American Maritime Officers members will man the oil tanker TV Seabrook (formerly the Falcon Leader) under a contract recently signed with Maritrans Operating Company.
Under extremely difficult conditions on the Gulf Coast, the heavy-lift vessel MV Ocean Titan was brought under U.S. registry Sept. 21, bringing new jobs for American Maritime Officers members in deep sea commercial trades under the Maritime Security Program.
An attempt in September by U.S. farming interests to have the Jones Act waived in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was rebuffed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who pointed out that the availability of U.S.-flagged vessels to ship agricultural cargo made a waiver of the cabotage law unnecessary.
The American Maritime Officers and Seafarers International Union members aboard the roll-on/roll-off fast sealift ship USNS Bellatrix came to the aid of orphaned pets in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina left the Gulf Coast port under water.
Cmdr. Chris Davies of the British Royal Navy sent the following letter to Capt. A.J. Weis, master of the SS Chesapeake, which participated in marine interception operations with the Royal Marine Detachment on Diego Garcia as part of a military exercise, Boarding Warrior, Aug. 22 to 26.
U.S. Shipping Partners in September completed its acquisition of the T-5 replacement tanker Gus Warren Darnell from Household Finance.
Acting Maritime Administrator John Jamian in September praised civilian American seafarers for their work in support of relief and recovery efforts in Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
The Jones Act, the enduring central element of U.S. maritime policy, could become a casualty of natural disaster.
The car carrier Integrity is one of three that were brought under U.S. registry by American Roll-On/Roll-Off Carrier and renamed before entering commercial trades under the Maritime Security Program. The other two vessels are the Honor and Courage. All three are operated by Interocean American Shipping and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
In early October, the USNS Pollux, one of eight fast sealift ships manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers, remained the primary source of diesel fuel for a New Orleans community after serving a pivotal role in saving lives and keeping local emergency services running in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the flooding of the city.
A waiver of the Passenger Vessel Services Act has been requested on behalf of a foreign cruise line chartering foreign-flagged cruise ships to the U.S. government for use in the reconstruction efforts in Gulf Coast cities recently ravaged by hurricanes and flooding.
The American Maritime Officers and Seafarers International Union members aboard the USNS Red Cloud earned official praise for their swift and efficient service in support of Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast.
Members of American Maritime Officers and the Seafarers International Union aboard Ready Reserve Force ships in September were providing critical services in support of Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast.
A new ocean-going platform carrying the powerful sea-based X-band radar (SBX) was dedicated in July and underwent sea trials in September. The vessel is operated for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency by Interocean American Shipping and manned in all licensed positions by members of American Maritime Officers.
A Department of Transportation proposal to boost a unit of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy would put maritime training centers operated privately at a competitive disadvantage, four seagoing unions said in September.
