American Maritime Officers members aboard the Hatteras Trader, here in May, included Captain Doug Scholz, Chief Mate Colin Hecklinger, Third Mates Elizabeth Kay and Evan Bove, Chief Engineer Derek Alley, First Assistant Engineer Gunter Meza and Second A.E. Tristan Richards.
U.S. Marine Management Inc. (USMMI) has secured a contract with Maritime Partners, LLC to operate the medium-range tanker Hatteras Trader, bringing new jobs for the members of American Maritime Officers.
Formerly known as the Seakay Valor, the Jones Act tanker will be the first operated by USMMI for Maritime Partners.
AMO will represent all licensed officers aboard the three vessels, although several members of Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) members have been allowed to complete their rotation on the Hatteras Trader before AMO officers come aboard for the next rotation. AMO officers officially took over the vessel from MEBA in May.
“AMO welcomes the first Jones Act tanker to USMMI and we look forward to continued fleet expansion,” AMO National President Willie Barrere said. “With recent attacks on the Jones Act, it’s encouraging to see our partner companies, like USMMI along with Maritime Partners, continue to strongly support and invest in US Maritime and it affirms my belief for a prosperous future for all AMO members.”
Hatteras Trader is a 600-foot-long chemical product tanker built in 2008 and is expected to trade in and around the Gulf.
“USMMI is extremely pleased to welcome HATTERAS TRADER to our growing fleet. We appreciate AMO’s support as we begin operating in the domestic trades as a Jones Act operator,” said David Sloane, Senior Vice President, Labor Relations for USMMI.
Hatteras Trader is the first Jones Act tanker operated by USMMI and will be manned in all licensed positions by AMO.