The President’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget released on Monday proposes full funding for the Maritime Security Program but outlines a drastically smaller budget for the Maritime Administration. Pres. Obama’s budget requests $352 million for MarAd with no new money for small shipyard grants or Title XI and $5 million less for ship disposal.

$174 million is requested for the Maritime Security Program ($2.9 million per ship) for the 60 privately owned vessels available in time of National need. The MSP is authorized through 2015 but is subject to annual appropriations. President Obama recently proposed a three-year spending freeze for the government beginning in FY ’12. There are no indications that MSP will be subject to this freeze but M.E.B.A. and the American Maritime Congress continue to monitor the situation closely. Members are encouraged to contribute to the Political Action Fund which helps us build support on Capitol Hill for issues important to the Union.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) expressed concern over the Obama Administration's proposed fiscal 2011 federal budget, particularly for funding key programs that help make the nation's seaports more navigable, efficient and secure. The AAPA represents 160 of the leading seaport authorities in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Administration's budget request includes no funding for the America's Marine Highway Program, which Congress authorized last year and the Administration supported. This U.S. Department of Transportation initiative would help support establishment of short sea shipping routes along U.S. coastlines, helping to alleviate freight congestion from some of the country's busiest highways and create secure, efficient alternate routes in cases of national emergency.

While the President called for a freeze on federal funding, the seaports association indicated its disappointment over cuts in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' deep-draft maintenance budget and lack of funding for a program that would promote moving more cargo onto America's waterways.

AAPA also indicated concern over the Administration's request to fund the federal Port Security Grant program at 25 percent less than Congress has authorized. With regard to seaport security, the Administration's budget request calls for flat funding, although the $300 million proposed would actually be a significant decrease in port security funding since Congress provided an additional $150 million last year for port security grants in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka released a statement saying that the administration’s FY ’11 budget "moves the country in the right direction." He said the President has proposed the types of investments we need to get our economy back on track in a sustainable way—funding for infrastructure development, education, job training and green jobs. He noted:

"…the administration "gets it" that new jobs must be good jobs. Its budget proposal would restore staffing for worker protection programs to their 2001 levels, with increased funding for health and safety protections; minimum wage and overtime protections; the Solicitor’s Office at the Labor Department; and international workers’ rights. The budget includes a new initiative to crack down on businesses that misclassify their employees as independent contractors in order to evade their responsibilities as employers, and it establishes a new fund to help states offer workers paid family leave.

But the administration’s FY 2011 budget proposal does not do enough to address the jobs deficit – which by all accounts will continue through next year and beyond. The budget includes $100 billion for immediate job-creating investments, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the more than $400 billion in additional investments that experts believe is necessary this year.

…The White House and Congress have taken many steps to address the concerns of working families, but we will continue to fight hard and ensure those concerns are fully met. The labor movement will work with everyone who wants to help working families – and we will push through any opposition that wants to keep the status quo."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Congressman Elijah Cummings will top the lineup of speakers at the seventh annual Journal of Commerce North American Marine Highways and Logistics Conference, April 6-7, 2010 at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute near Baltimore, Md. Ray LaHood is the leading advocate for marine highways in the Obama Administration. Rep. Cummings is chairman of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and sponsor of legislation to exempt marine highways operations from the Harbor Maintenance Tax.

Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, (who is on the verge of confirmation for the permanent position), will also speak as well as former DOT Secretary Mary Peters among many others. For more information and registration, visit www.joc.com/events. 

The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) is accepting entries in the 2009 Jones F. Devlin Award Program. The Devlin Awards will be presented at the Annual Ship Safety Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, LA on June 3, 2010. Entries for the calendar year ending December 31, 2009 will be accepted through Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

Devlin Awards are awarded to any self-propelled merchant vessel including self-propelled barges that have operated for two full years or more without a crewmember losing a full turn at watch because of an occupational injury. A vessel is recognized for the number of qualifying years beyond the basic two year award; e.g., many vessels receive awards for operating five years and more.

CSA is also accepting entries for the 2009 Ship Safety Achievement Awards to be presented at the same event. Ship Safety Achievement Awards are presented to vessels that have performed outstanding feats of safety during the course of a calendar year. Entries for the calendar year ending December 31, 2009 will be accepted through Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Vessels are recognized for outstanding feats of safety which may include, but are not limited to: rescue; assistance to distressed vessels; transfer of ill or injured persons under difficult sea conditions; and demonstrations of safety and ship operations which have contributed to saving a life or a ship. They are actions in which the ship and crew as a whole were involved rather than individual achievement. All vessels, including container ships, tankers, Great Lakes carriers, offshore supply vessels, tugboats, etc., representing all segments of the industry (international and domestic deep-sea, coastwise and inland) are eligible to participate in this award program.

Liberty Maritime is seeking résumés from Chief Engineers interested in sailing for the company. Interested individuals should send their particulars including a résumé via e-mail to personnel@libertymar.com.  You may also contact Nina Timonina at (516) 488-8800 with any specific questions about these opportunities.

Union Plus has committed $100,000 through a dollar-for-dollar donation match to help Haitian earthquake relief efforts. "Despite the millions of dollars raised already, the people of Haiti continue to need our help. That’s why we are committing $100,000 to double the donations made by union members to the Solidarity Center," Union Plus President Leslie Tolf said.

The Solidarity Center is providing immediate life-saving relief supplies including food, clean water, medical supplies, blankets and tents to the Haitian people. Goods are currently being delivered to the Confederation of Haitian Workers training center, which is providing shelter, food, and medical assistance for hundreds.

Donations can be made at UnionPlus.org/Haiti or by sending a check to: Solidarity Center Education Fund, Attn: Joan Welsh, 888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20006. Please designate "Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers" in the memo line of the check.

Somali pirates are still holding at least nine vessels for ransom as well as 180 mariners.

Monday, Feb. 8 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, Feb. 9 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, Feb. 10 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, Feb. 11 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, Feb. 12 – Honolulu.