New jobs in place under Faststream agreement

New jobs in place under Faststream agreement

Unique base developing quickly with new seagoing opportunities for AMO officers

The number of new jobs directly or indirectly generated through the pioneering agreement between American Maritime Officers and Faststream Recruitment Inc., signed in December 2007, is fast approaching 40, and more opportunities through Faststream are now available to members of the union.

Faststream's involvement was a significant factor in the recent award of a contract by the State of Alaska to Crowley Liner Services to provide 35 ocean rangers to work aboard international cruise ships in Alaskan waters. AMO engineers are now being recruited and trained for these positions. Employing its experience with and knowledge of the international cruise industry, Faststream collaborated with Crowley on the development of their response to Alaska's request for proposals.

Additionally, one AMO member now has covered employment in a shore-based ship surveying position through the union's agreement with Faststream. Currently, three more shoreside opportunities are available to AMO officers through Faststream, including two site superintendent positions overseeing newbuilds for an oil major, and one position as a health, safety and environmental team leader.

The AMO online dispatching system is currently being adapted to display all positions available through Faststream to AMO members with access to the Web site. For the time being, AMO officers interested in available positions can send their resumes to AMO Director of New Business Development Tom Laird: . Hiring for positions available through Faststream is on a competitive basis.

The union's agreement with Faststream is multi-faceted, although the primary thrust is new seagoing employment for AMO members with international owner/operators not typically accessible to American unions. Nonetheless, AMO's unique agreement with Faststream provides for these jobs to be covered employment for AMO officers, with all required contributions to the AMO Plans.

"Our primary job at Faststream is to open up doors for AMO in the international seagoing market," said Faststream Vice President Craig Johnson. "The shoreside employment for AMO members is the added bonus."

Faststream is a leading recruitment firm for the U.S. and international maritime industries, with a broad network of contacts, a deep portfolio of experience and an extensive track record of success and excellence in placing qualified personnel in key shoreside positions throughout the industry.

The company's experience and reputation with international owner/operators places both it and AMO in an ideal position to meet the surging demand for qualified officers in emerging growth markets, such as liquefied natural gas transportation.

Faststream's collaboration with Crowley on the ocean ranger proposal marks the first major foray on behalf of AMO, as well as the first success.

"I'm very encouraged that we're seeing so much interest from chief engineers and first assistant engineers, since the minimum requirement for these positions is a third assistant engineer's license," said Faststream Cruise Consultant Roy Sunden of the strong response from AMO officers to the Alaska ocean ranger program. "This will make it easier for the cruise lines to cooperate because they will be getting engineers with much more experience. It will be a win-win."

Similar ocean ranger programs are expected to develop in the future in other U.S. states that serve as international cruise hubs, and California has already followed Alaska's lead in introducing legislation to require ocean rangers aboard cruise ships while they are in Californian waters.

Another productive aspect of the AMO agreement with Faststream is marketing and employer-recruitment.

AMO continues to invest time and effort in developing relationships with owner/operators in the international energy transportation trades, particularly LNG shipping. The AMO team is working with a select group of quality companies and is focusing its efforts on negotiations with the potential to secure new direct and indirect contracts.

At the same time, Faststream will be attending and marketing at Gastech 2008 in Bangkok, the largest gas conference in the world. The conference is well attended by international owner/operators in the energy transportation trades, and Faststream will be promoting the employment of American officers through its agreement with AMO with companies to which an American union would not traditionally have access.

"Gastech is a strong potential source of seagoing employment in the LNG trades," Johnson said. More information is available online at www.gastech.co.uk.

Following Gastech, representatives of AMO, Faststream and RTM STAR Center will be attending the Connecticut Maritime Association's Shipping 2008 international conference. Working together, they will be able to meet directly with company representatives and discuss the advantages of hiring AMO officers, who are well-experienced and already have access to established and sound benefit programs and the most comprehensive quality maritime training institution in the U.S.

While AMO cultivates new opportunities for it membership in international seagoing trades, and in shoreside employment in the U.S. and international maritime industries, the union will maintain its drive and dedication in expanding existing job bases in U.S. commercial, military sealift and government charter fleets.

"Our commitment to the U.S. fleet and our leadership in American maritime policy will not waver," said the AMO national president. "This is simply a new avenue of expansion for AMO and of opportunity for the membership."

Front Page

Return To Section-Front