A few things you could count on for the better part of the month of March in Duluth, Minn.: a sharp breeze blowing across the icy remains on Lake Superior, members of American Maritime Officers manning a picket line at the Clure Public Marine Terminal and the M/V Stewart J. Cort buttoned to the dock there, awaiting completion of fit-out work by engineers provided by the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association to work behind the picket line for the ship's operator, Interlake Leasing III, Inc.
Another attempt by the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association to stall a potentially crippling lawsuit has failed.
American Maritime Officers has filed a class action grievance on behalf of AMO members dismissed from their jobs aboard the Great Lakes bulk carrier M/V Stewart J. Cort.
A fourth car carrier will be added to AMO's deep-sea fleet roster this month. The Japanese vessel--now named 'Tanabata'--will be reflagged American to carry Department of Defense vehicles and household goods, commercial vehicles, and U.S. government preference cargoes. AMO was manning the ship as American Maritime Officer neared presstime.
The articulated tug-barge Freeport is scheduled to commence operation this month.
Sealift Inc. will operate the Virginian for the U.S. Central Command under a new charter awarded by the Military Sealift Command.
Two area informational meetings have been scheduled for AMO members in May. The meetings will provide a forum for the discussion of matters of common interest and mutual concern in a convenient, comfortable setting.
