to issuance of an MMD.*** 

MM&P and other unions also believe that NMC should 

be required to retain in its files the background checks for all 

the applications it receives. That way, when a mariner renews 

his or her documents again five years down the line, the 

process will be simpler and faster because a check for the most 

recent five (possibly three) years is all that will be needed. 


Adapting to the situation 

The main thing to remember is that you should start the 

MMD renewal process early. Given the current situation, 

you should no longer consider your license a document 

that is valid for five years: consider it a four-year document 

and start the renewal process at the end of the fourth year, 

or at least six months prior to expiration. By law, you can 

start the process one year before and up to one year after 

your document expires. (Remember, however, that after 

your document expires, you cannot sail on it.) Renewing 

your document every four to four and a half years may 

cost more in fees, but at least that way you can feel more 

confident that you will have your documents in time to 

ship. Remember, today tens of thousands of mariners are 

affected by this process; countless others will join their 

ranks in the not-too-distant future when inland river mariners 

are required for the first time to obtain an MMD. You 

are not alone. Good luck! 

Richard Plant is director of special projects at MM&P. The union thanks the following NMC officials, who met with MM&P representatives 

in November to discuss the situation: Capt. Ernest Fink, head of NMC, Cmdr. Robert Eastburn, Michael Jendrossek, 

senior investigator, and William St. J. Chubb, chief of the Marine Records Branch. To read more on the topic, see the article by 

NMC Director Capt. Fink, in Coast Guard Proceedings, Summer 2005, page 44, which is posted at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/ 

nmc/web/index.htm. 

NOTES 

**§ 16.30 Purpose and scope. This subpart contains the regulations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerning procedures to 

be followed when the subject of an identification record requests production of that record to review it or to obtain a change, correction, or 

updating of that record. 

16.32 Procedure to obtain an identification record. The subject of an identification record may obtain a copy thereof by submitting a written 

request via the U.S. mails directly to the FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, ATTN: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 

Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306. Such request must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of identity, which shall consist 

of name, date and place of birth and a set of rolled-inked fingerprint impressions placed upon fingerprint cards or forms commonly 

utilized for applicant or law enforcement purposes by law enforcement agencies. 

*** 49 USC – Driver Registration 

§ 30305. Access to Register Information 

“(5) An individual who holds, or is applying for, a license or certificate of registry under section 7101 of title 46, or a merchant 

mariner’s document under section 7302 of title 46, may request the chief driver licensing official of a State to provide information 

about the individual under subsection (a) of this section to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating … 

Information may not be obtained from the Register under this paragraph if the information was entered in the Register more than 

three years before the request, unless the information is about a revocation or suspension still in effect on the date of the request.” 

(Emphasis added) 

(Washington Observer, continued from page 13) 

law could not be used to infringe on the jurisdiction of 

America’s longshoremen. In addition, the most recent 

version would specifically: limit the scope of the proposal to 

cargo vessels on international voyages in order to exclude 

all Jones Act operations from the application of the riding 

gang legislation; exclude any individual possessing merchant 

mariners’ documents from being part of a foreign riding 

gang to help prevent the erosion of traditional maritime 

jurisdiction; and include, in its accompanying legislative 

report, language stating that it is the intent of Congress that 

nothing in the foreign riding gang proposal should alter any 

provision in any collective bargaining agreement. 

It remains to be seen, in any case, whether the proponents 

of the proposal will be able to reach agreement with 

the Coast Guard regarding the various background and 

security check issues raised. The Coast Guard is concerned 

that there is insufficient opportunity under the pending 

legislation to adequately determine whether an individual 

who is part of a foreign riding gang is a security or terrorist 

threat to the U.S.-flag vessel, its American citizen crew or to 

the United States itself. 


Masters, Mates & Pilots Plans 

Administrator’s Column: January – February 2006 

Valerie Verrecchio 

The past five years have been challenging ones for all trustees 

and administrators of employee benefit plans. Pension 

plans failed in record numbers, health care costs increased at 

an unprecedented rate and it often seemed that new regulations 

were being issued on a monthly basis by the Internal 

Revenue Service, the Department of Labor and the Center 

for Medicare Services. Our MM&P Plans trustees struggled 

to maintain benefit levels for our members while controlling 

costs that were rapidly escalating in every area. As we move 

forward into 2006, I think it important that we learn from 

the experiences of the past five years. 

One particularly valuable tool has been the opportunity 

to learn from peers. In this regard, the trustees and I gain 

valuable insights from our membership in the International 

Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). The 

foundation’s 34,000 members include 17,000 multiemployer 

trustees and 5,000 plan professionals, including 

administrators, attorneys and actuaries. Each year, many 

of the trustees and I attend the IFEBP Annual Conference. 

This year, approximately 6,000 participants signed up for 

12 educational sessions focused on the responsibilities of 

trustees, administrators, fund attorneys, actuaries, auditors 

and others involved in union and public sector benefit plans. 

Taught by experts in each field, the classes offer the opportunity 

to learn about the latest developments in regulatory 

compliance, benefit plan administration and all aspects of 

managing health and retirement plans in the 21st century. 

The sessions are organized to highlight issues relevant to 

specific types of benefit plans: one track focuses on health 

benefits; others cover defined contribution and defined 

benefit pension plans, investment education and fiduciary 

responsibility. I always learn something new at the sessions 

I attend. It is especially interesting to hear how other plan 

administrators and trustees handle the challenges of our 

industry. 

The theme of this year’s conference was “Escape to 

Learn,” a reference to the fact that, to keep abreast of developments 

in the industry, it can be useful to distance oneself 

from the daily routine. In 

the past few years, the dayto-day 

challenges of administering 

multiple benefit 

plans have left me little time 

for educational reading. 

I often read about health 

and pension topics at night 

when—I confess—they 

sometimes put me to sleep! 

Although of course, the trustees and I keep up with regulatory 

changes with help from our consultant actuary and Plan 

attorney, we gain a comprehensive overview from the three 

days of classes away from office, computers and cell phones. 

Our Plans’ response to change is often based on the 

specific needs of our membership and tailored to the way 

our own office is structured. During the conference, on 

many occasions I was challenged to consider alternatives 

based on the experiences of others. I was pleased to learn 

that we are doing the right things here at the Plan Office and 

that we are not alone in facing change. Today, there are few 

if any plans which are not struggling to maintain health 

and retirement benefits in an economic era that presents a 

constant series of challenges. Benefits are becoming increasingly 

expensive, while at the same time we face higher 

administrative costs stemming from new regulatory requirements. 

Here are just some examples of the new requirements 

that appeared on the scene in 2005. 

Medicare Part D 

Valerie Verrecchio 

Plans Administrator 

In the past year, our entire health and benefit staff 

invested untold hours in additional new tasks stemming 

from the implementation of Medicare Part D. To determine 

what the benefit would mean to our members, we 

required support from the Plan’s actuary, attorney and 

prescription drug provider. The language in each notice 

had to conform to requirements set by the Center for 

Medicare Services (CMS). Such notices, which will now 



have to be added as one of our yearly mailings, will be a 

requirement going forward. 

The Plan will be eligible to receive a subsidy for a 

percentage of the prescription drug costs of the Offshore 

Group retirees because the benefits they receive are considered 

“creditable coverage,” which means that the Plan 

coverage is at least as good as the coverage offered through 

Medicare prescription drug plans, and they do not have 

to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. To 

receive the subsidy, however, we were required to file a 

complicated application with CMS. I had to fill out one 

section of the application. Separate sections had to be 

completed by MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer 

Glen Banks, Patrick McCullough and our actuary. The experience 

proved more of a challenge than we had anticipated. 

We spent a number of hours on hold with CMS representatives 

trying to wade through glitches in their system. At 

present, the Plan is scheduled to receive from CMS, on a 

quarterly basis, about $1 million dollars, which should offset 

some of our retiree drug expenses. 

HIPAA Security Protocols 

The incidence of fraud has increased, as criminals have 

become more sophisticated. Today, in fact, our claims 

processors don’t just process claims: they also have to act 

as detectives, ensuring that each claim is legitimate and 

that the provider listed is bona fide. Our staff has picked 

up a number of bogus claims submitted by fake providers 

in Florida, the state in which most fraudulent claims originate. 

Although our internal auditor provides oversight and 

I myself review all large claims, it is still difficult at times to 

guarantee that every charge on every bill is legitimate and 

correct. Our members sometimes ask, “Wouldn’t it be more 

cost effective if you stopped sending out an Explanation of 

Benefit (EOB) statement for every claim” The answer is 

always “No,” because we need your help: you are the only 

person who can verify—by reviewing your EOB—whether 

the provider actually treated you and whether you received 

the services described. The cost of mailing EOBs can be 

easily outweighed by the discovery of a single large fraudulent 

claim. 

In the past, like most other plans, we used social 

security numbers to identify our members. To combat 

identity theft, in 2005, as required by HIPAA security 

protocols, we reprogrammed the Plan’s claims system 

and trained the benefit advisors and processors on new 

safeguards to assure that only the member and authorized 

family can access protected health information and social 

security numbers. 

Relative Value of Retirement Options 

In response to recent rulings by the Department of Labor, 

the actuary performed a study of our pension plan options 

for retirement distributions to assure that the “relative 

value” of all options is approximately equal. Compliance 

required us to undertake yet another study and to implement 

a new disclosure notice. As you can see, each new 

requirement takes time that used to be spent on other 

tasks—all of which still need to be performed. 

Important Plan Changes 

On Dec. 8, the Board of Trustees met to discuss the future of 

the Offshore Pension Plan and to review proposed changes 

to the Plan going forward that will help ensure its viability. 

Before providing a synopsis of the Board’s actions, it 

is important to note that between 1985 and 2004, some 

75 percent of defined benefit pension plans across the 

United States “disappeared.” Many of those that remain 

have contributed to the $450 billion national defined benefit 

pension deficit. The assets and liabilities of our Offshore 

Defined Benefit Pension Plan have been affected by the same 

combination of circumstances which have led to the demise 

of other plans: primarily poor performance of the stock 

market but also early retirements, lump sum pay-outs and 

longer life expectancies. 

Our Board of Trustees has been faced with a tremendous 

challenge. For actuaries, investment advisors and 

investment professionals, many of the circumstances that 

affected the funding status of pension plans were both 

unforeseeable and unavoidable. The urgent task for the 

trustees was, and continues to be, how to address the longterm 

funding of the Pension Plan. The changes decided on 

by our trustees at the Dec. 8 meeting are measures that are 

most likely to help decrease the current deficit while maintaining 

the highest possible level of benefits for our members 

going forward. 


