Posted:
December 13, 2011
By Tom Bethel
National President
As a remarkable year winds down, our union's job numbers continue to rise. Between January 1 and December 1, the American Maritime Officers fleet roster grew by 18 deep-sea and inland waters vessels. In addition, AMO members returned to work aboard a Great Lakes bulk carrier that had been idled for too long by the persistent economic recession.
AMO also retained its jobs on seven vessels operated under Military Sealift Command contract after typically fierce competitive bidding among U.S. merchant ship operating companies - including several that employ marine engineers and deck officers represented by other unions.
Moreover, AMO secured unprecedented employment opportunities in marine firefighting and salvage services provided by Donjon-SMIT LLC, a joint venture between Donjon Marine Co. of New Jersey and SMIT Salvage Americas Inc. of Texas (AMO members are placed in these jobs under an agreement between our union and PRONAV Offshore Services).
AMO this year also held its jobs under the State of Alaska's innovative Ocean Ranger program, under which our union provides marine engineers to monitor foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in the state for compliance with environmental laws and local regulations.
One of the most significant developments in 2011 was the return of AMO to the ocean-going dry bulk trades on five vessels owned and operated by a new AMO employer - Liberty Maritime Corp. The AMO-Liberty contract covers the Liberty Eagle, Liberty Glory, Liberty Grace, Liberty Spirit and Liberty Sun, all of which carry food-aid exports under the increasingly important PL-480 program.
Another new AMO employer, Argent Marine Operations Inc., raised our union's profile in the Maritime Security Program with the roll-on/roll-off ship Alliance Charleston.
AMO also welcomed the Evergreen State at the General Dynamics/NASSCO yard in San Diego. The vessel is the last of five "State Class" petroleum product tankers operated in Jones Act trades by Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning, a unit of Crowley Maritime Corp.
AMO members also settled into new jobs aboard the articulated tug-barges OSG Courageous and OSG Endurance in the OSG America fleet and aboard the articulated tug-barge Legacy, the first of three "Legacy Class" ATBs for the Crowley fleet (AMO mans the "Legacy Class" vessels under a pass-through agreement with the Seafarers International Union).
Our union's heavy-lift fleet grew from five vessels to six when Intermarine brought the Ocean Freedom into U.S. registry. The AMO heavy-lift total will soon hit eight ships when the reflagged Maersk Illinois and Maersk Texas begin service under a partnership between Maersk Line and Rickmers.
The good news from the Great Lakes this year was the return of the Great Republic to the bulk trades after lengthy layup. The ship - formerly the American Republic in the American Steamship Co. fleet - is now operated by Key Lakes, a division of Keystone.
In the government contract sector, AMO retained its jobs on five "Bobo Class" prepositioned sealift ships, on the T-5 tanker USNS Giannella and on the Sea-Based X-Band Radar Platform (SBX-1), all of which are operated for MSC. New jobs for our union under MSC this year were aboard the USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham, USNS LCPL Roy Wheat and the ice-strengthened tanker Maersk Peary.
In the next 18 months, AMO members can anticipate work aboard the Marjorie C, a combination container and roll-on/roll-off ship under construction at VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for Pasha Hawaii. The Marjorie C will join Pasha's Jean Anne in service between the U.S. mainland West Coast and Hawaii.
During this same period, AMO members can look forward to work in a developing U.S.-flagged natural gas trade between the East and Gulf Coasts. This specific project will be discussed here in greater detail once work begins on the necessary pipeline link and other infrastructure ashore.
Each of these developments enhances long-term job and benefit security for all deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters AMO members, and each helps AMO hold its rightful place as the nation's largest union of licensed seagoing professionals. Considered together, they give everyone in our union a lot to celebrate in this joyous season.
In this spirit, and on behalf of the National Executive Board of American Maritime Officers, I thank AMO members everywhere for their continued support, and I extend best wishes to all AMO families for happy, healthy holidays and a prosperous New Year.
