AMO members aboard the tanker California, here in San Francisco in, included (Back row) FIrst Assistant Engineer Brandon Schreck, Captain Skip Mendenhall, Third Mate Sam Hreha, AMO West Coast Boarding Representative Alex Butler, Chief Engineer Pete Wicox, Second A.E. Thomas Ostrowski, Third Mate Timothy Nichols, Second Mate Hunter Noel, Chief Mate Riley McQuiston. (Front row/kneeling) Third Mate Garrett Vincent, Engine Cadet Asa Michetti, Deck Cadet Aimee Sala and Third A.E. Jessica Gamsjager.
AMO members aboard the tanker California included Chief Mate Riley McQuiston and Maritime Cadet Aimee Sala during cargo operations on the deck.
AMO members aboard the tanker California included First Assistant Engineer Brandon Schreck and Third A.E. Jessica Gamsjager, here in the engine room.
AMO members aboard the tanker California included a patriotic Chief Engineer Pete Wilcox.
AMO members aboard the tanker California included Third Mate Samuel Hreha, here monitoring operations on the bridge.
Tanker California is owned and operated by Fairwater Tanker Management and is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.
A Humvee passes an RFID reader while being offloaded from the USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams along a slipway Aug. 12, at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Florida. Operated by Crowley Government Services for Military Sealift Command, the USNS Williams returned from prepositioning warfighting equipment in support of geographic commands and regional exercises, including Native Fury in Saudi Arabia and Balikatan in the Philippines. The USNS Williams in manned in all licensed positions by members of American Maritime Officers.
Chartered by U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, multi-purpose dry cargo ship Ocean Freedom is participating in the annual Operation Pacer Goose resupply mission to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.
Operation Pacer Goose, now in its 73rd year, occurs every year during the summer months of July and August. Its mission is twofold – first, to resupply the base with life-sustaining supplies for the next 365 days and second, to remove any waste materials and non-reparable equipment from the base. This mission is a critical one because of the amount of sustainment material Ocean Freedom provides to this remote location, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The Ocean Freedom, which is operated by Patriot Shipping, LLC, is manned in all licensed positions by AMO.
The minutes for the regular monthly American Maritime Officers membership meeting held August 6 at AMO Headquarters have been posted in the member section of the AMO website, which is accessible to active AMO members and applicants.
AMO members will need to click on the “MEMBER LOGIN” tab on the AMO website (LOGIN on mobile devices) and log into the member portal of the AMO website. Members and applicants using the updated AMO website for the first time will need to register a new account for the member portal, a link for which is featured on the MEMBER LOGIN page.
The following is an excerpt from a press release issued by the United Seamen’s Service on August 12.
The United Seamen’s Service (USS) proudly announces that the 56th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards will honor three champions of American maritime: Captain Willie Barrere, National President of American Maritime Officers; Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Line, Limited and Vincent J. Marino, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-ITI-CCS.
A Special Recognition plaque will be presented to Edward R. Morgan in honor of his extraordinary leadership as President of USS. Serving in this role for more than 20 years, Mr. Morgan helped guide the organization with steady vision and deep commitment, ensuring that seafarers and their families received the vital support and services they depend on. The plaque will be presented by F. Anthony Naccarato, the newly elected President of USS. With more than 56 years of experience in both maritime management and labor, including a distinguished tenure at Crowley Maritime Corp., Mr. Naccarato also serves as President of American Maritime Officers Services. He brings deep industry insight and unwavering dedication to continuing the legacy of service that Mr. Morgan helped build.
The coveted AOTOS Award, represented by the iconic silver Columbus statuette, will be presented at a black-tie gala on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. The evening will also include tributes to American seafarers honored for acts of heroism and bravery, reinforcing the core mission of USS: uplifting those who serve at sea.
For more than half a century, the AOTOS Award has recognized individuals whose leadership, integrity, and vision have advanced the U.S. maritime industry while upholding the welfare of the American seafaring workforce. This year’s honorees reflect those values and more, standing as tireless advocates for safety, progress, labor, and the strength of the American-flag fleet.
“These are leaders who never forgot where they came from. They have built trust with crews, strengthened labor partnerships, and fought to keep the American maritime workforce resilient, respected, and ready. Their unwavering dedication to seafarers and to the values that define our industry makes them ideal recipients of this prestigious award,” said LTG Kenneth R. Wykle, USA, (Ret.), Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee. “We are proud to honor Ed Morgan, whose integrity, honor, and dedication made him a trusted steward of USS’s mission, leading with purpose, advancing seafarer welfare, and strengthening the organization’s service to the maritime community.”
