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New jobs for AMO aboard reflagged Ocean Titan
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| Pacific Gulf Marine operating second heavy-lift vessel in Maritime Security Program |
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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.
Formerly the Industrial Chief, the Ocean Titan is the sister ship of the MV Ocean Atlas, formerly the Industrial Challenger. Pacific Gulf Marine operates both vessels for Intermarine Inc. and both are manned in all licensed positions by AMO members and in all unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union. The Ocean Titan was at Atlantic Marine Shipyard in Mobile, Ala., when Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding hit the Gulf Coast at the end of August. The vessel was moved to the Port of Houston to complete its renaming and the conversion to U.S. registry, just ahead of Hurricane Rita's landfall in Texas Sept. 24. "It is indeed a tribute to the vessel's officers, crew and the shoreside support and management team who had a hand in the re-flag," said Todd Johnson, chief executive officer of Pacific Gulf Marine. "On behalf of the owners, we look forward to many successful years of operation under the U.S. flag." The Ocean Titan loaded at the Port of Houston and sailed for South America Sept. 27 on its first voyage under the U.S. flag. Both the Titan and the Ocean Atlas are enrolled in the Maritime Security Program, which was renewed for 10 years as of fiscal year 2006 on Oct. 1, 2005. The 8,000 dwt Century Class vessels are 393 feet long and both feature two 200-ton heavy-lift deck cranes, which can operated in unison on each vessel to lift 400 tons. The renewed MSP expands the fleet enrollment from 47 to 60 vessels and increases the operating assistance for each vessel gradually over 10 years from its previous level of $2.1 million per year. The Maritime Security Program was authorized in the Maritime Security Act of 1996. The law provided limited direct operating assistance to U.S.-flagged vessels that have military utility and can be used by the Department of Defense in times of war or national emergency. Legislation enacted in 2003 renewed the program through September 2015. |
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