The Transportation Security Administration in early October announced enrollment in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program was to begin Oct. 16 in Wilmington, Del.
U.S. Shipping Partners Oct. 4 announced another long-term charter for a Jones Act tanker in the series of nine being built for the company by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego, Calif.
American Maritime Officers has regained its good name since a six-year criminal case that led to the felony convictions of four former AMO officials ended in January 2007, AMO National President Tom Bethel told the Seafarers International Union of North America Sept. 13.
American Maritime Officers supports the proposed OceanWay project to bring liquefied natural gas to California as an investment in clean energy from reliable sources, safe LNG transportation and new jobs for American citizens, both at sea and ashore.
One of the most effective policy reforms enacted on my watch as national president of American Maritime Officers since January 2007 is the permanent practice of bringing informational AMO membership meetings to deep-sea ports on all coasts.
Last Spring, I took up an offer to work in AMO's Washington, D.C. office. A year earlier, I had written a letter to headquarters and stated that I had previous experience in Washington D.C. and that I might be of some use to the union--and I was willing to spend vacation time from my master's job with Maersk to do it. Having spent a tour of duty in Washington, D.C. during my naval career, I thought I knew a few things about operating inside the Beltway, and I wanted to contribute in any way I could to our industry. The two months I spent working in our office at L'Enfant Plaza was an eye opener for me. Tom Bethel was open to the idea, and he brought me in when he became president of AMO.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Sept. 27 dismissed another attempt by the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) to thwart a potentially crippling lawsuit, marking the failure of what may be that union's last opportunity to prevent the case from proceeding to trial in Ohio state court.
Eight Fast sealift ships are being transferred from the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command to the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration.