Important Regulatory Limits for 2006 

Maximum Annual §415 Payout at Age 62 

from a Defined Benefit Plan* 

Maximum Annual Contribution to an 

Individual’s Defined Contribution Account 

under §415(c) 

The following Plan changes will take effect on 

March 1, 2006 

$175,000 

$44,000 

Maximum Elective §401(k) Deferral $15,000 

§401(k) Catch-Up Limit for Individuals 

Age 50 and Older 

Maximum Amount of Annual 

Compensation That Can Be Taken Into 

Account for Determining Benefits or 

Contributions Under a Qualified Plan 

Wage Base: 

a) for Social Security Tax 

b) for Medicare 

$5,000 

$220,000 

$94,200 

No Limit 

1. New participants who join the Pension Plan after March 

1, 2006, will accrue benefits at the level of two percent for 

each year of service. 

2. New participants who join the Pension Plan after 

March 1, 2006, will not be entitled to any Cost of Living 

Adjustments (COLAs) unless specifically authorized by 

the Pension Plan Board of Trustees. Authorization for 

COLAs will be determined annually by the Trustees based 

on the financial condition of the Plan. 

3. Current participants in the pension plan will also accrue 

pension benefits at the level of two percent per year for 

all years after March 1, 2006. Since the law requires that 

pension plan changes can only be prospective, any years 

of service earned prior to March 1, 2006, at a higher 

percentage rate of accrual will not be affected. 

4. The following caps will be established for benefit accruals 

going forward for the purpose of pension calculations. 

Up to 20 years of service: $90,000 

Over 20 years but less than 25 years of service: $105,000 

Twenty-five or more years of service: $120,000 

A review criterion contingency was also established. 

This contingency provides that should the required 

employer contribution, as determined by the Plan actuaries, 

fall to 16 percent plus Feinberg or lower, then #1 and 

#3 above will be voided and the previous level of benefit 

provisions will be re-established so long as the employer’s 

required contribution level does not go above 19 percent 

plus Feinberg or greater. (“Feinberg” is an adjustment 

applied to a participant’s earnings to ensure that any vacation 

earnings are included in the participant’s pension 

wages.) 

The COLA provision for new participants described 

above will remain in place for the duration of the Plan 

and will be unaffected by the lower employer contribution 

contingency. 

In the future, more steps to reduce the costs of our 

Pension Plan may be necessary. Additional cost saving 

measures will be considered at the February Board of 

Trustees meeting. Further changes will, in large part, be 

determined by the financial performance of Plan investments 

during the last two quarters of 2005 and the final 

determination of the 2006 contribution rate by the actuaries 

after consideration of the March 1, 2006, changes. 

Please contact the Plan Office if you would like an overview 

of your particular situation. 

Health & Benefit Plan Notes 

Quest Diagnostics 

Quest Diagnostics is one of the nation’s leading providers 

of diagnostic laboratory services. It is also a First Health 

Network provider. For these reasons, our members are 

frequently referred for services to Quest labs. Over the past 

few years, the Plan Office has received numerous calls from 

members about billing issues with Quest. One problem that 



Generic drugs have lower co-payments, which could result 

in savings for patients of about $10 on each prescription. 

seems to occur frequently is that although our members give 

their MM&P identification card to the lab, Quest fails to bill 

the Health & Benefit Plan. Another problem that has been 

brought to our attention is that Quest attempts to “balance 

bill” our members for the total charges rather than billing at 

the discounted PPO rate. The EOB you receive from the Plan 

Office will list the billed charge, the negotiated rate and the 

amount you owe. Please review any balance due bills with 

your EOB in hand to verify that Quest has billed you the 

correct amount. 

2006-07 Optical Benefits 

Don’t forget that Jan. 1 marks the start of the two-year 

optical benefit for members and dependents. You and your 

family are entitled to a $360 benefit over the next two years 

for eye exams, glasses and/or contact lenses. The benefit is 

not subject to Plan deductibles. You can go to a participating 

Cole Optical provider and pay nothing out of pocket (Cole 

will bill the Plan directly). Or you can go to the doctor and 

optical provider of your choice, find the best deal and send 

your bills to the Plan Office for reimbursement. 

Health Notes 

Employee Contributions to Health Coverage Increase 

According to the Kaiser Health Research and Educational 

Trust, since 1999, the average employee contribution to 

health coverage has risen from an average of $25 per month 

for single coverage to $50 per month. The average employee 

contribution for family coverage rose from $125 per month 

in 1999 to $225 per month in 2005. 

Use of Generics Saves Money 

Increased use of generic drugs could have saved $20 billion 

in 2005, according to a new report, by pharmacy benefit 

manager Express Scripts, which was published in the AP/ 

Albany Times Union. According to the report, generic drugs 

cost, on average, $60 less per month than brand name drugs. 

The report also found that a generic gastrointestinal drug 

appropriate about 95 percent of the time is dispensed only 

about 31 percent of the time. Generic drugs have lower copayments, 

which could result in savings for patients of about 

$10 on each prescription. 

Recognizing the Signs of Stroke 

Neurologists say that if a stroke victim is treated within three 

hours, there is a high likelihood that all negative effects of 

the stroke can be reversed. But the symptoms of a stroke 

can be difficult to identify. Widespread use of a simple test 

described at the most recent meeting of the American Stroke 

Association could enable prompt diagnosis and treatment. 

An observer can recognize a stroke by asking the individual: 

• to smile; 

• to raise both arms; 

• to speak a simple sentence coherently. 

If the person has difficulty with any of these tasks, you 

should call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to 

the dispatcher. 

Mammograms Save Lives 

A study published in the Oct. 27 edition of the New England 

Journal of Medicine concludes that 28 to 65 percent of the 

sharp decrease in breast cancer deaths from 1990 to 2000 

can be attributed to mammograms. The study attributed the 

remainder of the decline to powerful new drugs. In 1985, 

about 20 percent of women over 40 had mammograms. In 

2000, that figure rose to 70 percent. We remind our female 

members over 40 and those younger who are in high-risk 

categories that the Plan covers screening mammography as 

part of the annual $1,000 physical benefit. 

The next Board of Trustee meetings will take place Feb. 

1-2, 2006. Highlights of the meetings will be covered in the 

next issue. 



Notice to Participants in the 

Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan and Any Alternate Payees 

With Respect to Such Participants 

Effective March 1, 2006, several changes will be made to 

the program of benefits under the Masters, Mates & Pilots 

Pension Plan (the “Plan”). These changes will reduce future 

benefit accruals and impose certain “pension wage” caps 

under the Plan but will not impact any benefits accrued to 

date. 

Under the terms of the Plan, participants’ pension 

benefits are determined based on an average of each participant’s 

best five calendar years of “pension wages” during 

the 10 calendar years prior to when he first receives pension 

benefits, and the number of pension credits accumulated by 

the participant at retirement. Benefits are calculated using 

a percentage formula. Furthermore, the benefits of certain 

pensioners, and their surviving spouses or alternate payees, 

are adjusted for changes in the cost of living. 

The Board of Trustees of the Plan recently decided to 

amend the percentage formula under which accrued benefits 

are determined, the cost of living adjustment (“COLA”) 

provisions and the amount of pension wages that are taken 

into account in calculating a participant’s benefits. The 

following is a description of these changes. 

Currently, pension benefits accrue at a rate of 2 percent 

per year for a participant’s first 20 years of pension credit 

and 2.5 percent per year for over 20 years of pension credit. 

In addition, participants who have attained age 60 or higher 

as of their pension effective date and have accumulated at 

least 30 years of pension credit are entitled to 2 percent per 

year for the participant’s first 20 years of pension credit 

and 2 2/3 percent per year for each year of pension credit 

above 20 years. However, for pension credits earned by Plan 

participants on or after March 1, 2006, including any new 

participants in the Plan after that date, pension benefits 

will accrue at a flat rate of 2 percent per year for all Plan 

participants. 

The earnings taken into consideration for calculating 

pension benefits will also be capped as follows for service 

performed on or after March 1, 2006: 

Years of Service 

Wage Cap 

Up to 20 $90,000 

More than 20 - Less than 25 $105,000 

Over 25 $120,000 

For example, if Participant A, with more than 25 

years of pension credit, earned $125,000 during 2007, only 

$120,000 would be taken into account to determine his 

average pension wage. Prior to this amendment, participant 

earnings were subject to an annual compensation 

limit determined under Internal Revenue Code section 

401(a)(17), which was set at $210,000 for the 2005 Plan year 

and $220,000 for the 2006 Plan year. 

Finally, COLAs will not be provided with respect to 

pension benefits accrued based on service performed by 

individuals who first become participants in the Plan after 

Feb. 28, 2006. 

You will continue to accrue benefits under the current 

terms of the Plan through Feb. 28, 2006. For example, if your 

earnings for service performed on or before Feb. 28, 2006 

are greater than the new earnings limits described above, the 

limits will not apply to such earnings. 

A “snapback” provision to these amendments was 

approved by the Trustees if the Plan’s required minimum 

funding contribution falls to 16 percent of payroll plus 

“Feinberg,” or lower. (“Feinberg” is an adjustment which 

is applied to a participant’s earnings to ensure that any 

vacation earnings are included in the participant’s pension 

wages.) This snapback provision would allow the Plan’s 

current benefit accrual and earnings provisions to be reapplied 

to all then still active Plan participants who have not 

retired, except for the Plan’s COLA provisions, which will 

still not apply to individuals who are new participants in 

the Plan on or after March 1, 2006. However, the snapback 

provision will not be triggered if the more generous benefit 

accrual schedule causes the Plan’s required minimum 

funding contribution to reach 19 percent or more of payroll 

plus Feinberg. 

This Notice is being sent to inform you of the 

upcoming changes in the Plan’s benefit accrual schedule 

and other Plan benefit modifications described above and 

to meet the requirements of section 204(h) of ERISA and 

section 4980F of the Internal Revenue Code. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the 

Plan Office during regular office hours at (410) 850-8500. 

— December 2005 


Pensioners 

George Brereton, a member of MM&P’s 

United Inland Group. He last sailed as 

captain for the Alaska Marine Highway 

System. 

John B. Lynch Jr., shipping out of New Orleans. He last 

sailed for Waterman Steamship Company as second mate 

of the Atlantic Forest. 

David E. Cox, shipping out of Boston. 

He last sailed in 2005 for American Ship 

Management as master of the Singapore. 

Donald Marshall, shipping out of Seattle. 

He last sailed for Matson Navigation 

Company as master of the Maui. 

Donald D. Garlinghouse, last sailed for Cleveland Tankers 

as third mate of the Gemini. 

John P. Metcalfe, shipping out of New York/New Jersey. He 

last sailed with E-Ships Inc. as second mate. 

Richard John Jewett, last sailed with AHL Shipping 

Company as second assistant engineer of the Monseigneur. 

Lloyd S. Rath, shipping out of San 

Francisco. He last sailed for Matson 

Navigation Company as master of the 

Mahimahi. 

Joseph Vincent Johnson Jr., shipping out 

of Boston. He last sailed for American 

Ship Management as chief mate of the APL 

Philippines. 


HOLIDAYS 2005 

As 2005 came to a close, MM&P members, 

their families and friends celebrated the 

holidays in union halls across the country. 

Many thanks to those who submitted photos 

of the festivities for publication in the 

magazine. 

