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| By MICHAEL R. McKAY | |
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Thomas W. Merrell, vice president for marine operations at American Overseas Marine Inc, or AMSEA, sent me the following letter recently:
I wanted to take a moment to bring you up to speed regarding a recent occurrence on AMSEA's FSS (fast sealift ship) vessels. Last week, AMSEA received activation orders for four of our SL-7/FSS vessels in New Orleans, La. (NOLA). The storm sortie activation is issued by Military Sealift Command as directed by Norfolk/MSCLANT to get the vessels ready as soon as possible to sail in order to avoid the potential hurricanes/tropical storms. Last week, both Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley required MSCLANT to direct AMSEA to get the four NOLA vessels crewed (and, 24 hours later, the USNS Capella in Jacksonville, FL) ready to sail as soon as possible. I want to personally single out and thank your dispatcher, Jim Lynch, and his assistants for their efforts. Working with AMSEA's marine personnel department, the vessels were crewed and ready to meet a sail order in under 48 hours. It is no small task to crew four ships in one port (New Orleans) and have them ready to deploy. I hope these past weeks are not indicative of the months remaining in the 2004 hurricane season. When exceptional effort is given, it should be recognized. Please thank Mr. Lynch and the assistants at dispatch who helped AMSEA meet this recent task. Lynch and Paul Cates, an at-large member of the national executive board of American Maritime Officers, worked the phones and computers to line up the engine and deck officers to man the ships--the USNS Bellatrix, USNS Pollux, USNS Algol and USNS Altair in NOLA and the USNS Capella in Jax--on such short notice, and they deserve Mr. Merrell's compliments. But the greater credit goes to the AMO members and applicants for AMO membership who responded to the call and made the break-out so successful. These men and women canceled or altered plans, sacrificed time with their families, and postponed personal pursuits to meet a critical need. They acted quickly, without hesitation or doubt, to do an important job. They provided an important service to the U.S. government, and they brought honor upon everyone in our union. The timely activation of the fast sealift ships under emergency weather conditions was typical of the excellence, the commitment that distinguishes the membership of AMO in all markets, in all trades--foreign and domestic, commercial and government charter. The AMO standard was acknowledged earlier by the Maritime Administration, which conferred the prestigious Professional Ship Award upon the auxiliary crane ship Flickertail State, one of 54 ships in MARAD's Ready Reserve Force. AMO represents the engine, deck and radio-electronics officers on 39 of the RRF vessels. The Flickertail State was cited for its work in support of U.S. Marines in Haiti earlier this year. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert, who presented the award to Capt. Joe Regan and Chief Engineer Scott Stilianos, said the Flickertail State's performance was "an outstanding example of the integral role the Ready Reserve Force plays in our national defense operations." The Navy's Military Sealift Command has also acknowledged AMO's seagoing professionalism aboard MSC-chartered ships, most recently in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom II, and military exercises worldwide. American Maritime Officer has reported many examples. These are the stories that make me increasingly proud to represent the world's finest licensed seafaring professionals. As national president of AMO, I remain committed to sustained opportunity and improved security for AMO members and applicants and for their families. AMO and the LMSRs AMO was pleased to learn that it will man 11 additional large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships operated under Military Sealift Command charter. Two of the ships--the USNS Gordon and USNS Gilliland--will be operated for MSC by 3PSC LLC under a small business set-aside, and nine--the USNS Benavidez, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Brittin, USNS Fisher, USNS Mendonca, USNS Pililaau, USNS Seay, USNS Shughart and USNS Yano--will be operated by American Overseas Marine Inc., or AMSEA. AMO will provide the engine, deck and radio-electronics officers for all the vessels under both charters. As the 11 LMSRs come under the AMO banner, they will join eight AMO-manned LMSRs operated for MSC by Maersk Line Ltd. These ships are the USNS Soderman, USNS Watson, USNS Watkins, USNS Sisler, USNS Dahl, USNS Red Cloud, USNS Charlton and USNS Pomeroy. "The LMSRs have been the prime movers of combat cargo for U.S. military units involved in the global war on terrorism," MSC noted Sept. 1. "An estimated 95 percent of the equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces moves by sea." With the most LMSR experience among licensed seagoing unions, and with a highly trained, motivated and dedicated membership steeped in diverse sealift service, AMO is honored to assume an even larger role in support of U.S. armed forces overseas, and we are eager to get to the new work. |
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