The Maritime Administration (MarAd) launched an investigation that led to recommendations designed to stop the transportation of American military cargoes aboard foreign-flag vessels.
West Coast Sailors
In the wake of the award of eight Large Medium-Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) vessels to Maersk Lines, Ltd. by the Military Sealift Command early this month, Patriot Contract Services, a division of American Ship Management, filed a protest with the General Accounting Office requesting that the award be suspended pending a thorough review and investigation.
The House Armed Services Committee?s Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine on July 16, held its first in a series of hearings aimed at reauthorizing the Maritime Security Program (MSP) prior to its expiration on September 30, 2005.
On May 29, Matson Navigation Company signed a contract with Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard for two new containerships. The first vessel under construction is scheduled for delivery in June 2003. The second in April 2004.
In response to the national concern for maritime security and legislation that is pending in Congress, the SUP last month, upon request, submitted written testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The death of a ship's captain on the high seas has brought questions of international law and maritime labor abuse to a U.S. court.
In testimony this month before the House Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine, Maritime Administrator William Schubert reaffirmed the Bush Administration?s support of the Maritime Security Program.
In the wake of the IMO's decision not to fully enforce the International Convention for STCW 95 until July 31, 2002, and the U.S. Coast Guard?s determination that the vast majority of American merchant mariners must have been in compliance with the Convention by February 1, the Coast Guard called a meeting of seagoing maritime labor.
The STCW Subcommittee of the IMO meeting in London on Jan. 24, agreed to issue a circular letter to port state authorities to issue warnings to flag states not in compliance with the Feb. 1 STCW 95 requirements, however U.S. merchant mariners must be STCW certified by Feb. 1, 2002.
This month it was reported that Western intelligence has identified 20 merchant vessels believed to be linked to Osama bin Laden, which could now be subject to arrest at ports all over the world.
Among the Union's objectives is "to support a journal which shall voice the sentiments of the seafaring class, and through its columns seek to maintain the knowledge of and interest in maritime affairs." The first issue of the West Coast Sailors, in June of 1937, noted that "Common sense, fearlessly applied, brings success to a Union."