Captain Willie Barrere, National President, American Maritime Officers
Captain Willie Barrere is a mariner’s mariner – an accomplished captain, seasoned union leader, and steadfast champion of U.S. maritime labor. A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he spent 27 years at sea, many as captain aboard Crowley and Maersk vessels, before bringing his deep-sea experience ashore to lead with the same discipline, resolve, and purpose that defined his time on the water.
Since taking the helm of American Maritime Officers, Captain Barrere has emerged as a formidable negotiator and unapologetic advocate for his members. He has led from the front, securing stronger wages, better benefits, and building critical recruitment pipelines. His leadership has delivered tangible wins, including new tonnage, expanded contract fleets, and safeguarded jobs for U.S. officers in a volatile industry climate. He brings persistence, clarity, and strategic insight to every negotiation, fighting not just to maintain ground, but to advance it.
Respected for his steady leadership and commanding presence at the table, Captain Barrere is known for getting results. He combines credibility with conviction, navigating complex challenges with calm determination and an unshakable focus on those he represents. Whether leading a ship or shaping the future of maritime labor, his compass remains fixed: To serve, to strengthen, and to secure the future for American mariners.
Proceeds from AOTOS benefit USS’s global network of seafarer support services, which provide aid and facilities to American mariners, allied crews, and U.S. military personnel overseas.
David W. Heindel, President of the Seafarers International Union, will serve as Dinner Chairman, with F. Anthony Naccarato of American Maritime Officers Service and Joseph J. Cox of Cox Maritime LLC as National Committee Co-Chairmen. USS is led by President F. Anthony Naccarato and Executive Director Roger T. Korner.
On July 16, 2025, the Military Sealift Command-chartered motor tanker Badlands Trader conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary RFA Tidespring under the direction of COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF-73. This successful operation highlights the close coordination between the U.S. Navy and our allies and partners, ensuring our combined forces remain supplied, ready, and committed to promoting peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The Badlands Trader is operated by USMMI under long term charter with MSC and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
The two-day MSC Readiness Refresher course scheduled at STAR Center for August 18-19 is proving difficult to run for the enrolled American Maritime Officers members who need this course for their upcoming employment due to low enrollment. With many seats available, any AMO members in need of this five-year refresher course for the Core-4 government vessel courses (Helicopter Fire Fighting; Shipboard Damage Control; Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Defense (CBRN) Orientation and Marine Environmental Programs) are encouraged to apply.
STAR Center’s course schedule can be accessed at https://www.star-center.com/schedule.html. Enrollment questions or applications should be directed to Student Services at 1-800-942-3220 Ext. 201 or via .
On July 28, the Maritime Administration issued the Ready Reserve Force ship allocation for the next 10 years. The RRF ship manager awards are as follows:
AMO-contracted company awards
* Crowley: Mendonca, Benavidez, Cape Arundel, Cape Cortez
* Ocean Duchess: Cape Inscription, Cape Intrepid, Cape Isabel, Cape Island, Curtiss, Wright
* Pacific-Gulf Marine: Cornhusker State, Gopher State, Cape Kennedy, Cape Knox, Keystone State, Gem State
* TOTE Services: Cape Taylor, Cape Texas, Cape Trinity, Pollux, Regulus, Altair, Bellatrix, Pacific Tracker, Pacific Collector, Gordon, Gilliland, Cape Sabel, Cape San Juan, Cape Starr
Non-AMO company awards
* Keystone: Cape Decision, Cape Diamond, Cape Domingo, Cape Douglas, Cape Ducato, Cape Edmont, Cape Race, Cape Ray, Cape Rise, Bob Hope, Brittin, Fisher
* Patriot Contract Services: Cape Victory, Cape Vincent, Admiral Callahan, Cape Orlando, Cape Henry, Cape Horn, Cape Hudson
* Sunrise Vessel Operations: Cape Washington, Cape Wrath
American Maritime Officers will be working with all members affected to ensure officers will be able to continue working within the Ready Reserve Force fleet should the new vessel allocation require a transition in job assignments.
The following press release was issued by Nexans and Crowley Maritime on July 31. The offshore cable barge started laying cable off the coast of New York earlier in the week. American Maritime Officers will represent all officers on the Jones Act vessel.
Nexans, a leader in the world’s energy transition which invested in the U.S. with its subsea transmission cable manufacturing facility in South Carolina, today announces an innovative partnership with Crowley Wind Services, a leading American shipping and logistics company, to develop and operate a Jones Act compliant cable lay barge.