Jacksonville: John Marshall, Bernard 

Scott, MM&P International President Tim 

Brown, Don Davis and Dean Culver. 

Jacksonville: MM&P International Secretary- 

Treasurer Glen Banks with Dan Corn. 

Honolulu: Captain Joe Brady, Julie Iinuma, 

Roland Hobson and Nick Moore. 

Port Everglades: Adam Torres, Jim Kobis, 

George Insana and Bob Beauregard. 

New Orleans: Brenda and Ed Higgins, 

former New Orleans port agent. 


HOLIDAYS 2005 

New Orleans: Armando (Dale) Rodriguez, Bob Groh, 

William Weimers and Roger Johnson, with friend. 

Boston: Jim Brennan, Bob Lamb, Vince 

Thompson and Don Laverdure. 

Honolulu: Paul Hatley, Jim Rettke, Nick Moore, 

Randy Swindell and Duncan Brown. 

Norfolk: Matt Parker, MM&P Representative 

Patti Powell and Damion Giles. 

New York/New Jersey: Steve Werse, Ed 

Gras and Morgan McManus. 

Los Angeles/Long Beach: Members and retirees enjoy 

the holiday buffet at the Los Angeles/Long Beach hall. 


Boston: John Connor and Steve Kanchuga 

Port Everglades: Art Ruben, Bob Groh 

and Susan and Joe Fernandez. 

Jacksonville: Bill Hurlbert, James Avera, Bobby Meares, 

Tom Lane, Harold Mays and Connie Davis, with friends. 

New Orleans: Manfred Osborne and wife, Ralph 

McDonald, Donald Hoffman and Ejnar Christiansen. 

San Francisco: Steve Sivell, Jim Dykes and Gordon White 

Boston: Bob Pechusick, Rocky Lavault, MM&P 

Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May, Tom 

Sullivan, Ron Colpus and John Lynskey. 


HOLIDAYS 2005 

Port Everglades: Susan Fernandez, Duane Koran 

and MM&P International President Tim Brown. 

Boston: Ed Shepherd with his dog, McTavish, Gerry 

Parlon, Bob Pechusick and Kerry Fitzpatrick. 

Los Angeles/Long Beach: Members and 

retirees sample the buffet. 

Jason and Michelle Bailey and their children. 

San Francisco: Members enjoying the food in the Sailors 

Union of the Pacific Library in MM&P’s San Francisco Hall. 

New Orleans: Dale Rodriguez, Bob Chiesa, 

Luci Chiesa, MM&P Port Representative Sue 

Bourcq, the bartender and Ed Higgins. 


Houston: Bob Groh, George McDonald Sr. and Jim Nelson. 

New Orleans: MM&P Gulf Ports Vice President 

Bob Groh with pensioner Ed Connelly. 

MM&P President Tim Brown and Secretary-Treasurer 

Glen Banks surrounded by headquarters staff: Audrey 

Scharmann, Gail Ways, Gene Weedon, Mary Seidman, 

Marita Engler and husband, Earl, Kathy Klisavage, 

Cherie Orner, Juli Archer, Diane Chatham, Mike 

Rodriguez, Heather Ortega and Beverly Gutmann. 

Houston: Peter J. Bourgeois, Michael McCright, 

George McKay, Dennis Ferguson, MM&P Gulf 

Ports Vice President Bob Groh and Jack Lane. 

Jacksonville: G. Van Haasteren, MM&P 

Pacific Ports Vice President Bob Groh, Dan 

Corn, John Loftus and Jim Stebbins. 

Boston: Dan Goggin and Dan Cartmill. 


HOLIDAYS 2005 

Boston: MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President 

Rich May with Dan Skwyra and Ron Colpus. 

Boston: John Lynsky and Paul Carty 

Port Everglades: MM&P Gulf Ports Vice President 

Bob Groh, Jimmy Pappas and Nancy Groh. 

Houston: Michelle Bailey, Alice Brittain, Mary 

Beth O’Brien, Nell Wilkerson and friends. 

Jacksonville: Herb Blenkle and MM&P 

International President Tim Brown. 

Port Everglades: Michael, Michela and Nittaya 

Kidd and Maike, Maya, Hannah and Paul Coan. 


Jacksonville: MM&P Representative Liz Pettit. 

New York/New Jersey: Jay Tripaldi, 

MM&P assistant port agent. 

New York/New Jersey: John Johnson, MM&P International 

Secretary-Treasurer Glen Banks and Ed Morgan of E-Ships. 

New York/New Jersey: (Front) Rich Sweeney, Henry 

Knox-Dick, MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer 

Glen Banks, Mike Rodriguez and Victor Soto. 

(Second row) Joe Miller, MM&P New York 

Representative Marilyn Brunner, Elliot 

Friedman, Jim Frank and Homer McGee. 

(Third row) Mika Frank, Charlie Moy, Bob Darley, Dot 

Darley, John Hayes, Dave McCauley, MM&P Atlantic 

Ports Vice President Rich May, Victor Marquez, 

Thomas Larkin, Juancho Guitierez and Mell Issen. 

(Rear) George Thompson, John Moustakas, 

John Papasiglou, Frank Davis, Henry Gonzalez, 

John Johnson, George Kanavos, John Seybert, 

Ed Gras, Morgan McManus, Kevin Chicon, 

Steve Werse, Cyril Elias and Ted Matlack. 

Boston: Kevin O’Halloran, Don Laverdure and 

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May. 


Directory of MM&P Offices 

International Headquarters 


Linthicum Heights, MD 21090 

Phone: 410-850-8700 • Fax: 410-850-0973 

E-mail: iommp@bridgedeck.org 

Website: www.bridgedeck.org 

WLO Marine Radio ITU SitorE-mail: 

iommp@bridgedeck.org 

International Officers 

Timothy A. Brown, President 

Ext. 17; e-mail: president@bridgedeck.org 

Glen P. Banks, Secretary-Treasurer 

Ext. 21; e-mail: sec-treas@bridgedeck.org 

Executive Offices 

George Quick, Vice President 

Pilot Membership Group 

Ext. 20; e-mail: gquick@bridgedeck.org 

Mike Rodriguez, Executive Assistant to the President 

Ext. 23; e-mail: mrodriguez@bridgedeck.org 

Richard Plant, Director of Special Projects 

Ext. 36; e-mail: rplant@bridgedeck.org 

Audrey Scharmann, Executive Secretary 

Ext. 17; e-mail: ascharmann@bridgedeck.org 

Diane Chatham, Executive Secretary 

Ext. 21; e-mail: dchatham@bridgedeck.org 

Legal Department 

John Singleton, International Counsel 

Ext. 19; e-mail: jsingleton@bridgedeck.org 

Gabriel Terrasa, Associate Counsel 

Ext. 45; e-mail: gterrasa@bridgedeck.org 

Communications Office 

Lisa Rosenthal, Communications Director 

Ext. 27; e-mail: communications@bridgedeck.org 

Accounting Office 

John Gorman, International Comptroller 

Ext. 12; e-mail: jgorman@bridgedeck.org 

Government Employees’ Membership Group 

Randi Ciszewski, Representative 

37 Edward Hart Dr., Jersey City, NJ 07305 

Phone: 201-433-7700; Fax: 201-433-7959 

E-mail: rciszewski@bridgedeck.org 

David H. Boatner, West Coast Contact 

IOMM&P – Los Angeles/Long Beach 

533 N. Marine Av., Wilmington, CA 90744-5527 

Phone: 310-834-7201; Fax: 310-834-6667 

E-mail: dboatner@bridgedeck.org 

Randi Ciszewski, U.S. Navy Civil Service Pilots Representative 

37 Edward Hart Dr., Jersey City, NJ 07305 

Phone: 201-433-7700; Fax: 201-433-7959 

E-mail: rciszewski@bridgedeck.org 

Offshore Membership Group 

Rich May, Vice President-Atlantic Ports 

Bob Groh, Vice President-Gulf Ports 

Don Marcus, Vice President-Pacific Ports 

Boston 

Dan Cartmill, Dan Goggin, Representatives 

Harbour Pointe East 

80 Everett Av. – Suite 211, Chelsea, MA 02150 

Phone: 617-884-8680; Fax: 617-884-8438 

E-mail: boston@bridgedeck.org 

Charleston 

Elise Silvers, Representative 

1529 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., 2 nd Floor 

Charleston, SC 29407 

Phone: 843-766-3565; Fax: 843-766-6352 

E-mail: esilvers@bridgedeck.org 

Honolulu 

Randy Swindell, Representative 

707 Alakea St. - No. 212, Honolulu, HI 96813 

Phone: 808-523-8183; Fax: 808-538-3672 

E-mail: rswindell@bridgedeck.org 

Houston 

Wayne Farthing, Agent-Gulf Ports 

Nell Wilkerson, Representative 

8150 South Loop East - Suite 207, Houston, TX 77017 

Phone: 713-649-8812; Fax: 713-649-6101 

E-mail: wfarthing@bridgedeck.org; nwilkerson@bridgedeck. 

org 

Jacksonville 

Liz Pettit, Representative 

349 E. 20 th St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 

Phone: 904-356-0041; Fax: 904-353-7413 

E-mail: lpettit@bridgedeck.org 


Los Angeles/Long Beach 

David H. Boatner, Agent-Pacific Ports 

Bernadette Hertel, Representative 

533 N. Marine Av., Wilmington, CA 90744-5527 

Phone: 310-834-7201; Fax: 310-834-6667 

E-mail: dboatner@bridgedeck.org 

bhertel@bridgedeck.org 

Miami/Port Everglades 

Bob Groh, Vice President-Gulf 

Duane M. Koran, Port Representative 

540 East McNab Rd.,Suite B 

Pompano Beach, FL 33060-9354 

Phone: 954-946-7883; Fax: 954-946-8283 

E-mail: rgroh@bridgedeck.org 

dkoran@bridgedeck.org 

New Orleans 

Sue Bourcq, Representative 

3330 West Esplanade, Suite 209, Metairie, LA 70002-3454 

Phone: 504-837-5700; Fax: 504-834-1815 

E-mail: sbourcq@bridgedeck.org 

New York/New Jersey 

Richard May, Vice President-Atlantic 

Marilyn Brunner, Representative 

26 Journal Sq. - Suite 1502, Jersey City, NJ 07306 

Phone: 201-963-1900; Fax: 201-963-5403 

Assistant Port Agent: 201-963-1918 

E-mail: rmay@bridgedeck.org 

mbrunner@bridgedeck.org; 

nynj@bridgedeck.org (Assistant Port Agent) 

Norfolk, Va. 

