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Seafarers Appeals Board Approves 2 Actions
Amends Standby and Port Relief Jobs;
Eliminates 120-Day Rotation for Some

April 2004

The Seafarers Appeals Board (SAB) last month issued two actions which amend the shipping rules. The first deals with extending reliefs when the merchant mariner documents (MMDs) of Seafarers have not been renewed in time; the second modifies tours of duty for rated unlicensed personnel employed on Ready Reserve Force Fleet vessels or other activated MSC ships. Both actions went into effect March 1, 2004. Action number 423 recognizes the additional time needed by the U.S. Coast Guard to process and renew MMDs in the wake of September 11, 2001. Under certain circumstances, it allows Seafarers to extend their reliefs when their MMD renewals have not been processed in time. In an effort to secure and maintain qualified personnel aboard various military vessels, Action number 424 eliminates the maximum period of employment of 120 days for rated unlicensed personnel aboard activated military-contracted vessels that do not have permanent rotations. The SAB is composed of representatives from the union and its contracted operators. The complete text of each of the actions is printed below. Action Number 423 The Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and the various Contracted Employers, hereby takes the following action. WHEREAS, by prior action the Board recognized the need for appropriate Shipping Rule adjustments from time to time to accommodate changes in the shipping industry; and WHEREAS, with the change in security measures since September 11, 2001 the application of merchant mariner documents (MMD) has become more in depth, thus taking the U.S. Coast Guard longer to process; and WHEREAS, the Seafarers Appeals Board wishes to make provisions to allow members under certain circumstances to extend reliefs when their MMD renewal has not been processed in time. NOW THEREFORE, the Seafarers Appeals Board wishes to add the following provision to the Shipping Rules: Amend Rule 6. Standby and Port Relief Jobs by adding a new item G. to read: “A seaman employed as a permanent or trip tour rating who has registered, in accordance with rule 2. Shipping Procedure, Item G., 7, and is waiting on the return of his Merchant Mariners Document (MMD) while renewing, and has submitted evidence that a renewal MMD has been applied for within at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date of the MMD, may have a relief period extended until such time as his Merchant Mariners Document has been returned. Once the permanent or trip tour seaman has received the document, he may return to his permanent position aboard the vessel and transportation to the vessel shall be paid by the Company in accordance with the provisions of these rules. The departing relief shall also have his transportation paid by the Company back to his original U.S. port of engagement.” Action Number 424 Ready Reserve Force Fleet and Other Military Sealift Command Activation Vessels The Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and the various Contracted Employers, hereby takes the following action. WHEREAS, by prior action the Board recognized the need for appropriate Shipping Rule adjustments to secure and maintain an adequate supply of qualified and trained personnel aboard various military vessels; and WHEREAS, the Union acknowledges the importance proper manning plays in the successful operation of these vessels and because of Ready Reserve Force Fleet or other Military Sealift Command (MSC) vessel activations the Board wishes to amend the shipping rules to ensure that every rated unlicensed billet aboard Ready Reserve Force Fleet or other MSC vessels not having permanent rotations established is filled by eliminating the maximum period of employment. NOW THEREFORE, tours of duty shall be modified for rated unlicensed personnel employed on Ready Reserve Force Fleet vessels or other MSC vessels that activate to Full Operational Status that do not have permanent rotations established by eliminating the maximum period of employment of one hundred twenty (120) days. The maximum sixty days off will still be in effect. This SAB action shall remain in full force and effect until modified by future SAB action.