Posted:
December 10, 2015
By Paul Doell
National President
This was a satisfying and encouraging year economically and professionally for American Maritime Officers, which regained solid financial footing and filled a first wave of new licensed jobs on dry cargo ships and tankers delivered for Jones Act service.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, our union was deep in the black, with a large and growing operating budget surplus achieved through a combination of sensible spending cuts and payroll paring - after allowing for modest wage increases for AMO support personnel, attrition and meaningful salary reductions at the senior administrative level resulted in sizable savings, not including the associated savings in pay-based employee benefits.
In addition, AMO membership dues and initiation fee receipts were higher than they were in calendar year 2014.
Because of these developments, a dues increase approved in October 2014 for calendar year 2015 was rescinded in February, and there was no need at the year's end to raise dues rates in 2016.
Meanwhile, our union went to work aboard TOTE Maritime's new Marlin Class container ship Isla Bella - the first vessel of its kind anywhere in the world to be fueled by liquefied natural gas - and her sister ship, the Perla del Caribe, which will be delivered early next year. The Marlin Class vessels operate in Jones Act trade between Florida and Puerto Rico.
These revolutionary TOTE ships were built in San Diego by General Dynamics NASSCO, which was busy as well this year with two contracts for the construction of a total of eight product tankers that will provide even more new Jones Act jobs for AMO engine and deck officers.
One NASSCO contract provides for five tankers for American Petroleum Tankers, or APT. The first ship in the series - the Lone Star State - was christened on October 17. The second NASSCO order calls for three tankers for SEA-Vista LLC, a subsidiary of Seacor Holdings Inc. At this writing, the initial SEA-Vista vessel was set for christening December 12.
On the East Coast, a tanker order placed with Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. by Crowley Maritime Corp. began to pay off for American Maritime Officers with the October 1 delivery and November 3 christening of the Ohio, the first of four such vessels intended for Jones Act trade under AMO contract.
Down South, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, VT Halter Marine was building two combination container-roll-on/roll-off ships for operation by Crowley in domestic service under AMO contract.
Earlier this year, Pasha Hawaii christened its combination container-RO/RO ship Marjorie C, which was built by VT Halter Marine. The ship joined the Jean Anne in Jones Act trade between the U.S. mainland West Coast and Hawaii, with AMO engine and deck officers aboard both ships.
The good news here does not stop with new employment for American Maritime Officers. Each new seagoing job filled this year by our union - and each new AMO job on the near and far horizons - represents new employer contributions to AMO Plans, the benefit funds that serve all AMO members and their families so well.
While new employment for AMO members is always worth celebrating, this year's upbeat mood was dampened considerably by the wrenching loss October 1 of the El Faro off the Bahamas during the Cat 4 Hurricane Joaquin. The ship sank with all hands - 11 AMO engine and deck officers, 17 Seafarers International Union crew and five Polish nationals in the riding gang.
With this emotional mix of optimism and grief reflecting the humanity in all of us - and on behalf of the AMO National Executive Board, all AMO representatives and all AMO employees - I offer best wishes and good will to every deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters AMO family in this holiday season. And I ask that everyone in the AMO community pause appropriately to remember our union's El Faro complement:
In AMO, a year to celebrate - and to reflect on tragic loss
By Paul Doell
National President
This was a satisfying and encouraging year economically and professionally for American Maritime Officers, which regained solid financial footing and filled a first wave of new licensed jobs on dry cargo ships and tankers delivered for Jones Act service.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, our union was deep in the black, with a large and growing operating budget surplus achieved through a combination of sensible spending cuts and payroll paring - after allowing for modest wage increases for AMO support personnel, attrition and meaningful salary reductions at the senior administrative level resulted in sizable savings, not including the associated savings in pay-based employee benefits.
In addition, AMO membership dues and initiation fee receipts were higher than they were in calendar year 2014.
Because of these developments, a dues increase approved in October 2014 for calendar year 2015 was rescinded in February, and there was no need at the year's end to raise dues rates in 2016.
Meanwhile, our union went to work aboard TOTE Maritime's new Marlin Class container ship Isla Bella - the first vessel of its kind anywhere in the world to be fueled by liquefied natural gas - and her sister ship, the Perla del Caribe, which will be delivered early next year. The Marlin Class vessels operate in Jones Act trade between Florida and Puerto Rico.
These revolutionary TOTE ships were built in San Diego by General Dynamics NASSCO, which was busy as well this year with two contracts for the construction of a total of eight product tankers that will provide even more new Jones Act jobs for AMO engine and deck officers.
One NASSCO contract provides for five tankers for American Petroleum Tankers, or APT. The first ship in the series - the Lone Star State - was christened on October 17. The second NASSCO order calls for three tankers for SEA-Vista LLC, a subsidiary of Seacor Holdings Inc. At this writing, the initial SEA-Vista vessel was set for christening December 12.
On the East Coast, a tanker order placed with Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. by Crowley Maritime Corp. began to pay off for American Maritime Officers with the October 1 delivery and November 3 christening of the Ohio, the first of four such vessels intended for Jones Act trade under AMO contract.
Down South, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, VT Halter Marine was building two combination container-roll-on/roll-off ships for operation by Crowley in domestic service under AMO contract.
Earlier this year, Pasha Hawaii christened its combination container-RO/RO ship Marjorie C, which was built by VT Halter Marine. The ship joined the Jean Anne in Jones Act trade between the U.S. mainland West Coast and Hawaii, with AMO engine and deck officers aboard both ships.
The good news here does not stop with new employment for American Maritime Officers. Each new seagoing job filled this year by our union - and each new AMO job on the near and far horizons - represents new employer contributions to AMO Plans, the benefit funds that serve all AMO members and their families so well.
While new employment for AMO members is always worth celebrating, this year's upbeat mood was dampened considerably by the wrenching loss October 1 of the El Faro off the Bahamas during the Cat 4 Hurricane Joaquin. The ship sank with all hands - 11 AMO engine and deck officers, 17 Seafarers International Union crew and five Polish nationals in the riding gang.
With this emotional mix of optimism and grief reflecting the humanity in all of us - and on behalf of the AMO National Executive Board, all AMO representatives and all AMO employees - I offer best wishes and good will to every deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters AMO family in this holiday season. And I ask that everyone in the AMO community pause appropriately to remember our union's El Faro complement:
- Captain Michael C. Davidson
- Chief Engineer Richard J. Pusatere
- Chief Mate Steven W. Shultz
- Chief Engineer Jeffrey A. Mathias
- Second Mate Danielle L. Randolph
- First Assistant Engineer Keith W. Griffin
- Third Mate Jeremie H. Riehm
- Second Assistant Engineer Howard J. Schoenly
- Third Assistant Engineer Michael L. Holland
- Third Assistant Engineer Mitchell T. Kuflik
- Third Assistant Engineer Dylan O. Meklin