Patricia Powell, Representative 

1058 West 39th St., Norfolk, VA 23508 

Phone: 757-489-7406; Fax: 757-489-1715 

E-mail: ppowell@bridgedeck.org 

San Francisco 

Sandy Candau, Representative 

Frank Medeiros, Representative 

450 Harrison St. - Room 209 

San Francisco, CA 94105-2691 

Phone: 415-777-5074; Fax 415-777-0209 

E-mail: scandau@bridgedeck.org 

fmedeiros@bridgedeck.org 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 

Frank Reyes, Representative 

Miramar Plaza Ctr. - Suite 305 

954 Ponce de Leon Ave., Santurce, PR 00907 

Phone: 787-724-3600; Fax: 787-723-4494 

Office Hours: Monday-Friday — 0900-1330 

E-mail: freyes@bridgedeck.org 

Seattle 

Don Marcus, Vice President-Pacific 

Kathleen O. Randrup, Representative 

2333 Third Av., Seattle, WA 98121-1711 

Phone: 206-441-8700; Fax: 206-448-8829 

E-mail: dmarcus@bridgedeck.org 

krandrup@bridgedeck.org 

Tampa 

Laura Cenkovich, Representative 

202 S. 22 nd St., Suite 205, Tampa, FL 33605-6308 

Phone: 813-247-2164; Fax: 813-248-1592 

E-mail: lcenkovich@bridgedeck.org 

Pilot Membership Group 

George A. Quick, Vice President 

3400 N. Furnace Rd., Jarrettsville, MD 21084 

Phone: 410-557-8757; Fax: 410-557-7082 

E-mail: gquick@bridgedeck.org 

East Coast Regional Representative 

Timothy J. Ferrie 

201 Edgewater St., Staten Island, NY 10305 

Phone: 718-448-3900; Fax: 718-447-1582 

Email: tferrie010@msn.com 

Gulf Coast Regional Representative 

Richard D. Moore 

8150 S. Loop E., Houston, TX 77017 

Phone: 713-645-9620 

West Coast Regional Representative 

Kip Carlson 

Pier 9, East End, San Francisco, CA 94111 

Phone: 415-362-5436 

E-Mail: sfbpkip@aol.com 

Alaska Marine Pilots 

Stephan Moreno, President 

P.O. Box 920226, Dutch Harbor, AK 99692 

Phone: 907-581-1240; Fax: 907-581-1372 

E-mail: amp@arctic.net 

Aransas-Corpus Christi Pilots 

Jim Dooley 

P.O. Box 2767, Corpus Christi, TX 78403 

Phone: 361-884-5899; Fax: 361-884-1659 

Associated Branch Pilots 

Mike Lorino Jr. 

P.O. Box 3298 

Covington, LA 70434-3298 

Phone: 985-898-1116 


Association of Maryland Pilots 

Eric Nielsen, President 

3720 Dillon St., Baltimore, MD 21224 

Phone: 410-276-1337; Fax: 410-276-1364 

E-mail: MDPilots@aol.com 

Biscayne Bay Pilots 

John R. Fernandez, Chairman 

2911 Port Blvd., Miami, FL 33132 

Phone: 305-374-2791; 305-375-9453 

Boston Pilots 

Greg Farmer 

Massport Pier 1, Berth 1, Bremen St., E. Boston, MA 02128 

Phone: 617-569-4500; Fax: 617-564-4502 

Boat: 617-569-4503 

Canaveral Pilots 

David P. Callan, David A. Richard, Co-Chairmen 

Box 816, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 

Phone: 321-783-4645 

Caribbean Harbor Pilots 

P.O. Box 34336 

Ponce, PR 00734-4336 

787-848-7180 

Charleston Branch Pilots 

Whit Smith 

6 Concord St., P.O. Box 179, Charleston, SC 29402 

Phone: 843-577-6695; Fax: 843-577-0632 

Columbia Bar Pilots 

John Torjusen 

P.O. Box 87, Astoria, OR 97103 

Phone: 503-325-2641 

Columbia River Pilots 

Alan J. Widme, Branch Agent 

13225 N. Lombard, Portland, OR 97203 

Phone: 503-289-9922 

Coos Bay Pilots 

Steven H. Sweet, President 

686 North Front St., Coos Bay, OR 97420-2331 

Phone: 541-267-6555; Fax: 541-267-5256 

Crescent River Port Pilots 

Allen J. “A.J.” Gibbs, President 

8712 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037 

Phone: 504-392-8001; Fax: 504-392-5014 

Galveston-Texas City Pilots 

John Halvorsen 

1301 Pelican Island #1 

Galveston, TX 77552 

Phone: 409-740-3347; Fax: 409-740-3393 

Hawaii Pilots Association 

Steve Baker, President 

Pier 19-Honolulu Harbor, P.O. Box 721 

Honolulu, HI 96808 

Phone: 808-532-7233; Fax: 808-532-7229 

E-mail: officeadmin@hawaiipilots.net 

Houston Pilots 

Michael A. Morris, Presiding Officer 

8150 S. Loop E., Houston, TX 77017 

Phone: 713-645-9620 

Humboldt Bar Pilots 

John Powell: 707-443-3878 

Timothy Petrusha: 707-443-5365 

P.O. Box 3555, Eureka, CA 95502-3555 

Key West Bar Pilots Association 

Capt. Michael McGraw 

P.O. Box 848, Key West, FL 33041 

Phone: 305-296-5512; Fax: 305-296-1388 

Lake Charles Pilots 

Michael Miller, President 

4902 Ihles Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70605 

Phone: 337-436-0372; Fax: 337-474-4573 

E-mail: officemgr@lakecharlespilots.com 

Website: www.lakecharlespilots.com 

Mobile Bar Pilots 

David W. Wittendorfer, President 

P.O. Box 831, Mobile, AL 36601 

Phone: 251-432-2639; Fax: 251-432-9964 

New Orleans-Baton Rouge SS Pilots 

Capt. William O. Watson III 

Capt. Chris Rieder 

3900 River Rd. - Suite 7, Jefferson, LA 70021 

Phone: 985-867-5332; Fax: 504-832-1932 

Pilots Association for the Bay & River Delaware 

Michael J. Linton, President 

800 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19147 

Phone: 215-465-8340; Fax: 215-465-3450 

Port Everglades Pilots 

Thomas Hackett & Bruce Cumings, Co-Directors 

P.O. Box 13017, Port Everglades, FL 33316 

Phone: 954-522-4491 


Puget Sound Pilots 

Capt. Richard McCurdy 

101 Stewart St. - Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101 

Phone: 206-728-6400; Fax: 206-448-3405 

Sabine Pilots 

Ellen K. Warner, President 

5148 West Pkwy., Groves, TX 77619 

Phone: 409-722-1141; Fax: 409-962-9223 

Saint Johns Bar Pilots 

Joseph J. Brown, President 

4910 Ocean St., Mayport, FL 32233 

Phone: 904-249-5631; Fax: 904-249-7523 

E-mail: admin@jaxpilots.com 

San Juan Bay Pilots 

P.O. Box 9021034 

San Juan, PR 00902-1034 

787-722-1166 

St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots 

Richard G. Tetzlaff, President 

P.O. Box 274, 733 E. Broadway, Cape Vincent, NY 13618 

Phone: 315-654-2900; Fax: 315-654-4491 

San Francisco Bar Pilots 

Bill Greig, Port Agent; Kip Carlson, MM&P Rep. 

Pier 9, East End, San Francisco, CA 94111 

Phone: 415-362-5436; Fax: 415-982-4721 

Sandy Hook Pilots 

Peter Rooss, Branch Agent 

201 Edgewater St., Staten Island, NY 10305 

Phone: 718-448-3900; Fax: 718-447-1582 

Savannah Pilots Association 

William T. Brown, Master Pilot 

550 E. York St., P.O. Box 9267, Savannah, GA 31412 

Phone: 912-236-0226; Fax: 912-236-6571 

Southeast Alaska Pilots Association 

Ted Kellogg, President 

1621 Tongass Ave. - Suite 300, Ketchikan, AK 99901 

Phone: 907-225-9696; Fax: 907-247-9696 

E-mail: pilots@seapa.com 

Website: www.seapa.com 

Southern New England Pilots Association 

Howard McVay 

243 Spring St., Newport, RI 02840 

Phone: 401-847-9050; Toll Free: 800-274-1216 

Southwest Alaska Pilots Association 

Michael J. O’Hara, Branch Agent 

P.O. Box 977, Homer, AK 99603 

Phone: 907-235-8783; Fax: 907-235-6119 

E-mail: swpilots@gci.net 

Tampa Bay Pilots 

Allen L. Thompson, Executive Director 

1825 Sahlman Dr., Tampa, FL 33605 

Phone: 813-247-3737; Fax: 813-247-4425 

Virginia Pilot Association 

J. William Cofer, President 

3329 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23451 

Phone: 757-496-0995 

Western Great Lakes Pilots Association 

Donald Willecke, President 

1325 Tower Av., P.O. Box 248, Superior, WI 54880-0248 

Phone: 715-392-5204; Fax: 715-392-1666 

Wilmington (N.C.) Pilots 

Capt. Herring 

P.O. Box 10070, Southport, NC 28461 

Phone: 910-457-6909 

United Inland Membership Group 

Steve Demeroutis, Vice President 

Cleveland 

Charles Malue, Great Lakes Representative 

1250 Old River Rd., Cleveland, OH 44113 

Phone: 216-776-1667; Fax: 216-776-1668 

E-mail: cmalue@bridgedeck.org 

Jacksonville 

James Avera, International Representative 

349 E. 20th St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 

Phone: 904-355-3534; Fax: 904-353-7413 

E-mail: javera@bridgedeck.org 

Portland 

John Schaeffner, Branch Agent 

2225 N. Lombard St. - No. 206, Portland, OR 97217 

Phone and Fax: 503-283-0518 

E-mail: jschaeffner@bridgedeck.org 

San Francisco 

Raymond W. Shipway, Branch Agent 

450 Harrison St. - East Mezzanine - Room 205 

San Francisco, CA 94105-2691 

Phone: 415-543-5694; Fax: 415-543-2533 

E-mail: rshipway@bridgedeck.org 


San Juan, Puerto Rico 

Luis Ramirez, Atlantic & Gulf Representative 

Miramar Plaza Center - Suite 305 

954 Ponce de Leon Ave., Santurce, PR 00907 

Phone: 787-725-7604; Fax: 787-723-4494 

Seattle 

Steve Demeroutis, Vice President 

2333 Third Av., Seattle, WA 98121-1711 

Phone: 206-441-1070; Fax: 206-443-3752 

E-mail: sdemeroutis@bridgedeck.org 

Wilmington 

Raymond W. Shipway, Branch Agent 

533 N. Marine Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744-5527 

Phone: 310-549-8013; Fax: 310-834-6667 

E-mail: rshipway@bridgedeck.org 

Maritime Institute for Research and 

Industrial Development (MIRAID) 

C. James Patti, President 

1025 Connecticut Ave, NW - Suite 507 

Washington, DC 20036-5412 

Phone: 202-463-6505; Fax: 202-223-9093 

E-mail: jpatti@miraid.org 

Masters, Mates & Pilots Federal Credit Union 

Kathy Ann Klisavage, Manager 

MM&P Plans Building Lobby 

700 Maritime Blvd. 


Phone: 410-850-8700, Ext. 43; Fax: 410-859-1623 

Toll-Free: 1-800-382-7777 (All U.S., PR and Panama) 

E-mail: mmpfcu@bridgedeck.org 

MM&P Maritime Advancement, Training, 

Education & Safety Program (MATES) 

Valerie Verrecchio, Administrator 

Glen Paine, Executive Director 

MM&P Health & Benefit, Vacation, 

Pension, JEC and IRA Plans 


MM&P Plans 

700 Maritime Blvd. – Suite A 


Phone: 410-850-8500; Fax: 410-850-8655 

Toll-Free: 1-877-667-5522 

E-mail: mmpplansval@aol.com 

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Eastern 

Atlantic & Gulf Region Health, Pension and 

Education, Safety & Training Funds 

Wendy Chambers, Account Executive 

Associated Administrators Inc. 