AMO in 2011: sustained growth, enhanced job, benefit security
By Tom Bethel
National President
As a remarkable year winds down, our union's job numbers continue to rise. Between January 1 and December 1, the American Maritime Officers fleet roster grew by 18 deep-sea and inland waters vessels. In addition, AMO members returned to work aboard a Great Lakes bulk carrier that had been idled for too long by the persistent economic recession.
AMO also retained its jobs on seven vessels operated under Military Sealift Command contract after typically fierce competitive bidding among U.S. merchant ship operating companies - including several that employ marine engineers and deck officers represented by other unions.
Moreover, AMO secured unprecedented employment opportunities in marine firefighting and salvage services provided by Donjon-SMIT LLC, a joint venture between Donjon Marine Co. of New Jersey and SMIT Salvage Americas Inc. of Texas (AMO members are placed in these jobs under an agreement between our union and PRONAV Offshore Services).
AMO this year also held its jobs under the State of Alaska's innovative Ocean Ranger program, under which our union provides marine engineers to monitor foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in the state for compliance with environmental laws and local regulations.
One of the most significant developments in 2011 was the return of AMO to the ocean-going dry bulk trades on five vessels owned and operated by a new AMO employer - Liberty Maritime Corp. The AMO-Liberty contract covers the Liberty Eagle, Liberty Glory, Liberty Grace, Liberty Spirit and Liberty Sun, all of which carry food-aid exports under the increasingly important PL-480 program.
Another new AMO employer, Argent Marine Operations Inc., raised our union's profile in the Maritime Security Program with the roll-on/roll-off ship Alliance Charleston.
AMO also welcomed the Evergreen State at the General Dynamics/NASSCO yard in San Diego. The vessel is the last of five "State Class" petroleum product tankers operated in Jones Act trades by Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning, a unit of Crowley Maritime Corp.
AMO members also settled into new jobs aboard the articulated tug-barges OSG Courageous and OSG Endurance in the OSG America fleet and aboard the articulated tug-barge Legacy, the first of three "Legacy Class" ATBs for the Crowley fleet (AMO mans the "Legacy Class" vessels under a pass-through agreement with the Seafarers International Union).
Our union's heavy-lift fleet grew from five vessels to six when Intermarine brought the Ocean Freedom into U.S. registry. The AMO heavy-lift total will soon hit eight ships when the reflagged Maersk Illinois and Maersk Texas begin service under a partnership between Maersk Line and Rickmers.
The good news from the Great Lakes this year was the return of the Great Republic to the bulk trades after lengthy layup. The ship - formerly the American Republic in the American Steamship Co. fleet - is now operated by Key Lakes, a division of Keystone.
In the government contract sector, AMO retained its jobs on five "Bobo Class" prepositioned sealift ships, on the T-5 tanker USNS Giannella and on the Sea-Based X-Band Radar Platform (SBX-1), all of which are operated for MSC. New jobs for our union under MSC this year were aboard the USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham, USNS LCPL Roy Wheat and the ice-strengthened tanker Maersk Peary.
In the next 18 months, AMO members can anticipate work aboard the Marjorie C, a combination container and roll-on/roll-off ship under construction at VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for Pasha Hawaii. The Marjorie C will join Pasha's Jean Anne in service between the U.S. mainland West Coast and Hawaii.
During this same period, AMO members can look forward to work in a developing U.S.-flagged natural gas trade between the East and Gulf Coasts. This specific project will be discussed here in greater detail once work begins on the necessary pipeline link and other infrastructure ashore.
Each of these developments enhances long-term job and benefit security for all deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters AMO members, and each helps AMO hold its rightful place as the nation's largest union of licensed seagoing professionals. Considered together, they give everyone in our union a lot to celebrate in this joyous season.
In this spirit, and on behalf of the National Executive Board of American Maritime Officers, I thank AMO members everywhere for their continued support, and I extend best wishes to all AMO families for happy, healthy holidays and a prosperous New Year.