The shipyard delivered its ninth T-AKE ship on February 24 and is currently building the tenth through twelfth ships of the class.

Vice Adm. Regina Benjamin, the U.S. Surgeon General, was the ceremony’s principal speaker. Mrs. Bebe Drew Price, the eldest daughter of Dr. Drew and the ship’s sponsor, christened the ship by breaking the traditional bottle of champagne against the bow before the 689-foot-long ship slid into San Diego Bay. More than 1,300 people attended the ceremony.

In 1938, while on a fellowship at Columbia University’s medical school in New York, Dr. Drew (1904-1950) worked on a blood chemistry and transfusion research team that sought methods to preserve blood over long periods of time. Red cells, one of the four elements of blood, begin to break down after 24 hours and cause stored blood to be unsafe for use after one week. Dr. Drew achieved success using the plasma element of blood which, since it does not contain red cells, could be safely stored for months and given to anyone regardless of their blood type. In 1941, Dr. Drew set up the first blood bank for the American Red Cross in New York City. The program became a model for blood banks nationwide, which became increasingly necessary after the United States entered World War II several months later.

M.E.B.A. was present at a series of AFL-CIO, Maritime Trades Department and Transportation Trade Department meetings that wrapped up earlier this week in Orlando. President Don Keefe and Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo headlined an M.E.B.A. contingent that took part in round table discussions, met with various unions from across the country and hashed out important issues to labor and the maritime industry. Among other speakers and guests at a plethora of meetings were Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, MSC Commander Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, ITF’s Stephen Cotton, USTRANSCOM’s Gen. Duncan McNabb, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brian Salerno and Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, among many others. President Keefe was vocal on a number of important issues to the Union and the M.E.B.A. contingent was helpful in tailoring the labor coalitions’ policy agendas for the upcoming year.

In related news, the TTD presented Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) with the organization’s 20th Anniversary Congressional Award. TTD President Edward Wytkind noted, "As transportation workers in America go to work every day, we are proud to have a champion in Chairman Oberstar. As an architect of much of today’s transportation legislation and with encyclopedic knowledge of the important battles and achievements that have shaped our 21st Century transportation network, he is an unparalleled expert in transportation policy. But just as important, he recognizes the essential role that workers play in delivering an efficient, safe and secure transportation system. He stands with workers to protect their jobs and their ability to bargain collectively. He stands with workers when he ensures that work remains in this country and not outsourced abroad to the lowest bidder. He stands with workers when he fights for more investment in aviation, mass transit, rail, highways, bridges, ports and waterways. He stands with workers when he advances critical safety reforms that make our transportation system safer for workers and all its users."

A "yes" vote amends M.E.B.A. shipping rules to create a "true" national shipping card. This would allow members to avoid having to transfer their shipping cards in or out of the M.E.B.A. Union halls when travelling between halls. A "no" vote keeps the current method of transferring in and out of M.E.B.A. Union halls when travelling between halls.

The referendum vote is being conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Ballots were mailed to members in good standing in the second week of December. The 90-day referendum began on December 15, 2009 and concludes on March 15, 2010. Ballots not received in the depository when the ballots are collected on the morning of March 16 will be disqualified and not counted, as provided for in the M.E.B.A. By-Laws. If you still have an opportunity to cast your ballot in the small window remaining – please do so.

Tallying Committee members should be prepared to travel March 15 in preparation for the vote count the next day. March 17th is set as the return travel day but Committee Members can also choose to set up their travel home for late in the day on the 16th.

3. At least 30 ships are still stuck in the thick Baltic Sea ice off Sweden’s east coast. Several ferries carrying over a thousand passengers were freed late this week. Sweden’s Maritime Administration was activating every available icebreaker to help free the rest – though gale force winds were hampering efforts. No injuries have been reported so far. Helicopters and military hovercraft are on standby in case it becomes too dangerous for trapped passengers and crewmembers to stay aboard their vessels.

The ship was outside the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC) when it was taken. The ship is now in the vicinity of Garacad, a well know pirate stronghold.

Horizon Lines, Inc. announced that it has reached a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with APM Terminals North America (APMT) for a new six-year U.S. terminal services agreement, effective immediately. The prior agreement with APMT was scheduled to expire on December 10, 2010. The MOU applies to stevedoring and terminal services provided to Horizon Lines by APMT in Jacksonville, Florida; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Tacoma, Washington and Elizabeth, New Jersey, through 2015, with an option to extend for two years. Horizon Lines has the option to exclude the Elizabeth terminal from the agreement if it chooses to serve the Northeast market from a port not located in New York or New Jersey.

At the same time, Horizon Lines announced plans to commence in December 2010 its own weekly trans-Pacific liner service between Asia and the U.S. West Coast. The new service will utilize the company’s five 2,824 twenty-foot-equivalent-unit (TEU) capacity, 23-knot, U.S. flag Hunter-class containerships that currently call on Guam and continue on to China as part of a space-charter agreement with Maersk Line. In preparation for these plans, Horizon Lines and Maersk Line have mutually agreed not to renew their current Asia space-charter agreement when it expires on December 10, 2010.

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.

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