Heard @ Headquarters 2004

USNS Bridge joins CIVMAR fleet (7/1)

The union’s Government Services Division recently welcomed new shipboard jobs as the USS Bridge left commissioned service for what the U.S. Military Sealift Command described as “an even more active role” with MSC.

Now known as the USNS Bridge, the vessel is a supply class fast combat support ship. It carries a civilian crew of 160 mariners.

MSC earlier this week issued a press release about the vessel and the transfer ceremony, which took place June 24. The full text appears below and also may be accessed on MSC’s site here

USNS Bridge joins MSC logistics fleet

NAVAL BASE, Bremerton, Washington, June 24, 2004 – USS Bridge became the last of four U.S. Navy Supply-class fast combat support ships to leave commissioned service for an even more active role with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command at a formal transfer ceremony June 24.

Now known as United States Naval Ship Bridge, she joins more than 30 civilian-crewed ships providing combat logistics services to the Navy fleets worldwide.

USNS Bridge, which as a Navy ship was crewed by a complement of 544 active-duty Sailors, will now have a civilian crew of 160 mariners. By reducing the crew by more than 300, operating costs are lowered dramatically. The federal civil service mariners will be joined aboard Bridge by a small military department of 28 Sailors who will perform communication support and supply coordination. An additional 30 or more Sailors will augment the crew when necessary to support helicopter operations.

The transfer of Bridge and her sister ships, USNS Rainier, USNS Arctic and USNS Supply, are part of the Navy’s continuing transformation to a more efficient and cost effective fighting force for the 21st century. According to a May 1998 Center for Naval Analysis study, the Navy will save a projected $76 million annually with the change.

The transfers also free up more than 100 active duty Navy officers and nearly 2,000 enlisted Sailors to return to the war-fighting roles for which they were trained.

The Navy also realizes additional savings because MSC ships are not constrained by the operational and personnel limitations placed upon Sailor-crewed ships. USNS ships have 80 percent availability for at-sea service compared to 24 percent for Sailor-crewed ships. This increased availability means fewer ships are required to support logistics missions.

With a top speed in excess of 25 knots, the 754-foot fast combat support ships are ideally suited to travel with U.S. Navy battle groups to provide underway replenishment of fuel, ammunition, spare parts and stores at sea, eliminating the need for the combatants to constantly return to port.

The transfer ceremony began with the arrival of the official party. Capt. Richard Stockton, USN, commanding officer of USS Bridge, led the group, followed by Capt. Jeffrey Siepert, who will command the ship under MSC; Capt. Juan L. Chavez, USN, commander of Military Sealift Command Pacific; Rear Adm. Leendert Hering, USN, Commander of Naval Surface Group Pacific Northwest; and Rear Adm. Deborah Loewer, USN, Vice Commander of MSC and guest speaker for the event.

As is tradition, the Bridge’s commissioning pennant was lowered during the ceremony and given to the departing commanding officer, Capt. Stockton. The ship’s ownership certificate was then passed to Capt. Chavez, effectively transferring ownership to MSC. Capt. Chavez then directed Capt. Siepert, the ship’s new civilian master, to “place the ship in service.” With those words, USS Bridge became USNS Bridge.

Just before the ceremony, the ship’s new master recounted working with USS Bridge in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I was master of USNS Niagara Falls, one of MSC’s [combat] stores ships. I’d see the Bridge cutting through the sea at 30 knots while we were poking along at 18. I was jealous. I dreamed of commanding that ship. Now, I do. So tell your kids, dreams can come true!” exclaimed Siepert.

Capt. Stockton, who retired during the ceremony with more than 24 years service in the Navy, reflected on his former command.

“People ask me if this is a sad day. I don’t call it sadness. The ship isn’t going away; she’s charting new waters.

“I was also thinking the other day ... the average age of the civilian mariners now manning the ship is about 48. The average age of my active-duty Navy crew was 22. Add up the sea time of the 160 mariners and you’ve got more experience than all my 500 Sailors totaled. The fleet will never know the difference when they pull alongside USNS Bridge ... and all of us can be proud of that.”

MSC’s logistics force includes fleet oilers, ammunition ships, combat stores ships, fleet ocean tugs and hospital ships. In addition to providing underway replenishment to U.S. Navy ships at sea, MSC ships are involved in the prepositioning and transportation of cargo for the Department of Defense and collect at-sea data for the U.S. military and other U.S. government agencies.

Since September 11, 2001, MSC has delivered more than 4.9 billion gallons of fuel and countless tons of food and ammunition to Navy ships around the globe in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. As of June 22, 2004, MSC has moved more than 55 million square feet of cargo in support of the global war on terrorism.

