AMO, RTM STAR Center comment on employment of U.S. mariners, vessels in transportation of LNG

AMO, RTM STAR Center comment on employment of U.S. mariners, vessels in transportation of LNG

American Maritime Officers and RTM STAR Center joined other maritime interests, individuals and labor organizations in responding to a request from the Maritime Administration for input on the employment of U.S. vessels and mariners in the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the nation's offshore deepwater ports.

MARAD published the request for comments in the Federal Register Jan. 17, specifically seeking comments on the development of programs to maximize the use and availability of U.S. vessels and qualified U.S. citizen officers and unlicensed crews serving the international LNG tanker fleet, as well as issues related to the overall safe and secure operation of deepwater ports.

The complete commentary filed by AMO and STAR Center is available online at: www.amo-union.org/marad-lng.pdf

During a recent address to the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Propeller Club, Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton said the quantity of LNG imported by the U.S. will increase dramatically. Connaughton has been working actively with the maritime industry, organized labor and the maritime academies in developing a regimen to utilize upcoming opportunities. He has also been talking with various applicants for LNG terminal licenses and encouraging them to use U.S. mariners. MARAD has already begun to see some successes on this front and has put together agreements with several of these applicants.

Separately, AMO recently signed an agreement with Teekay Shipping to integrate U.S. officers represented by AMO into the company's international LNG vessel operations. AMO members this month started work in the Teekay fleet.

Additionally, STAR Center, a division of the AMO Safety & Education Plan, now offers two LNG training courses for AMO members. The STAR Center Dania Beach, Fla., facility recently added LNG simulator training utilizing the MPRI liquid cargo simulator to the curriculum. STAR Center's LNG Tankerman Person-In-Charge course is a prerequisite for the simulator course.

STAR Center in March conducted a "train the trainer" program for representatives of U.S. maritime academies on the MPRI simulator. The first course for AMO members on the MPRI simulator has already been completed.

In their commentary, AMO and STAR Center discussed efforts in which MARAD could assist to expand the participation of American merchant mariners in LNG transportation trades. Among the topics raised in the commentary were the recent experience of AMO officers and SIU crew in LNG shipping and the LNG training programs currently available to AMO officers at STAR Center.

"As the U.S. LNG import market expands, the recent experience and training of AMO officers will be valuable resources for LNG owner/operators. With more than 500 LNG voyages, AMO officers can deliver LNG to U.S. import terminals safely and reliably," the organizations commented.

"AMO fully supports the initiatives announced by MARAD. Agreements reached by Suez Energy and Freeport-McMoRan Energy to train and employ U.S. mariners for their LNG import terminals are positive for the American merchant marine. Suez Energy and Freeport-McMoRan Energy should be commended for their willingness to voluntarily engage American mariners. This should serve as a model for established and emerging U.S. LNG import terminals. The AMO membership includes many qualified LNG officers with recent experience. The AMO-affiliated training facility, STAR Center, has the capability to train, assess and certify new LNG officers," the organizations commented.

"At present, AMO officers have approximately four and one-half years of LNG experience, and recency within the past 25 months. AMO officers also have access to comprehensive training programs at the STAR Center facilities."

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