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

MEBA TELEX TIMES       MAY 01, 2009

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 18

In this issue...
Unions call for force protection in letter to Obama...M.E.B.A. Chief on the Hill Tuesday...Alabama Captain, Maersk deliver testimony...New bill helps iron out MMD medical review delays...We take a deep breath, pool together our maritime resources and dive in with both feet into a freestyle edition that makes a big splash. Don't go off the deep end with shallow, Speedo-wearing newsletters that leave you with that sinking feeling. We drown them out and blow those belly-flopping dog-paddlers out of the water! Take the plunge and immerse yourself in a master-stroke of an issue that'll have you floating. Reading the Telex Times will make your head swim!

UNIONS CALL FOR "FORCE PROTECTION" ABOARD SHIP IN LETTER TO OBAMA
A letter signed by the Presidents of the M.E.B.A., MM&P, SIU and AMO urges President Obama to equip U.S. commercial vessels with "force protection" as a deterrent to acts of piracy against them. The full text of the letter is available on the M.E.B.A. website (www.meba.us) .

"When a vessel flies the United States flag," the letter states, "it becomes an extension of the United States itself, regardless of where in the world the vessel is operating." The letter notes the importance of immediately addressing the situation by stressing that our mariners continue to sail through dangerous piracy hotspots on an everyday basis. The unions offered their counsel in helping in the development of a long-term solution to this intolerable situation and say that, they "believe a collaborative effort among all parties - domestic and international - is necessary to develop and implement solutions that have the potential to reduce if not end piracy on the high seas, and we stand ready to participate in this process."

M.E.B.A. CHIEF ENGINEER TO TESTIFY ON HILL TUESDAY
M.E.B.A. Chief Engineer Mike Perry will be on Capitol Hill this coming Tuesday to discuss "Piracy on the High Seas" with the Senate Commerce Committee's Surface Transportation & Merchant Marine Subcommittee. Brother Perry is a longtime member with a Navy background and was the Chief on the MAERSK ALABAMA when pirates attempted to hijack the ship on April 8th. However, because of the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the surviving pirate in New York, his testimony isn't expected to delve too deep into the specifics of the thwarted siege on the ship. The hearing will focus on "Protecting Our Ships, Crews and Passengers." It is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 at 3 p.m. in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Building. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) chairs the Subcommittee.

ALABAMA CAPTAIN, MAERSK OFFICIAL DISCUSS ARMING MARINERS AT SENATE HEARING
The first of what will likely be a series of Congressional hearings focusing on piracy was played out on Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill. MAERSK ALABAMA Captain Richard Phillips and Maersk Inc. Chairman John Clancey offered testimony before the Committee which is chaired by Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Their remarks were focused around the theme of the hearing which was "Confronting Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia." Of note, their testimonies diverged on the subject of arming mariners aboard ship.

Captain Phillips asserted that it is the responsibility of the U.S. Government to protect U.S.-flag vessels and their crews and stated that they should thus provide military escorts and /or military detachments aboard U.S. ships, preferably protection forces. Regarding the notion of arming mariners aboard ship he pointed out that this suggestion cannot be viewed as the "best solution" but, at most, should be only one component of a comprehensive plan and approach to combat piracy." However, if that were an approach decided upon, Capt. Phillips told the Committee that his preference would be for "the four most senior ranking officers aboard the vessel" to have access to weapons. He admitted though, that this approach would open up a "very thorny set of issues" and he would leave it to others to hammer out the legal and liability issues.

Maersk's Clancey respectfully disagreed with the Captain on the notion of arming mariners. "Our belief is that arming merchant sailors may result in the acquisition of ever more lethal weapons and tactics by the pirates, a race that merchant sailors cannot win. In addition, most ports of call will not permit the introduction of firearms into their national waters." He also pointed out that any approach that only applies to the U.S. and not international shipping should not be pursued as a long-term method of protecting our crews and vessels.

Both Capt. Phillips and Clancey agreed, though, that efforts should be taken to "harden" the vessels using the latest methods and technologies. Both men also noted that the specifics of those methods should be kept close to the vest so as not to tip off any potential attackers as to the nature of any souped-up defense mechanisms. In addition, Clancey offered several more useful suggestions to better protect mariners. He noted that the incident reporting scheme should be simplified so that threats or incidents can be reported more immediately. In addition, he said that better cooperation and information sharing with international naval forces should be established. A copy of the written testimony delivered by Capt. Phillips is available on the M.E.B.A. website.

APL AGATE FLAGS IN TO U.S. FLEET
The APL AGATE, one of two non-MSP, M.E.B.A.-crewed vessels being brought into the U.S.-flag fleet by American President Lines, Ltd., hoisted the Stars and Stripes in a ceremony taking place in Norfolk, VA last week. The ship is being powered by highly skilled M.E.B.A. officers who will ensure the smooth operation of the 5,020 TEU, fully cellular containership as it is deployed in the Suez service. The APL JAPAN, a C-11, is scheduled to flag into the U.S. fleet on May 18. The vessels are being operated by APL Marine Services for the benefit of APL Ltd.

