Posted:
April 28, 2009
In a letter dated April 22 and addressed to Sen. Frank Lautenberg—chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security—all major U.S. seagoing unions, including American Maritime Officers, and other maritime unions and organizations expressed their strong support for legislation Sen. Lautenberg has introduced (S. 685), which among other things addresses the medical evaluation process U.S. merchant mariners are subject to and the backlogs that system creates in the documentation process, as well as the role of fatigue in maritime casualties. The unions also recommended amendments to the legislation so that the mandates it would enact could better accommodate American mariners.
“On behalf of the undersigned American maritime labor and shipping organizations, we are writing to express our support for your legislation, S. 685, and in particular for those provisions contained in Section 4 of S. 685 relating to the establishment of a merchant mariner medical advisory committee, medical standards and medical requirements, and those contained in Section 5 calling for a study of marine casualty causation. These provisions are extremely important to American merchant mariners and will, in our opinion, greatly enhance the health and well-being of American seafaring personnel and the safe operation of American vessels of all types,” the labor organizations stated.
One amendment recommended by maritime labor would expand the range of medical examiners authorized to conduct mariner medical evaluations in order to accommodate mariners who do not live near doctors who would be included in a national registry of qualified medical examiners under S. 685. Another amendment would guarantee the right of appeal for mariners found unfit for duty in some or all capacities during the medical evaluation process.
The complete text of the letter—which was signed by American Maritime Congress; American Maritime Officers; American Maritime Officers Service; InlandBoatmens’ Union of the Pacific; International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; Local 333, United Marine Division, ILA; Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; Marine Firemen’s Union; Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development; Sailors’ Union of the Pacific; Seafarers International Union; and the Transportation Institute—is available online.
Maritime labor supports legislation addressing maritime medical evaluation process, fatigue
In a letter dated April 22 and addressed to Sen. Frank Lautenberg—chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security—all major U.S. seagoing unions, including American Maritime Officers, and other maritime unions and organizations expressed their strong support for legislation Sen. Lautenberg has introduced (S. 685), which among other things addresses the medical evaluation process U.S. merchant mariners are subject to and the backlogs that system creates in the documentation process, as well as the role of fatigue in maritime casualties. The unions also recommended amendments to the legislation so that the mandates it would enact could better accommodate American mariners.
“On behalf of the undersigned American maritime labor and shipping organizations, we are writing to express our support for your legislation, S. 685, and in particular for those provisions contained in Section 4 of S. 685 relating to the establishment of a merchant mariner medical advisory committee, medical standards and medical requirements, and those contained in Section 5 calling for a study of marine casualty causation. These provisions are extremely important to American merchant mariners and will, in our opinion, greatly enhance the health and well-being of American seafaring personnel and the safe operation of American vessels of all types,” the labor organizations stated.
One amendment recommended by maritime labor would expand the range of medical examiners authorized to conduct mariner medical evaluations in order to accommodate mariners who do not live near doctors who would be included in a national registry of qualified medical examiners under S. 685. Another amendment would guarantee the right of appeal for mariners found unfit for duty in some or all capacities during the medical evaluation process.
The complete text of the letter—which was signed by American Maritime Congress; American Maritime Officers; American Maritime Officers Service; InlandBoatmens’ Union of the Pacific; International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; Local 333, United Marine Division, ILA; Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; Marine Firemen’s Union; Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development; Sailors’ Union of the Pacific; Seafarers International Union; and the Transportation Institute—is available online.