MSC normally operates 120 civilian-crewed, noncombatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. That number expanded to more than 210 in March 2003 as additional ships were activated from reduced operating status or chartered for the command’s support of U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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SIU-contracted American Steamship Company (ASC), a unit of GATX Financial Corporation, announced June 25 that Seafarer Charles B. Neigebauer has been named recipient of ASC’s 2004 Outstanding Mariner Award. Neigebauer is a bosun on the M/V St. Clair.

“ASC presents the Outstanding Mariner Award annually to an employee, nominated by his or her peers, whose performance exemplifies the spirit of dedication, commitment to excellence and results-oriented drive that are the foundation of the American Steamship Company,” the company said in a news release.

SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski described Neigebauer as “a longtime member who takes great pride in his work. Charlie also instills a strong work ethic into younger mariners. He’s very deserving of this recognition.”

Jerome K. Welsch, president and CEO of ASC, said, “Through the Outstanding Mariner program, ASC recognizes shipboard and office personnel who have distinguished themselves through meritorious service. Charles’ 24 years of service to ASC are deeply appreciated and I am pleased to present him with this recognition from his company and his peers.”

In nominating Neigebauer, his shipmates noted that he “is always willing and able to work with all crew members. He is a leader with a positive attitude, and his focus on the safety and wellbeing of the crew and vessel is evident at all times.”

Neigebauer has sailed with ASC since 1980 and aboard the St. Clair since 1986. His wife, Sandra, also is an SIU member.
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The International Longshoremen’s Association has issued the following news release:

Waterfront Leaders Laud New Master Contract

NEW YORK—The President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO (ILA), John Bowers, and the Chairman/CEO of the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX), James A. Capo, are pleased to announce that they have executed the Memorandum of Settlement for the new six (6) year Master Contract, which was ratified by the ILA membership on June 8, 2004. The new contract, which had been previously ratified by the membership of USMX, becomes effective on October 1, 2004 and expires on September 30, 2010.

Both Mr. Bowers and Mr. Capo praised the efforts of the negotiating committees, from both labor and management, that engaged in bargaining for more than one year before the contract was finally settled in March of 2004.

Both leaders cited the six (6) year term of the agreement and the resultant labor stability as a strong indication of the continuing commitment of the ILA and USMX to the uninterrupted flow of commerce through the ports on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States.

While considered by some to be the costliest contract in the history of coastwide bargaining between the parties, both Mr. Bowers and Mr. Capo recognize that the main provisions of the new agreement will help the union in dealing with both non-ILA and non-union competition up and down the coast. The new agreement also provides for increased funding of the national health care program, MILA, without which longshore workers and their families in some ports could have been facing a loss of healthcare benefits. Both leaders also agreed that even with some cost-saving plan design changes, which will become effective with the new contract, the MILA plan is still one of the best joint union-management healthcare plans in the country.

Mr. Bowers and Mr. Capo both expressed optimism that individual port negotiations on local conditions will be successfully concluded prior to the effective date of the new Master Agreement.
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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta earlier this week reiterated his strong support for the U.S.-flag maritime industry. He addressed graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on June 21 in Kings Point, N.Y.

“Rarely in our history has the importance of our maritime operations been so clear, or the opportunities for mariners so great,” Mineta stated. “For the first time in recent memory, we are adding demonstrably to the number of ships sailing under the American flag. In the past two years, our efforts have attracted three modern and militarily useful vessels to the U.S.-flag fleet. Additionally, thousands of new sea-going jobs will be created when three new U.S.-flagged cruise ships are placed in service.

“The Maritime Security Act, signed by President Bush last November, is another measure of our commitment. The $1.7 billion reauthorization of the Maritime Security Program will expand the fleet from 47 to 60 ships. And there is more to come.”

The secretary’s complete remarks are available on the Department of Transportation web site here

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) earlier this week announced it is seeking applications for appointment to membership on the committee.

MERPAC is composed of unlicensed and licensed mariners, shipping company officials, Coast Guard representatives, maritime training specialists and others from the industry. Collectively, the group advises the Secretary of Homeland Security (via the Coast Guard commandant) on matters concerning the training, qualification, licensing, certification and fitness of U.S. mariners.

Applications should reach the Coast Guard on or before August 30, 2004. Application forms may be obtained by writing to: Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001. Please submit applications to the same address.

For more information, contact Commander Brian J. Peter, Executive Director of MERPAC, or Mark C. Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, telephone 202-267-6890, fax 202-267-4570.
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