4301 Garden City Drive, Suite 201, Landover, MD 20785 

Direct Line: 301-429-8964 

Member Calls: 1-800-638-2972 

Pacific Maritime Region Pension & Benefit Plans 

Columbia Northwest Marine Benefit Trust 


700 Maritime Blvd. – Suite A 


Phone: 410-850-8500; Fax: 410-850-8655 

Toll-Free: 1-877-667-5522 

E-mail: mmpplansval@aol.com 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM– 4:30 PM Eastern 

Northwest Maritime Pension Trust 

Randy G. Goodwin, Account Executive 

P.O. Box 34203, Seattle, WA 98124 

Phone: 206-441-7574; Fax: 206-441-9110 

Southwest Marine Health, Benefit & Pension Trust 

3545 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 220, Long Beach, CA 90807 

Toll-Free: 1-888-806-8943 

Maritime Institute of Technology & 

Graduate Studies (MITAGS) 

Glen Paine, Executive Director 

692 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090 

Main Phone: 410-859-5700 

Toll-Free, Admissions: 1-866-656-5568 

Residence Center: 1-866-900-3517 

BWI Airport Shuttle: 1-866-900-3517 Ext. 0 

(available 24 hours a day) 

Fax School: 410-859-5181 

Fax Residence: 410-859-0942 

E-mail: Executive Director: gpaine@mitags.org 

Admissions: 

admissions@mitags.org 

Website: 

www.mitags.org 

Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI) 

Gregg Trunnell, Director 

1729 Alaskan Way, S., Seattle, WA 98134-1146 

Phone: 206-441-2880; 

Fax: 206-441-2995 

Toll-Free: 888-893-7829 

E-mail: 

admin@mates.org 

Website: 

www.mates.org 


Cross’d the Final Bar 

Richard P. Azevedo, 69, died June 27, 2005. 

A pensioner since 1990 and a resident of 

Escondido, Calif., he last sailed for Sealand 

Services Inc. as third mate on the Sealand 

Enterprise. A member of the Escondido 

Country Club, he enjoyed golf and social activities, as well 

as sailing, jogging and reading. He is survived by: his wife 

of 20 years, Susanne; four children, Dan, Brian, Dana and 

Tamara; six grandchildren; and a brother, Arnold. 

Frederick T. Bock, 61, died Aug 5, 2005. 

A resident of Port Angeles, Wash., he last 

sailed for Black Ball Transport as master of 

the MV Coho. He loved to read, fish and 

design websites. He was treasurer of the 

Clallam County Humane Society and a member of the U.S. 

Merchant Marine Veterans Association. He is survived by: 

his wife, Jan; children, Kellie, Fred and Tom; nine grandchildren 

and four great-grandchildren. 

Claude R. Dodd, 91, died June 7, 2005. A pensioner since 

1972, he is survived by a nephew, Edgar R. Dodd. 

Jacob A. Foster, 84, died May 10, 2005. A resident of the 

Cayman Islands and a pensioner since 1985, he last sailed 

for the Pascagoula Bar Pilots. He is survived by: his children, 

Capt. Donald Foster, Carol Foster and Capt. J. Stephen 

Foster; three grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. 

James Franklin Jr., 80, died July 1, 2005. A resident of 

Chesapeake, Va., and a pensioner since 1988, he last sailed 

for Waterman Steamship Co. as third mate on the Robert E. 

Lee. He is survived by: his wife, Sarah; daughter, Nadeese; 

three sons, William, James and Carl; three granddaughters; 

four grandsons; and two great-granddaughters. 

Joseph A. Gage, 85, died July 18, 2005. A pensioner since 

1971, he last sailed for Keva Corp. as master of the Keva 

Ideal. In his free time, he enjoyed photography and watching 

wrestling. He is survived by: a daughter, Judith; and a son, 

Kevin. 

Herrel L. Gallop, 91, died July 2, 2005. A pensioner since 

1979, he last sailed for Sealand Service Inc. as second mate 

on the New Yorker. He loved gardening, watching baseball 

games and spending time with family and friends. He is 

survived by: five children, John, Gloria, Laura, Herrel and 

Joseph; 22 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; four 

great-great-grandchildren; three brothers and eight sisters. 

Arthur D. Hall, 85, died May 23, 2005. A pensioner since 

1972, he last sailed for Hess Oil Corp. as master of the 

Voyage. He enjoyed sports, politics, and yard work and was 

community- and civic-minded. A daughter, Marie, survives 

him. 

Antoni Jankiewicz, 80, died July 27, 2005. A 

pensioner since 1985, he last sailed as third 

mate for Farrell Lines Inc. on the SS Export 

Patriot. He enjoyed coin collecting and loved 

to spend time with his grandchildren, family 

and friends. He is survived by: his wife, Marian; two daughters, 

Sandy and Beth; and two sons, Anthony and Gary. 

Curtis R. Klafert, 45, died July 12, 2005. He last sailed for 

Sargeant Marine Inc. on the Asphalt Commander. 

Arthur V. Kraak, 85, died Aug. 1, 2005. 

A resident of San Marcos, Texas, and 

a pensioner since 1984, he last sailed 

for Trinidad Corp. as chief mate of the 

Susquehanna. He was also a cattle rancher 

who loved gardening, canning and cooking. He is survived 

by: a brother, David and two half-sisters, Adrian and Judy. 


Cross’d the Final Bar 

Robert D. Lofberg, 81, died June 30, 2005. A pensioner since 

1979, he last sailed for Sealand Service Inc. as master of the 

SS San Francisco. He is survived by: his wife, Leslie; five children, 

Stephen, Carl, Robert, Brenda and Jeanne; nine grandchildren; 

and two great-grandchildren. 

Anargyros Loucas, 93, died Aug. 9, 2005. 

A resident of Haverstraw, N.Y., and a 

pensioner since 1974, he last sailed for 

Oswego Steamship Co. as master of the SS 

Rainbow. He enjoyed seafood, Greek cuisine 

and spending summers in Greece. He is survived by: his son, 

Nick; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. 

Burton A. Rogers, 72, died July 13, 2005. 

A pensioner since 1996, he last sailed 

for Sealand Service Inc. as third mate of 

the Sealand Producer. Before joining the 

Merchant Marine, he served in the Navy and 

also worked as a realtor. He is survived by: his brother, Paul 

“Buck” Simonds; a niece and a nephew. 

Donald K. Rogers, 84, died March 7, 2005. A resident of 

Seminole, Fla., and a pensioner since 1965, he last sailed 

for Waterman Steamship Co. as second mate on the 

SS Chatham. He served in the Navy during World War II 

and also worked as an oceanographer for the government. 

Aristide J. Morales, 84, died June 10, 2005. A pensioner 

since 1986, he last sailed for Marine Transport Lines as chief 

mate of the Sealife Indian Ocean. 

Herrick E. Morgan, 85, died July 3, 2005. A pensioner since 

1977, he last sailed for Pacific Far East Line as third mate on 

the SS Canada Bear. 

Raymond E. Page, 81, died July 28, 2005. A resident of 

Bodfish, Calif. and a pensioner since 1990, he last sailed for 

Matson Navigation Co. as third mate of the SS Matsonia. 

Frank Pinkowski, 82, died June 21, 2005. A 

resident of Allentown, Pa., and a pensioner 

since 1986, he last sailed with United States 

Lines as third mate of the American Veteran. 

He served in World War II and Vietnam, 

as well as other conflicts. He is survived by: four children, 

Frank, Joseph, Doreen and Charmaine. 

Ralph Rogers Jr., 81, died July 29, 2005. A resident of Boca 

Raton, Fla., he became a pensioner in 1988. He last sailed for 

Sealand Service Inc. as third mate on the Sealand Producer. 

He enjoyed swimming and working with computers. He 

is survived by: his wife, Violet; sister, Betty; sons, Rodney, 

David and Richard; one granddaughter. 

Isidoros A. Sarantis, 93, died Jan. 4. A pensioner since 1968, 

he last sailed for Noank Navigation Inc. on the SS Mystic 

Mariner. 

Oscar F. Seeger, 86, died June 28, 2005. A pensioner since 

1972, he last sailed for Hudson Waterways as third mate 

on the Seatrain Maine. In his free time he was an avid bass 

fisherman. He is survived by: his wife, Daisy; three children, 

Karen, Fred and Linda; eight grandchildren; and ten greatgrandchildren. 

Warren Shawger, 90, died July 30, 2005. A 

resident of Willits, Calif., and a pensioner 

since 1983, he last sailed for Marine 

Transport Lines as second mate on the 

MV Sealift Pacific. He is survived by: his wife, 

Rotraud; and sister, Peggie. 


James W. Smith Jr., 82, died April 23, 2005. 

A pensioner since 1984 and a resident of 

Texas City, Texas, he last sailed for Victory 

Carriers Inc. as chief mate of the Montpelier 

Victory. He enjoyed gardening and looking 

after his two dogs and several cats. He is survived by: three 

sisters, Juanita Cozart, Margaret White and Myra Street. 

Perry J. Soli, 74, died June 23, 2005. A pensioner since 

1987, he last sailed for Farrell Lines Inc. as third mate on the 

Export Champion. He is survived by: his wife, Ethel Jean Soli; 

a daughter, Sonya, and a son, Perry. 

Gail D. Spafford, 78, died April 10, 2005. 

A resident of Belleville, Kansas, and a 

pensioner since 1986, he last sailed for 

Lykes Brothers Steamship Co. as master 

of the MV Charlotte Lykes. In his free time 

he enjoyed chess, woodworking and hunting. He was a 

commander of the American Legion and president of the 

local branch of the American Cancer Society. He is survived 

by: his wife, Peggy; two sons, James and David; and four 

grandchildren. 

Michael V. Staikoff, 84, died July 12, 2005. A 

pensioner since 1987, he last sailed for OMI 

Corp. as chief mate of the OMI Willamette. 

His hobbies included golfing and fishing. 

Boyd J. Stokes, 81, died July 11, 2005. A resident of 

Corryton, Tenn., and a pensioner since 1983, he last 

sailed for Transport Commercial Corp. as chief mate of 

the MV Tamara Guilden. He served in World War II, the 

Korean War and Vietnam. He was an avid genealogist. 

