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

MEBA TELEX TIMES       FEBRUARY 27, 2009

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 9

In this issue...
TWIC PIN reset news...Let us know about renewal problems...Solis confirmed...Maritime provisions in stimulus bill...In a blissful, pearly gates edition, we ascend to another level, put you on Cloud 9 and earn our wings with an issue that'll live forever. Don't get burned by infernal, devil-may-care competitors that put you through newsletter hell! Grab a halo and save yourself with the eternal joy of our latest publication meant for the eyes of angels. Oh rapture! Your maritime deliverance, the Telex Times will put you in seventh heaven!

CLARIFICATION ON TWIC PIN RESETS
A string of e-mails of unknown origin circulating around the fleet contain misinformation about the effects of an October 21, 2008 power outage at a Transportation Security Administration TWIC facility. The e-mails stated that TWIC personal identification numbers (PINs) may have been wiped out by the outage for any TWIC issued before that date necessitating their replacement -- and that TWICs received after the outage date may also be affected.

M.E.B.A. has contacted the Transportation Security Administration and learned that the fact is that all TWIC cards activated prior to or after Oct. 21, 2008 are fully-functional and DO NOT need to be replaced or reissued UNLESS you require a pin reset.

The power outage damaged equipment used to reset TWIC PINs and will only affect those cardholders who have forgotten their PIN and then locked their cards by attempting the PIN unsuccessfully 10 times. No data or personal information was lost or compromised during the outage. As reported a few months back in the Telex Times, at the time of the outage TWIC activations were rescheduled and compliance dates were pushed back at a handful of ports.

If your card was activated prior to October 2008 and you remember your PIN, you are fully able to use your card with a reader or entry-system that may require you to enter your PIN.

The outage did affect TSA's ability to reset PINs on cards activated prior to October 21st so if your card was activated prior to Oct. 21, 2008 and you have forgotten your PIN and need one, you may request a replacement card, free of charge. However, TSA recommends that you visit an enrollment center to attempt your PIN before you do so. If your card is locked, you can request a replacement by contacting the TWIC Help Desk at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) or at TWIC.Helpdesk@gcrm.com to open a ticket and receive further instructions. Once your replacement card is ready for pick up, you will be notified via phone or email (the option you selected during enrollment). At that time, you would make an appointment for activation at www.tsa.gov/twic.  You would need to keep your card on your person until the replacement is ready since you must return your old card to the TWIC enrollment center in exchange for your new card. If the old TWIC is not returned, it would be treated as a lost card requiring a payment of $60.

If you activated your card AFTER October 2008 and have forgotten your PIN, you may visit your nearest TWIC enrollment center and can reset your PIN at any time during business hours - walk-ins are welcome. To find your nearest TWIC Enrollment Center, please visit, www.tsa.gov/twic.

PROBLEMS WITH RENEWING COAST GUARD LICENSE?
The M.E.B.A. has continued to receive reports from our mariners experiencing a variety of problems with renewing their Coast Guard License/Merchant Mariner Documents that includes the incessant delays due to new medical evaluation criteria. We have been in the process of coordinating with other unions and are seeking a resolution to these chronic difficulties mariners have encountered with the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center which handles mariner licensing and documentation.

We would appreciate hearing from you if you have experienced unacceptable mistakes or delays with the Coast Guard's NMC or other problems that exacerbate the renewal process.

The Coast Guard has admitted that the NMC has "faced a challenge" processing credentials and recently announced that it was instituting a series of actions to remedy the problems (See Telex Times of Feb. 13, 2009). M.E.B.A.'s request that members send us details of negative renewal experiences with the NMC should help us assist Coast Guard in implementing these necessary changes more smoothly.

Please drop us an e-mail, fax or letter explaining your experience with NMC document renewal - making sure to detail specifics. Include your name and contact information, and referencing "License Renewal Problems," either e-mail it to mebahq@d1meba.org,  fax it to (202) 638-5369 or mail it to Headquarters at 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington D.C. 20001.

SOLIS CONFIRMED AS LABOR SECRETARY
At long last Hilda Solis was confirmed by the Senate and has been sworn in as the nation's new Secretary of Labor. The Senate confirmed her on Tuesday in an 80-to-17 vote. The confirmation came 88 days after the 51-year old Solis was nominated and over six weeks after her initial confirmation hearing. The nomination had been held up for weeks by certain Senators who were uneasy with her support of labor unions and the Employee Free Choice Act. She has since reported to work and noted that she was "fired up and ready to go."

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called the confirmation "a huge victory" for labor and said that Americans will finally have a DOL Secretary who represents working people. "Rep. Solis is uniquely qualified to help struggling families through these difficult economic times because she knows firsthand what they are going through. She grew up in a working class family and understands what programs our nation's workers need the most. She will fight to improve skills development and job creation programs, including development of "green collar" jobs. She will work to assure that workers get the pay they have earned and that they work in safe, healthy, and fair workplaces. She's ready to address the retirement security crisis and will work hard to protect every worker from job discrimination, regardless of race, sex, veteran status, or disability. She understands that the Employee Free Choice Act is critical to rebuilding our economy because working men and women deserve the freedom to choose whether to form a union without employer harassment and intimidation. We look forward to working with Rep. Solis to rebuild our economy so it works for everyone."