UNION SUPPORT FOR LAUTENBERG BILL THAT STREAMLINES MMD MEDICAL REVIEW PROCESS
Maritime labor has voiced strong support for a bill introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J. that would bring much needed efficiencies to the medical review process that mariners undergo during their renewal of Merchant Mariner Documents (MMDs). The union letter was sent last week to Senator Lautenberg who is Chairman of the Commerce Committee's Surface Transportation & Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee. It was also sent to members of the Subcommittee and was signed by the M.E.B.A., AMC, AMO, AMOS, IBUP, MM&P, ILA Local 333, MFOW, MIRAID, SUP, SIU and the Transportation Institute.

The overarching bill is S. 685 - the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2009. It would encourage the use of double hulls for non-tank vessels and implements a series of recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in response to the 2007 COSCO BUSAN oil spill in San Francisco. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mark Begich (D-AK).

Of particular interest to the unions and addressed in the letter are provisions within the bill establishing procedures that would supplant a broken medical review system that has created unforgivable delays unnecessarily interfering with the ability of many sailing members to return to work. The unions say the provisions in the Lautenberg bill would "provide greater quality control as well as the more timely administration of the medical review process by establishing a national registry of examiners similar to what is already in place for other modes of transportation." By removing decision-making responsibility away from the physician and placing it with individuals who have no contact with the mariner, the current system has created an additional and burdensome layer of review and paperwork. This has "led to demands for multiple medical specialty consultations, additional laboratory tests and procedures, and numerous evaluations for each condition noted by the physician during the physical examination." This bill rectifies the system and restores the decision-making to the physician. "Relying on the individual's physician to do the fitness evaluation ensures that the individual's medical history will be given the attention and weight it should be given," the letter states. The bill also calls for a study of marine casualty causation.

The letter also requests that Senators consider adding two amendments to the bill when they mark up the legislation. The first asks that mariners who may not have easy access to a physician on the national registry, be permitted to be examined by a physician outside the registry as long as they are subject to the same standards and specifications.

Secondly, the unions ask that a amendment be crafted to expand the appeals process for those ruled unfit for duty. The text of the letter has been posted on the M.E.B.A. website (www.meba.us).

REP. IKE SKELTON SALUTED FOR MARITIME CONTRIBUTIONS
Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) was saluted this week in Bethesda, MD for his contributions to the maritime industry as recognized by the International Propeller Club of the United States. Rep. Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, has been especially important for the inland waterways and he had been a strong voice in calling for a solution to global piracy even before the recent dramatic incidents involving the MAERSK ALABAMA and LIBERTY SUN. As such he was honored as this year's selection for the prestigious Salute to Congress award. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who was last year's honoree, introduced Congressman Skelton before his remarks. Rep. Skelton was saluted in front of about 400 people including members of Congress, Executive Branch officials, leaders from the maritime industry and Propeller Club members from throughout the U.S.

Chairman Skelton was first elected to Congress in 1976. From 1999 to 2006, he served as ranking minority member of the Armed Services Committee and assumed the Chairmanship in 2007.

REMINDER: BALTIMORE MEETINGS AT CMES
Those wishing to attend next week's Baltimore membership meeting should remember that the location has permanently changed. Beginning this Tuesday (5/5), the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School and Baltimore meetings have been combined and will take place in Easton, MD at the CMES. Even when the School is closed, the Baltimore/CMES membership meeting will take place on the Tuesday of meeting week at 2:30 p.m.

SHIFT OF CLEARING HALLS
As of this week, permanent billeted members who normally clear through the Portland hall should contact Oakland for their clearances. Permanent billeted members who normally clear out of the Fort Lauderdale hall will contact the New Jersey hall.

NATIONAL MARITIME EVENTS IN D.C. ANNOUNCED
Members and retirees in the Washington D.C. area might consider taking part in National Maritime Day festivities happening in Washington D.C. on May 22. Maritime Day was first designated by Congress in 1933 to commemorate the May 22, 1819 Atlantic crossing of the S.S. SAVANNAH that sailed from Savannah, GA. to Liverpool, England, using steam propulsion. The occasion is set aside as a time to reflect on America's maritime heritage and to honor those mariners who gave their lives defending our Nation's freedom.

The format of this year's program deviates from recent years. Maritime Day participants will meet at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on that Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. (coffee: 8:15) to be shuttled around for the opening of the museum's new, permanent exhibition, "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America." The ceremony is sponsored by the Maritime Administration and Military Sealift Command. A wreath laying observance will also be staged to honor fallen merchant mariners.

Soon after, there will be a National Maritime Day Luncheon to take place at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will be the featured speaker. Try to attend if you can or let us know what your plans are for National Maritime Day!

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, May 4 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, May 5 - Baltimore/Calhoon School (at CMES), Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, May 6 - Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, May 7 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, May 8 - Honolulu.

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