Heard @ Headquarters 2003 Archive

Defense Dept. responds to injunction (12/24)

As was widely reported this week, a federal judge on Dec. 22 told the Defense Department to stop mandatory anthrax vaccinations. This was done in the form of a preliminary injunction.

The government has until January 30 to respond to the judge’s order.

On Dec. 23, the Defense Department issued the following statement:

“The Department of Defense is currently reviewing a preliminary injunction recently granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia regarding the department's anthrax vaccination program.

“The Defense Department’s anthrax vaccination program is an important force protection measure. Research conducted by the most prominent medical experts has determined that the anthrax vaccine is safe and effective for all forms of anthrax exposure.

“The Department will stop giving anthrax vaccinations until the legal situation is clarified.”

The SIU has been informed that, effective immediately, the U.S. Military Sealift Command is suspending anthrax immunizations for personnel embarked on MSC vessels, including civilian and contract mariners, until further notice.

Please note that this change does not affect ongoing immunization requirements for smallpox

Further details will be posted as they become available.

The Seafarers-crewed Lykes Discoverer this week rescued three people on the high seas near Bermuda.

At 2040 hours on Dec. 22, the Discoverer was contacted by a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft and advised that the agency had located what they believed to be the FV Sea Gypsy, a boat that was overdue on a voyage from Newfoundland to Bermuda with three persons aboard. At the time of the communication, the Lykes Discoverer was located some 25 miles away from the Sea Gypsy’s position.

After instructing his crew to establish continuous communications with the Coast Guard aircraft and prepare the vessel to take persons on board, Discoverer Capt. Scott Putty set course for the Sea Gypsy. At about 2210 hours, crew members from the Discoverer had the smaller boat in sight and Putty began maneuvering his vessel into position to take her alongside.

Some 40 minutes later, after safely securing the Sea Gypsy, Discoverer crew members passed out lifejackets to the three distressed mariners aboard the boat. They later were brought aboard the Discoverer and their boat was abandoned.

Rescued from the Sea Gypsy were Capt. Whitfield J. Brathwaite and his two-person crew—Joseph A. Brathwaite and Alphonse A. Barrow. All three had credentials from Barbados.

Once aboard the Discoverer, Capt. Brathwaite informed his liberators that he and his shipmates had been adrift for four days. Their vessel lost power and they were unsuccessful in their repeated attempts restart any generators, the captain said. They had been without food for several days. All were fed, given shelter and afforded phone calls to their families.

Putty commended the work of Bosun Matthew Sagay and that of the other crew members during the rescue.

SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited is presenting more than 700 U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals to American mariners. These awards honor mariners who sailed aboard Maersk Line, Limited-operated vessels directly supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are given in conjunction with the U.S. Maritime Administration, which first authorized the medal for mariners who sailed during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Much of the military cargo used for Operation Iraqi Freedom moved with the help of civilian mariners. Seafarers aboard vessels in Maersk Line, Limited’s LMSR and prepositioning fleets, as well as the Maersk Constellation and SSG Edward A. Carter transported military equipment, ammunition, and other goods while guarding the safety of their vessels and the cargo on board.

Maersk Line, Limited has a large, diverse fleet of U.S.-flag vessels that continue to operate in support of the war effort. “We are extraordinarily proud of these individuals,” said John Reinhart, CEO of Maersk Line, Limited. “Their dedication to their work and their country is evident in their performance during a challenging time. It is an honor to be able to present them with this award.”

The first 19 medals and certificates were presented at the company’s annual Masters and Chiefs Conference in Norfolk, Virginia on Nov. 13th. Additional awards have been delivered through mid-December.

The company is headquartered in Norfolk, Va. and provides global shipowning and management service, transportation and logistics solutions, and information technology development and implementation services to U.S. government and commercial customers. For more information about Maersk Line, Limited, visit maersklinelimited.com

Two more downloadable forms have been added to this site. One is the U.S. Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program Information Statement and Acknowledgement. The other is an updated Smallpox Vaccination Initial Note Page.

Seafarers who plan to sail on any military support ships are urged to complete these forms and bring them to the union hall before shipping out.

The forms are PDF files and are located in the Member Benefits and Resources section. To access them, click here and then look for the appropriate links in the left margin.

The U.S. Coast Guard on Dec. 16 reminded members of the maritime community that security plans for vessels and facilities affected by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 are due to the Coast Guard by Dec. 31, and warned that it may impose civil penalties for not complying with the requirement.

The Coast Guard estimates that 10,000 U.S.-flag vessels, 5,000 facilities and 50 outer continental shelf facilities are required to submit security plans by Dec. 31, as detailed in rules published on July 1.

The Coast Guard on Jan. 1 will begin enforcing the security plan submission requirement. Failure to submit a plan is a violation of the MTSA rules and may result in a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation against the owner or operator of the vessel or facility. After July 1, non-compliant operators may have their operation shut down until an approved security plan is in place.

Foreign-flag vessels subject to the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea should submit their security plans to their flag states or flag administrations as specified in the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Security plans for these vessels are not to be submitted to the Coast Guard. After July 1, 2004, the Coast Guard will begin boarding these vessels to ensure that the security plan has been properly implemented.

The Coast Guard has established a help desk to assist the industry with understanding the regulations. The help desk can be reached from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday at 1-877-687-2243 or 202-366-9991, or by e-mail at uscgregs@comdt.uscg.mil.

The full text of the rules and other information can be found on the Coast Guard’s port security website at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mp/index.shtml