Several nieces and nephews survive him. 

A Message of Thanks 

to the MM&P Family 

Sue Bourcq, MM&P 

New Orleans Hall 

Christmas came as a big surprise this year. The usual 

onslaught of catalogs never materialized. Just a few strands 

of colored lights don the town. The only Christmas card 

I received was from the manager of the self-storage unit 

where I have stored my surviving possessions. 

If only we could rewind the tape to last Christmas, 

when we were standing in the street, our heads tilted back 

in disbelief as we watched the snowflakes fall from the sky. 

But Mother Earth had different plans for 2005. 

Instead of wrapping gifts and making popcorn strings 

and cookies, we’ve spent our time on the telephone arguing 

with insurance adjusters, government agencies, suppliers 

and tradesmen in an attempt to get back things we took for 

granted, such as fresh water, electricity, cable TV and home 

cooking. 

Imagine that you had almost finished work on a giant 

jigsaw puzzle. You left for a moment and returned to 

discover that a thoughtless stranger had swept the puzzle to 

the floor, spilled something on it and taken away the box. 

You grit your teeth and pick up as many pieces as you can, 

carefully cleaning each one as you go, regretting those that 

cannot be saved. How will you ever find the strength to put 

it back together You don’t even have the picture on the 

box to help. 

Things will never be the same here in New Orleans, 

but we soldier on. We put the pieces back as best we can, 

shake off the blues and give thanks for what we have. We 

are alive! 

I am grateful to each and every one of you for your 

prayers, good thoughts, well wishes and of course, for 

donating your hard-earned money to the MM&P Disaster 

Relief Fund. I thank you on behalf of each member of the 

MM&P family who has benefited from the relief fund. 

As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, I will always be 

grateful to all the wonderful brothers and sisters who 

helped. You will never know how much all of us appreciate 

it. May you be blessed in life for your kindness. 


Make Your Voice Heard 

in Washington 

The MM&P Political Contribution Fund Is Your Voice in Washington 

U.S. maritime jobs depend on MM&P’s work in Congress and the Administration. Make sure that 

your interests and those of your fellow merchant mariners receive the attention they deserve in 

Washington, D.C. 

The MM&P Political Contribution Fund Works for You 

Supporting the MM&P Political Contribution Fund (PCF) is a direct way to support your 

own interests: Consider an annual donation of $100 or more. 

Make your contribution today by visiting the Members Only section of the MM&P 

website at www.bridgedeck.org. If you’re already registered on the site, just log in. 

If you’re not registered, follow the simple directions to gain access. Then, on the 

drop-down menu, select “Make a PCF Contribution.” Fill in the information and 

choose from among the gifts appropriate to your contribution level. 

The names below represent a partial listing of active and retired MM&P members 

who have voluntarily contributed $100 or more to the MM&P PCF in the past 

year. 

Commodores Club recognizes contributions of $500 or more. 

Captains Club recognizes contributions between $250 and $499. 

Contributors level recognizes contributions between $100 and $249. 

COMMODORES 

CAPTAINS 

Bruce M. Badger 

Glen P. Banks 

Robert C. Beauregard 

Timothy A. Brown * 

In memory of 

Charlie Darley 

Michael F. Cotting 

Jeff G. Cowan 

Robert Darley 

In memory of 


Walter R. Day * 

Steven J. Demeroutis 

Michelle M. Despot 

Raymond F. Dwyer * 

John W. Farmer III 

Edward W. Green 

John B. Harris 

Harold J. Held 

James F. Hill 

John R. Humphreys 

John J. Hunt 

Robert B. Lamb 

Lawrence T. Lyons 

* These active and retired members 

have contributed $1,000 or more. 

