The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association Jan. 3 lost another significant round in its jurisdictional dispute with American Maritime Officers over the Great Lakes tug-barge unit Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder.
The Coast Guard in December extended the deadline to April 11, 2007, for mariners working as first-class pilots aboard vessels greater than 1,600 gross registered tons, as well as mariners who "serve as" pilots on certain types of vessels greater than 1,600 GRT, to provide copies of their most recent physical exam reports to the Coast Guard.
Seasonally low water levels have aggravated the dredging crisis that has hampered U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk shipping, the Lake Carriers' Association has advised.
