AMO Retains Fast Sealift Ship Jobs

AMO Retains Fast Sealift Ship Jobs

AMSEA Awarded Five-Year Operating Charter For SL-7 Fleet

The USNS Altair is one of the eight SL-7 ships that will be operated by AMSEA under contract with American Maritime Officers.

      AMO will continue to man eight fast sealift roll-on/roll-off ships in all licensed positions under an operating charter award announced May 2 by the Navy's Military Sealift Command.
     The five-year charter went to American Overseas Marine Corp., or AMSEA, of Quincy, Mass. AMSEA was selected after a difficult round of competitive bidding among U.S.-flag companies in response to an MSC bid request.
     The charter covers the USNS Algol, USNS Altair, USNS Antares, USNS Bellatrix, USNS Capella, USNS Denebola, USNS Pollux and USNS Regulus. AMSEA was to accept delivery of the first ship later this month, and it is expected to have operating control of all eight by June 30.
     AMSEA already employs AMO in all licensed positions on five maritime prepositioning RO/RO ships for MSC--the 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, Sgt. William R. Button, 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, 1st Lt. Jack Lummus and PFC DeWayne T. Williams, all named for U.S. Marine Corps recipients of the Medal of Honor.
     AMSEA also employs AMO engine, deck, and radio-electronics officers on ships in the Ready Reserve Force sealift fleet managed for MSC by the Maritime Administration in the Department of Transportation.
     "We are pleased to know that the fast sealift officers' jobs will remain in our union," said AMO National President Michael R. McKay. "AMO members have proven themselves on these important ships time and time again--they are the very best at what they do, and they are assets to the Navy in any mission."
     The fast sealift ships had been operated under AMO contract by Bay Ship Mgmt Inc., of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

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