Charles W. Malue 

Donald J. Marcus 

Richard W. May 

Sean T. McNeice 

Paul F. McQuarrie 

Richard D. Moore 

In Memory of 

J. Douglass Moore 

and Gordon E. Sides 

Jared C. Myregard 

Paul H. Nielsen 

Joseph O. O’Connor * 

Ernest C. Petersen 

Peter A. Petrulis 

Richard M. Plant 

Jonathon S. Pratt 

George A. Quick 

Michael A. Rausa 

James G. Rodder 

Jack Slier 

Thomas E. Stone 

Donald G. Thomas 

Steven E. Werse 

Stanley M. Willis 

Scott F. Abrams 

Jeffrey D. Adamson 

Constatine Afanasief 

Michael S. Anapol 

John E. Belcourt 

George Berkovich 

Theodore E. Bernhard 

Geoffrey Bird 

James K. Boak IV 

David H. Boatner 

James T. Bordelon 

James P. Brennan 

Kevin P. Burke 

Robert B. Burke 

James A. Carbone 

Kenneth J. Carlson Jr 

Thomas J. Casynn 

Bent L. Christiansen 

Kevin S. Cichon 

Donald P. Cocozza 

Darren W. Collins 

Dean R. Colver 

Christopher D. Cooper 

Paul Costabile 

Barry V. Costanzi 

Vincent J. Cox 

Peter S. Curtis 

Don F. Davis 

Gerard H. DeGenova II 

William A. Depping 

Dorothy Dunn 

In Memory of 

Darrell Dunn 

James C. Dykes 

Robert N. Ethier 

Jackson P. Everett 

Malvina A. Ewers 

In Memory of 

Franklin Ewers 

Mustafa I. Fakhry 

Theodore F. Filipaw Jr 

William H. Fisher III 

Mark C. Foxvog 

Allen Garfinkle 

Nathaniel Gibbs 

William D. Good Jr 

In Memory of 

William Good Sr 

Lowell M. Gorman 

Walter A. Graf Jr 

Charles A. Graham 

Paul Grepo 

Robert H. Groh 

Geoffrey F. Haley 

Samuel A. Hanger 

Travis J. Hansen 

Michael K. Hargrave 

Samuel W. Hartshorn Jr 

Roger L. Haskell 

Gerard Hasselbach 

Rudolph A. Hendersen 

Michael C. Herig 

Andrew W. Hetz 

Dennis H. Hoak 

Jeff D. Hood 

Alden W. Hoskin 

Nicole L. Humphreys 

David N. Hutchinson 

Jeff H. Idema 

Vance L. Idzal 

John P. Jackson Jr 

Earl W. Jones 

James J. Kelleher Jr 

John P. Kelley 

John M. T. Kelly 

Eric S. Kelm 

John H. Kerwin 

Duane M. Koran 

Mark L. Lamar 

Donald D. Laverdure 

John S. Little 

Hughston E. Lowder Jr 

George P. MacDonough 

Thomas P. MacKay Jr 

Stephen Maher 

William J. Mahoney 

Daniel J. Martin 

Robert C. McCarthy 

Charles L. McConaghy 

Daniel F. McGuire 

Andrew J. Merrill 

Thomas J. Mignano 

Peter W. Mitchell 

George B. Moran 

John M. Morehouse 

Paul A. Mospens 

David V. Myles 

Mark J. Nemergut 

Frederick J. Nicoll 

John J. O’Boyle Jr 

James P. Olander 

Steven A. Palmer 

Peter J. Parise III 


Vasilios L. Pazarzis 

Robert A. Pechusick 

Joseph A. Perry 

Norman A. Piianaia 

Stephen F. Procida 

Lloyd S. Rath 

Bruno P. Ravalico 

John P. Rawley 

Mark D. Remijan 

Karen A. Reyes 

In memory of 


Kathryn M. Roberts 

In Memory of 

Edgar Roberts 

Jay M. Roche 

Paul M. Rochford 

Michael J. Rodriguez 

Steven M. Rose 

Allen M. Ross Jr 

Edward B. Royles 

Mark I. Ruppert 

Paul B. Savasuk 

John J. Schaeffner 

Robert H. Schilling 

Gary R. Schmidt 

John F. Schmidt 

Paul T. Schulman 

Gary M. Setvin 

Michael S. Shanley 

Edwin L. Sherrill III 

Steven P. Shils 

Edward C. Smith 

Michael D. Smith 

James K. Staples 

James Stebbins 

Peter J. Strachota 

Peter K. Strez 

Einar W. Strom 

William R. Travers 

John S. Tucker 

Gregory M. Tylawsky 

Charles W. Viebrock 

John C. Wallace 

Michael K. Welch 

Warren A. Weymouth 

Erik P. Williamson 

James G. Wilson 

Jon C. Winstedt 


PCF CONTRIBUTORS 

Larry D. Aasheim 

Mohamed A. Abbassi 

Richard Aldrich 

Frederick W. Allen 

George L. Allen 

John Allen 

Robert B. Allen 

Murray G. Alstott 

Hans W. Amador 

Gerald W. Anderson 

Robert N. Anderson 

William L. Anderson 

Noel E. Anthonysz 

John E. Antonucci 

Thomas E. Apperson 

Ray S. Armitstead 

Manuel H. Arosemena 

Brian D. Arthur 

Jenaro A. Asteinza 

Thomas A. Bagan 

Harvey N. Bailey 

Niles Baker 

Nick J. Ballas 

Evan B. Barbis 

David B. Barth 

Charles K. Barthrop 

Russell T. Baskin 

Brian W. Bassett 

Steve J. Batchelor Jr 

Edward S. Batcho Jr 

Dorinda L. Beach 

Jeffrey C. Bridges 

Anders K. Brinch Jr 

Alfred A. Brown 

Clifford B. J. Brown 

Wardell E. Brown 

Dean K Bruch 

J. Michael Buffington 

Fernando C. Buisan 

David C. Burchard 

Walter J. Burleigh 

Joseph A. Byrne 

Thomas V. Cadloni 

Paul D. Calvin 

Gene M. Cameron 

Craig P. Campbell 

Todd J. Campbell 

John H. Carlisle 

Edgar S. Carlson 

Michael J. Carolan 

Chriss B. Carson 

Robert J. Carter Jr 

Juan C. Carvajal 

Manuel A. R. Casanovas 

Joseph M. Casey 

Konstantinos J. Catrakis 

Christoforos Catsambis 

Cyril Catton 

James F. Caylor 

Elmo J Cerise III 

Warren R. Chamberlain 

Richard P. Chandler 

David E. Cox 

James Crandall 

Richard W. Crane 

Matthew C. Craven 

Jacob A. Crawford 

Anthony E. Crish 

John F. Cronin 

Todd C. Crossman 

James J. Cullen 

Kirk W. Cully 

Thomas J. Cunningham 

George Cutucache 

Wilbur J. Dahn III 

Robert A. Dalziel 

George M. Darley 

In memory of 


Michael H. Daugherty 

Adrian C. DeBoer 

David D. DeCastro 

George A. Defrain 

Ronald T. Degrazia 

Thomas A. Delamater 

Marguerite Delambily 

In Memory of Robert 

Delambily 

Joseph F. Delehant 

Denny Dennison 

Edward J. DesLauriers 

Timothy A. Devine 

Charles A. Dickman 

Jacob M. Elmstrom 

John C. Emmel 

David K. Engen 

Glen E. Engstrand 

Edward W. Enos Jr 

Eric L. Eschen 

Edward M. Evans 

Karl P. Fanning 

Scott A. Farnham 

Eddo H. Feyen 

Jose Fidalgo 

Harry A. Filkins 

Gary G. Finkelmeier 

Todd Fisher 

Glenn E. Fortin 

Milton K. Foss 

Ryan K. Foster 

James E. Franklin 

Kevin L. Franssen 

Jan M. Fraser 

J. Peter Fritz 

Angelo F. Gazzotto 

David M. George 

Daniel A. Glazier 

Thurman G. Godfrey 

Bradley D. Goodwin 

Gerald M. Gordon 

Donald P. Gorman 

Peter S. Grate 

Orie F. Graves 

Paul A. Gregware Jr 

Patrick J. Hennessy 

Thomas E. Henry 

William H. Hermes 

Earl W. Herring 

James D. Herron 

Edward Hervias 

Cornelia Heyman 

In Memory of 

Robert Heyman 

Edward B. Higgins Jr 

Jeffrey S. Hill 

Michael D. Hill 

Alan G. Hinshaw 

Richard G. Hoey 

Roger L. Hoffman 

Kurt Holen 

John Holster 

William J. Hopewell 

Kurt J. Hopf 

Shimon D. Horowitz 

Robert B. Howard 

Steven P. Huse 

John D. Hutsell 

William H. Imken 

Clark S. Inman 

Angel Irlanda 

Samuel S. Irvin III 

Christine D. Isakson 

Donald L. Isler 

Theodore F. Jablonski 

Thomas J. Jacobsen 

Robert E. King 

John R. Kinlein 

James Kitterman 

Richard A. Kleineweber 

Robert E. Klemm 

Henry C. Knox-Dick 

James E. Kobis 

Laura L. Kohler 

Jonathan F. Komlosy 

Johan Kooystra 

Brian M. Koppel 

Wayne L. Korb 

John D. Kourian 

C. Kovell 

Damion Krowicki 

Kevin W. Kuebler 

Roy G. LaBrie 

Salvadore F. Lacava 

Anthony C. Lafayette 

Theodore W. Laing 

Cecil H. Lamb 

William C. Laprade 

John E. Larson 

Mark Laurence 

Keith Lawrence 

Samuel P. Lesko 

Thomas H. Lewis 

Gary W. Lightner 

Thomas N. Lightsey Jr 

John W. Lincoln 

William J. Lindros 

Protect Our Future: Contribute to the MM&P PCF 

The economic well-being of MM&P members, pensioners and their families depends on 

our ability to support policymakers in Washington who share our position on issues of 

critical importance to the U.S.-flag merchant marine. Our PCF is a non-partisan political 

action committee funded exclusively by your voluntary contributions. Without your 

donation, our voice is diminished. Give generously to the PCF today! 

Sporting MM&P T-shirts are twins Emily Rose Fitzgerald (left) and Allison Elizabeth 

Fitzgerald, granddaughters of Jim and Beth Patti. Jim is president of MIRAID, the organization 

which represents MM&P’s interests in Washington, D.C. 

William K. Beach 

John R. Beattie 

Olgierd C. Becker 

John W. Behnken 

David E. Behr 

Herbert S. Bell 

Derek J. Bender 

Fred A. Bennett 

Charles T. Beresheim 

Shankar Bhardwaj 

Ken A. Bhear 

Gene C. Bingham 

Lyle R. Bjelde 

Earl R. Blakely 

Joseph J. Blazich 

Sarah A. Bostwick 

Carl E. Bowler 

William H. Boyce Jr 

Robert N. Boyd 

Warren J. Bragg 

P.J. Branca 

Frank W. Branlund 

Stanley E. Breedlove 

Allan R. Breese 

Steven A. Brickley 

Hao C. Cheong 

Hao H. Cheong 

Paul Christ 

Nicholas A. Christian 

Christiaan R. Christiansen 

Ejnar G. Christiansen 

Francis H. Ciccosanti 

Garrett H. Clark 

O. J. Clausen 

Paul E. Coan 

Harold W. Coburn 

Harry C. Collins 

Martin N. Collins 

Richard R. Conlin 

John V. Connor 

John Q. Conrad 

Richard W. Conway 

Frederick D. Cook 

Mark Cooper 

Gary J. Cordes 

Andrew R. Corneille 

Jon C. Cornelius 

Richard F. Corso 

John M. Cotter 

Scot A. Couturier 

Stephen J. Diederiks 

Bernard J. Diggins 

Robert M. Dobrowolski 

Claude R. Dodd 

William H. Doherty 

John M. Dolan 

Richard J. Domnitz 

Nancy A. Donnelly 

Lyle G. Donovan 

Jerome J. Dorman 

Ornulf C. Dorsen 

Gerald T. Dougherty 

Moulton Doughty 

Robert Drew 

Dale S. Dubrin 

Oswald A. Dudley 

John T. Duff 

Fred J. Duffy 

George Dunham 

Geoffrey P. Dunlop 

Richard Eastwood 

Robert W. Eisentrager 

Gordon W. Elden 

Bruce R. Elfast 

Danny Ellis 

Stanley V. Griffin 

Adam W. Guice 

Juancho A. Gutierrez 

Jorge Gutman 

David C. Haa 

P.R. Haertel 

Francis M. Haggerty 

Curtis B. Hall 

Richard S. Haller 

Michelle E. Hallmark 

Herman Hallock 

Kenneth J. Halsall 

Lloyd W. Hamblet 

James D. Hamblett 

Dianna L. Hand 

Daniel J. Harmon 

Douglas M. Harrington 

Fred Harris 

Jack F. Harry 

Robert O. Harvey 

John J. Healey 

Kenneth R. Hele 

Richard H. Hemingson 

Joseph D. Henderson 

Franklin J. Hennessy 

Manuel A. James 

James Jannetti 

Gregory R. Janney 

J. Kevin Jirak 

Eric B. Johnson 

William L. Johnson 

Eldon D. Jones 

Erik P. Jorgensen 

Jorgen A. Jorgensen 

Donald F. Josberger 

Timothy R. Kalke 

Eleftherios G. Kanagios 

Christopher G. Kavanagh 

William H. Kavanaugh Jr 

Charles S. Keen 

Sven E. Keinanen 

Colin D. Kelly 

Ralph C. Kelly 

Clyde W. Kernohan Jr 

Joseph E. Keyes 

Michael J. Kidd 

John F. Kihm 

Odd J. Killie 

Robert A. Kimball 

John M. King 

John R. Lindsay Jr 

Leif H. Lindstrom 

James R. Londagin 

Karl P. Lonsdale 

Manuel F. Lopez 

Douglas M. Lord 

Mellannie L. Lovercheck 

Peter J. Luhn 

Thomas W. Luke 

John T. Lutey 

Jeremiah F. Lysaght 

William C. Mack 

Will L. MacLeod 

John A. Madison 

Rohit Malhotra 

John J. Malone III 

Charles W. Malue 

John W. Mangrum 

Victor R. Manoli III 

Adam V. Mara 

George E. Mara 

Michael A. Mara 

Todd M. Mara 

Nicholas A. Marcantonio 

Thomas C. Marley 


PCF CONTRIBUTORS 

Buy a Piece of 

MM&P History and 

Promote Your PCF 

Dramatic, colorful prints of 

the steamboat Seawanhaka are 

being offered for sale to benefit 

MM&P’s Political Contribution 

Fund. (Above) Artist Brian 

Hope with MM&P International 

President Timothy Brown. Hope 

has signed a limited number 

of the prints to be sold for the 

benefit of the union’s PCF. The 

$40 cost of each print includes 

shipping, handling, and a brief 

history, on parchment, of the 

union’s dramatic origins in the 

fire aboard the Seawanhaka. 

Capt. Hope sailed in the Vietnam 

Sealift and with U.S. Lines 

before joining the Association of 

Maryland Pilots. His paintings 

hang in museums, businesses 

and private homes. To obtain 

a colorful print and further 

the interests of our nation’s 

merchant mariners, contact 

MM&P Asst. Comptroller 

Beverly Gutmann by phone 

(410-850-8700, ext. 11), fax 

(410-850-8384) or e-mail 

(bgutmann@bridgedeck.org). 

