Heard @ Headquarters 2003 Archive

Senate Commerce Committee passes MSP (6/28)

The Senate Commerce Committee earlier this week approved legislation that includes a 10-year reauthorization of the Maritime Security Program (MSP). The committee’s MSP component is contained in a bill (S. 1262) that would fund the Maritime Administration for the next five years.

The House already has passed a reauthorized MSP as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. The Senate’s version of the Defense bill (also approved in late May) does not include MSP language. The next step for the House and Senate Defense Authorization bills is a conference committee. Meanwhile, S. 1262 will be sent to the full Senate.

In both versions of the reauthorized MSP, the updated program would be extended for 10 additional years, beginning in October 2005, immediately after the current version expires. The expanded MSP also calls for increasing the number of participants from 47 ships to 60 ships.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) recently released a statement concerning the runaway-flag vessel Baltic Sky, a cargo ship that was intercepted by the Greek navy following a tip that the FOC ship was carrying tons of explosives.

The ITF statement is available HERE

Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that authorities “hit more dead ends” today in the search for the shipowner. The head of the Greek merchant marine agency told a reporter, “The ship is not legally registered; it does not belong to the flag which it flies. It is a ghost ship….”

Seafarers employed by Penn Maritime Inc. recently approved a new five-year contract that includes numerous gains.

The agreement covers approximately 120 Seafarers and calls for wage increases in each year of the contract. It also moves Penn boatmen into the union’s top medical plan; increases their pension benefits; and improves working conditions.

Joining SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi and SIU Rep Jack Sheehan on the union’s bargaining committee were Deckhand Warren Wirth, Tankerman Teddy Crockett and Mate Jeff Rydza.

Penn Maritime owns and operates 13 tugboats and 21 barges.

The International Labor Organization has issued a press release providing an overview of its just-concluded 91st annual conference. The release is available HERE

The SIU participated in the conference.

Of particular interest to mariners, convention delegates voted to adopt a universal seafarers’ identity card. The ID will feature “a biometric template based on a fingerprint,” according to the ILO.

According to the ILO release, “The new Convention on Seafarers’ Identity Documents replaces ILO Convention No. 108, adopted in 1958. It establishes a more rigorous identity regime for seafarers with the aim of developing effective security from terrorism and ensuring that the world’s 1.2 million seafarers will be given the freedom of movement necessary for their well-being and for their professional activities and, in general, to facilitate international commerce.”

The International Transport Workers’ Federation issued a statement following the vote to approve the new ID cards. The statement is available HERE

SIU members were honored June 16 aboard the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessel Wright in Baltimore, during a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Maritime Administration. General John W. Handy, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, presented crew members and officers with Merchant Marine Expeditionary medals.

General Handy delivered the keynote address. He praised the mariners for “the incredible job you’ve done in support of this nation. You make all the difference in the world, and I salute your dedication, patriotism and professionalism.”

Vice Admiral David L. Brewer III, Commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command, also credited the Wright along with the thousands of other merchant mariners who sailed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We have prevailed because you answered your nation’s call,” Brewer stated. “You built a steel bridge of democracy from the USA to the coast of Kuwait.”

SIU President Michael Sacco was a guest speaker during the noontime ceremony. He commended the crew and also noted the outstanding cooperation between all parties involved in mobilizing America’s sealift capabilities.

“We were all in it together, and that’s how we got the job done,” Sacco noted.

Also delivering remarks were U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson; U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William Schubert; U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Chris Joyce; and American Overseas Marine Corporation President Leland Bishop.

An aviation logistics support ship, the Wright was deployed for 145 days in support of U.S. troops. It provided rapid and dedicated sealift for deployment of U.S. Marine Corps aviation intermediate maintenance activity. The mission included transporting a helicopter platform, a complete repair shop, and equipment for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. More than 300 Marine Corps personnel operated from the ship during the deployment, providing service and repair in support of the Marine Aviation Combat Element.

“We did 139 helo drops,” said Recertified Steward James Kidd. “There were many days and weeks when it was 100 degrees or more (inside the ship), but we had a good crew. Everything went well between us and the military personnel.”

Repair teams aboard the RRF ship fixed an estimated 2,000 parts for their fellow armed forces personnel. Those pieces were transported to and from the Wright via helicopter.

Please check the July issue of the Seafarers LOG early next month for more photos and quotes from the ceremony.