STIMULUS BILL MARITIME PROVISIONS
The law firm of Blank Rome recently released an advisory summarizing maritime provisions contained in the massive $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (H.R. 1) signed into law by President Obama. In addition to the $100 million in grants to small shipyards, $60 million to states for ferry and ferry terminal projects, and $4.6 billion for the Corps of Engineers, the Blank Rome advisory notes several other maritime programs, including the following:

- $150 million in new port security grants;
- $1.5 billion for supplemental discretionary grants for a national surface transportation program, including funding for port infrastructure;
- $300 million in new grants for EPA's Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Program, including funding for cleaner marine engines;
- $600 million for construction and repair of NOAA facilities, including ships; and
- Extension of the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit through 2013 for electricity produced from qualified marine renewable facilities, including wind, tides, and ocean thermal currents.

Port Security Grants
The $150 million in new funding for port security grants will supplement $388.6 million in FY 2009 port security grant funds that DHS announced last month. In the new round of funding, the cost share requirements have been waived.

Supplementary Discretionary Grants for Surface Transportation Including Ports
Blank Rome says the final Conference agreement appropriated $1.5 billion in discretionary competitive grant funding for all transportation modes, including ports. This provision will allow ports to compete for these funds at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and not have to compete within the states for scarce highway funds. However, applicants will have to compete for these funds across the modes, and demonstrate that their projects will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or region. The Secretary of Transportation is directed to distribute these funds on an equitable geographic basis and one that represents a balance between urban and rural communities. The Secretary must publish criteria for the grant funding within 90 days, require applications to be submitted within 180 days following the publication of the criteria, and announce successful projects within one year from the date of enactment of H.R. 1 (or February 17, 2010). Each grant is to be funded between $20 million and $300 million and the Federal share can be up to 100 percent of the funding for the project.

Highway Infrastructure Investment Program; Ferry Boat Capital Expenditures The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received $27.5 billion in new funds for highway infrastructure of which $60 million is set aside for capital expenditures for ferry boat systems. Blank Rome expects this program to be modeled on the current ferry boat discretionary program administered by FHWA. The funds will be funneled through the states on a competitive basis for projects that can be completed within two years.

Small Shipyard Grants
Blank Rome notes that funds for the $100 million in supplemental grants for small shipyards remain available until September 20, 2010, and are not to be commingled with any existing funds.

Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)
Blank Rome notes that the $4.6 billion for waterway management and restoration projects is for those that can be obligated and/or executed quickly; result in high, immediate employment; have little schedule risk; will be executed by contract or direct hire of temporary labor; and will complete a project or will provide a useful service that does not require additional funding. A supplemental appropriation of $375 million was appropriated for projects on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA was also appropriated $300 million for new grants under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Program created last year. The funds are to be used on projects that spur job creation, while achieving measurable reductions in diesel emissions. The new law also eliminates the match requirement for the $300 million. Under current EPA guidance, ports are eligible to administer these grants and the funds can be used to reduce emissions from marine engines. Announcements for funding will be made on the EPA web site in March.

Marine Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit
The tax provisions of H.R. 1 include a two-year extension of the production tax credit (one cent per kilowatt- hour for 2008) for electricity produced from qualifying marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities, that have a capacity rating of at least 150 kilowatts, and are placed in service after October 2, 2008, and before January 1, 2012.

AKER BEGINS WORK ON OVERSEAS TAMPA
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard has begun work on the tenth in a series of 12 product tankers built at the yard that are being crewed up by M.E.B.A. engineers. The yard began cutting steel for Hull 014, which will be named OVERSEAS TAMPA upon completion. Production began a few days after the successful delivery of Hull 010, the OVERSEAS BOSTON.

When completed, the MT-46 Veteran Product Tanker will be sold to American Shipping Company, and in turn, will be bareboat chartered to OSG America. The 46,000 dwt vessel will be 600 feet long and carry refined petroleum products.

Hull 011 (OVERSEAS NIKISKI) is currently under construction in the Building Dock. Progress on the ship has been steady, with only a few grand block sections left for final construction. All remaining sections, if not under construction the Grand Block Shop, are being prepped and painted for final assembly in the Building Dock.

Hull 012 (OVERSEAS MARTINEZ) is taking shape in the Building Dock. The stern sections are mostly complete and progress on the forward part of the vessel continues.

Different sections of Hull 013 (OVERSEAS ANACORTES) are currently under construction in the double bottom line of the shipyard. This phase produces the double hull sections of the ship, a standard characteristic in the product tanker series, which makes each vessel environmentally friendly.

HARKIN NABS INLAND WATERWAYS AWARD
This week, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was presented with Waterways Council, Inc.'s 8th Annual Leadership Service Award. Senator Harkin received the award for his steadfast commitment to our Nation's critically important waterways and port system. Elected to Congress in 1974 from Iowa's Fifth Congressional District to the House of Representatives for 10 years, and then elected in 1984 to the Senate, Senator Harkin has been a long-time, ardent supporter of waterways infrastructure modernization and to ecosystem restoration efforts.

REMINDER: INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN CLEVELAND ON WEDNESDAY
Our Cleveland Union hall will be hosting an informational meeting on Wednesday at around 12:30. This will be the culmination of several days of meetings in the area that annually precede the start of the Great Lakes shipping season. All active and retired members are welcome to attend. Contact our Cleveland Rep. Torey Zingales at the hall for specifics. You can reach him at (216) 579-6322 or by e-mail at szingales@d1meba.org.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, March 2 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, March 3 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, March 4 - Calhoon School; Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, March 5 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, March 6 - Honolulu.

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