Brett J. Marquis 

Daniel P. Marsh 

Donald U Marshall 

John P. Marshall 

Robert Martin 

Edward T. Matlack 

Robert G. Mattsen 

Alexander S. Mauricio 

Richard L. Maxwell 

Eugene Mayer 

Marcus D. Mazsick 

David McAulay 

Rodney D. McCallen 

Thomas C. McCarthy 

Michael J. McCormick 

Michael J. McCright 

Thomas D. McDorr 

James P. McGee 

Scott P. McGeough 

John E. McGrane 

Kevin J. McHugh 

David A. McLean III 

Marci R. McNamara 

Louis A. Mendez 

Colin Mepstead 

Mark P. Michals 

William L. Miles 

Joseph E. Miller 

Steven J. Miller 

Richard D. Mills 

Cloyde L. Miner 

Bruce D. Mitchell 

James L. Mixon 

Klaus Moller 

Steven J. Moneymaker 

Jose Montero 

Cesar A. Montes 

Dale A. Moore 

Nicholas C. Moore 

Jaime Morlett 

Brian A. Mossman 

John Moustakas 

Philip D. Mouton 

Charles P. Moy 

Darrin N. Muenzberg 

Shane M. Murphy 

Curtis G. Murray 

Douglas J. Nagy 

Daniel S. Nakos 

Roland L. Nalette 

Eric B. Nelson 

Kenneth R. Nelson 

Michael E. Nelson 

Ernesto O. Nemesio 

Douglas A. Nemeth 

Henri L. Nereaux 

Floro I. Nerida 

Joseph W. Neuman 

Edward B. Newman 

T.K. Newman 

Howard W. Newton Jr 

George B. Nichols 

Marc D. Northern 

Nicholas J. Nowaski 

Bernard G. O’Brien 

Robert J. O’Donnell 

Gregory S. Oelkers 

Peter R. Ohnstad Jr 

Hans Olander 

Timothy J. O’Laughlin 

Patrick J. O’Leary 

James E. O’Loughlin 

Cornelius C. O’Malley 

Edgardo T. Opao 

James E. Orton 

Michael B. O’Toole 

Robert R. Owen 

Jeffrey J. Oyafuso 

Henry M. Pace 

Glen M. Paine 

In memory of 


Errol F. Pak 

Kenneth T. Palumbo 

Michael Papalios 

Robert F. Park 

Michael V. Parr 

Wesley C. Penney 

Joaquin Pereira Jr 

Joseph L. Perreault 

Henry Petersen 

Alfred E. Peterson 

Mark G. Peterson 

Ioannis M. Petroutsas 

Kerry D. Phillips 

L.B. Eugene Phillips 

William E. Phurrough 

Peter J. Piaseckyj 

Arthur E. Pierce 

Joseph P. Pierce 

Rick Pietrusiak 

Charles R. Pillsbury 

Sandra L. Pirtle 

Kirk C. Plender 

Ross E. Pollock 

Elmer W. Poser 

Joseph L. Pospisil Jr 

James A. Potter 

Demetrios A. Poupalos 

George C. Previll 

Carmon L. Pritchett 

Joseph V. Pulitano 

David S. Putty 

William J. Rabatsky 

Lance E. Raleigh 

James W. Ramsden 

Thomas W. Ramsden 

Patrick J. Rawley 

Scott B. Reed 

Frank E. Reed Jr 

Christopher Reiblein 

Timothy R. Reinholdt 

Robert A. Reish 

Thomas A. Rekart 

James G. Rettke 

John J. Reynolds 

Javier Riano 

Steven P. Roberto 

James R. Robey 

James J. Robinson 

Carson L. Rock 

Theodore F. Rodes 

Brian Rogers 

Burton A. Rogers 

G. Kenneth Rose 

Herbert P. Rosen 

Alan Y. Rosenberg 

Edmund J. Rothwell 

Bruce Rowland 

Randy E. Rozell 

Dennis L. Ruff 

Jon D. Ruffatto 

Craig A. Rumrill 

Edwin W. Rutter 

David C. Ryan 

Roberto H. Salomon 

Philip F. Same 

James J. Sanders 

Michael A. Santini 

Edmund J. Santos Jr 

Peter A. Sarandinaki 

Robert C. Sargeant 

Keith A. Sauls 

Scott D. Saunders 

Thomas J. Savoie 

Michael E. Schilling 

Christopher D. Schlarb 

Charles R. Schmidt 

Carl E. Schneider 

Mitchell Schoonejans 

Ross E. Schramm 

Gary W. Schrock 

Andrew Schroder 

Henry L. Schroeder 

William F. Schumacher 

Benjamin L. Scott 

Wahid N. Shaker 

Ralph H. Sheffield 

Daniel S. Shelton 

Paul R. Shepard 

Raymond W. Shipway 

Ned J. Shore 

Edwin J. Shuttleworth 

Edward Simmons 

George J. Single 

Harold V. Sipila 

Kaare G. Sivertsen 

Bruce W. Skillman 

Ernest P. Skoropowski 

Peter R. Skywark 

Gerald V. Smeenk 

Brendan S. Smith 

Francis X. Smith 

Frederick D. Smith 

K. W. Smith 

Peter S. Smith 

Glen E. Smith Jr 

Frank W. Snell 

Eugene A. Spaulding 

Robert R. Spencer 

Joseph B. Stackpole 

Egon K. Stage 

Michael V. Staikoff 

Paul W. Stallings 

Thomas M. Stapleton 

James W. StClair 

A.H. Stegen 

Leonard A. Stenback 

Richard C. Stephens 

Sam Stern 

Robert W. Stevenson 

John G. Stewart 

Mark S. Stinziano 

Laurence B. Stone 

Glenn D. Strathearn 

Robert P. Strobel Jr 

Tore Stromme 

Harold A. Stumme 

Roy T. Sturdivant 

Andrew C. Subcleff 

David A. Sulin 

Thomas Sullivan 

Joseph A. Swan 

Chris D. Sweeny 

Robert E. Sweet 

Roy E. Tallaksen 

Kevin M. Tapp 

Thomas F. Taylor 

Jason Teal 

Antoine I. Tedmore 

Donald D. Thayer Jr 

Arthur J. Thomas 

Brian D. Thomas 

Deatra M. Thompson 

Gary E. Tober 

John E. Tonningsen 

Norman B. Toroni 

Adam Torres 

Daniel C. Tucker 

Joel E. Tucker 

James L. Turman 

Stephen L. Turn 

Jeremiah L. Turner 

Jed J. Tweedy 

Edward J. Usasz 

Jose L. Valasquez 

Federico D. Valdez 

Stephen R. Vandale 

Robert Vasko 

Peter R. Veasey 

Philip A. Vecchione 

Pedro M. Velez 

Valerie S. Verrecchio 

Glenn E. Viettone 

Douglas C. Vines 

Ren W. Vurpillat 

Nancy L. Wagner 

David I. Wainwright 

Jeremiah W. Walcik 

Lacy J. Walker 

Gregory S. Walsh 

Milton Walter 

Harry Walton 

Andrew A. Wargo 

James H. Warmack 

Anderson Warwick 

Paul M. Washburn 

Edward L. Watson 

Kevin L. Watson 

Steven D. Watt 

Robert L. Weber 

George E. Weisgerber 

William H. Weiss 

Nathaniel R. Weissman 

Lawrence L. Welsh 

George A. Werdann Jr 

John L. Westrem 

William J. Westrem 

Eugene K. Whalen 

George C. Whealton Jr 

Michael D. Wholey 

Aaron Widerman 

Ronald C. Wilkin 

Lester S. Williamson 

Denis J. Wilson 

Steven M. Wilson 

John B. Winterling 

Kahai H. Wodehouse 

Arthur R. Wood 

John R. Wood 

Michela L. Worthington 

Janusz A. Wozniak 

William D. Wright 

Jose B. Yap 

John B. Young 

Frank Zabrocky 

James R. Zatwarnicki Jr 

Demetrios Zouzoulas 


The Maritime Institute of Technology 

Alice Robinson 

Executive Housekeeper 

When Alice Robinson arrived at MITAGS, she already had 

experience in both supervision and housekeeping. In 1989, 

she joined My Cleaning Service—the company to which 

MITAGS contracts housekeeping services—as a supervisor. 

It was only a matter of time 

before My Cleaning recognized 

Alice’s abilities: after 

three months on the job, she 

was promoted to operations 

manager for the company’s 

retail and medical clients in 

Baltimore. 

In 1989, Alice was 

assigned to MITAGS. Again, 

she demonstrated her organizational 

and managerial 

capabilities and was quickly promoted to executive housekeeper, 

a position she still holds today. 

Alice describes herself as a “take charge organizer” who 

approaches the job as if it were her own business. She takes 

great pride in her work, always managing by example, and 

communicates the same values to her staff. “Our goal is to 

provide all our customers with a pristine environment and 

quality services,” Alice says. 

Originally from Council, N.C., Alice has been a longtime 

resident of Baltimore, the city in which her daughter 

also resides. She is an avid sports fan who particularly enjoys 

basketball and football. Her hobbies include gospel singing, 

dancing and cheering for the Baltimore Ravens. 

Hotel, Game Room and 

Pool Renovations 

The guestrooms in the South Residence Tower have 

almost all been completely upgraded. The rooms have 

new furniture, including a desk with executive chair and 

cable TV. All have a refrigerator, coffee maker and high 

speed Internet. 

The indoor swimming pool on the lower level of the 

North Tower has also been completely overhauled. The 50- 

foot pool was totally resurfaced, with the addition of racing 

lanes and targets. A new heat exchanger, a three-horsepower 

pump and a filtration system were also installed. The pool is 

typically used for Basic Safety Training, but is also available 

for recreational use. Please check with the front desk staff for 

availability. 

The game room has now been completely renovated. 

Along with new carpeting and heating/air conditioning, 

there is also new gaming equipment, including two pool 

tables, a ping pong table, a foosball table, dart boards, air 

hockey and shuffleboard. Next time you visit MITAGS, 

come and enjoy an evening of games with your friends. 

MERPAC to Give Input 

on STCW Rulemaking 

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has asked the Merchant 

Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) to 

provide input on the final rulemaking for implementation 

of the 1995 Amendments to the Standards of Training 

and Certification of Watchstanders (STCW). MERPAC 

is expected to discuss the comments at its April meeting. 

For more information on MERPAC, please visit the USCG 

website at http://www.uscg.mil. 

MITAGS Receives Maryland 

Governor’s Citation 

The Governor of Maryland has presented MITAGS and the 

Conference Center at the Maritime Institute of Technology 

(CCMIT) with a citation for their contributions to the 

education of Maryland students in the field of mathematics. 

MITAGS Executive Director Glen Paine accepted 

the citation on behalf of the institute from Baltimore/ 

Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce President 

Walter Townsend. In presenting the citation, Townsend 

read a statement by Governor Robert Ehrlich, who 

thanked MITAGS for “enhancing mathematics education 

for Maryland students and allowing Maryland to remain 

competitive in the regional and world marketplace by 

providing necessary skills for today’s workplace…” The 

statement also thanked MITAGS and CCMIT for their 

“commitment to public–private initiatives linking schools, 

government and the business community to benefit 

Maryland’s future.” 

For more information on the conference facilities 

offered by the institute, please contact the Sales Department 

toll free at (866) 629-3196 or by e-mail at sales@ccmit.org. 

You can also visit the website at http://www.ccmit.org. 


PCF 

MM&P 

Support U.S. Maritime Labor and 

Industry With a Contribution to the 

PCF 

MM&P Political Contribution Fund 

700 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941 

Receipt is hereby acknowledged from: 

Name 

Address 

CITY STATE Zip 

back 

front 

✂ 

in the sum of $ 

With my contribution or pledge of $250 or more, please send: 

Watch: ❏Men’s ❏Ladies 

OR 

MM&P Jacket: ❏M ❏L ❏XL ❏XXL ❏XXXL 

With my contribution or pledge of $100 or more, please send: 

MM&P Pocket Polo Shirt (Blue) ❏M ❏XL ❏XXL 

OR 

MM&P Pocket Polo Shirt (Patterned) ❏M ❏L ❏XXL 

OR 

MM&P Silk Tie: ❏Blue or ❏Maroon 

OR 

MM&P Sweatshirt: ❏Grey or ❏Yellow 

Size: ❏L ❏XL ❏XXL ❏XXXL 

OR 

MM&P Safety Vest: ❏L ❏XL ❏XXL 

With my contribution or pledge of $50 - $99, please send: 

MM&P T-Shirt: ❏Blue or ❏White 

Size: ❏L ❏XL ❏XXL ❏XXXL 

OR 

Blue MM&P Baseball Cap ❏ One size fits all 

OR 

MM&P Glasses ❏ Set of 4 

With my contribution or pledge of $25–$49, please send: 

MM&P Travel Mug ❏ 

Contributors who fullfill their pledge with recurring payments on 

the Members Only section of www.bridgedeck.org will receive their 

gift upon reaching the minimum amount due. Please check below if 

you have fulfilled your annual pledge, and make sure to clearly indicate 

your selection above. 

Questions 

Call 410-850-8700 ext. 29 or e-mail jarcher@bridgedeck.org. 

I’ve reached my mark! ❏ 

This is a voluntary contribution to the MM&P Political 

Contribution Fund. No physical force, job discrimination, financial 

reprisals or threat thereof has been used to secure this contribution. 

The contributor has been advised of his or her right to 

refuse to contribute without reprisal. 

Authorized Collector 

PORT 

Date 

Also available in white 

Member AUTHORIZATION 

Date 


Linthicum Heights 

Maryland 21090-1941

Security Takes Center Stage New Contracts for E-Ships, Matson ...

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