Dedicated to supporting the installation of subsea transmission lines necessary for offshore wind energy, telecommunications and other major industrial applications, this collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to providing solutions for the expansion of U.S. energy sources and other industrial uses that require underwater cabling.
The 300-foot, U.S.-flagged barge, built in Louisiana and tested in the U.S. Gulf to Nexans specifications, will be crewed by American mariners under Crowley’s operation. The vessel will play a critical role in laying and burying the subsea cables needed to deliver energy from offshore to the grid onshore. The barge is the first to have vertical injectors along with a dynamic positioning system and a multiple-anchors positioning system, which allow for accurate and efficient cable placement, even in challenging conditions.
The barge boasts a 3,500-ton capacity carousel to lay and bury subsea cable using burial tools such as a vertical injector, a jet sled, or a jetting ROV, with the potential to be upgraded to 7,000 tons with two carousels for bundle cable lay and burial. The barge is positioned to support Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore wind farm for New York and can be configured to lay or repair cable for a multitude of other subsea applications.
“This barge will support our existing fleet of cable laying vessels, the Nexans CLV Aurora, Nexans C/S Skagerrak and Nexans CLV Electra, and we are pleased to be working with Crowley on developing the capability to lay nearshore subsea cable in the U.S.,” said Pascal Radue, executive vice president of Nexans’ PWR-Transmission Business Group, highlighting the significance of the partnership.
“The cable lay barge will provide a productive supply chain solution for offshore energy, telecommunications and other sectors,” said Graham Tyson, vice president of operations, Crowley Wind Services. “Coupled with our U.S. maritime fleet and mariners providing feedering services and other logistics and project management capabilities, we could not be better equipped to serve the needs of industries seeking subsea cable solutions.”
The vessel will be operated by a crew of U.S. mariners, supporting maritime investment and employment goals.
“AMO is proud to be the leading source for United States Coast Guard licensed officers in the wind farm space. Our long-lasting partnership with Crowley, and our new relationship with Nexans, will help to provide clean, affordable and sustainable energy to millions of Americans and will open the door to future offshore projects,” said American Maritime Officers National President Willie Barrere.
“The SIU welcomes this exciting opportunity and looks forward to providing dedicated, well-trained mariners to help ensure the new vessel’s success,” said Seafarers International Union President David Heindel. “SIU members have sailed aboard cable-laying vessels for decades, so we are more than up to the task. This is a worthwhile project that will boost American shipboard manpower while reinforcing the great importance of the Jones Act, which has protected United States national, economic and homeland security for more than a century.
The following is excerpted from a United States Navy press release issued July 28.
The Pathfinder Class oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62) visited Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly known as Port Blair) on July 25, 2025, marking the first port visit to India by a U.S. Navy Special Mission vessel in two decades. This port visit demonstrates U.S. and India’s shared democratic values and mutual commitment to advancing security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region through strengthened maritime partnership.
During the visit, Bowditch leadership conducted office calls with the leadership of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The ship also hosted tours for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard counterparts, fostering deeper cooperation between the two maritime forces.
“The officers and crew of the USNS Bowditch have been proud to participate in many activities during our visit that not only boost morale but also strengthen our relationship with our partners, the Indian Navy,” said Capt. Dave Mitchell, commanding officer of the USNS Bowditch.
Bowditch is an oceanographic survey ship attached to Military Sealift Command and is currently underway in the Indo-Pacific supporting 7th fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, alongside allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Bowditch is one of six oceanographic survey ships operated by personnel from the Naval Oceanographic Office located at the John C. Stennis Space Center located in Bay St. Louis, Miss.
The USNS Bowditch is operated by Ocean Ships Inc. for Military Sealift Command and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard personnel alongside U.S. Navy sailors pose in front of the pathfinder class oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62) following a ship tour during a scheduled port visit to Sri Vijaya Puram, India, July 25, 2025.
AMO Captain David Mitchell (middle) poses with Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard personnel in the bridge of the USNS Bowditch during a scheduled port visit to Sri Vijaya Puram, India.
Chief Mate Daniel Vich is welcomed to Port Blair as the USNS Bowditch conducts the first port visit by a U.S. Navy Special Mission vessel in two decades.
Members of American Maritime Officers working aboard the tanker Evergreen State in June, here in Tampa, Fla., included Chief Engineer Matthew Colwell, Third Assistant Engineer Emma Clarkson, Second Mate Kyle Nelson, Captain Erik Matthews and Third Mate Connor Urbancic. AMO represents all licensed officers onboard the Evergreen State, which is operated under Military Sealift Command charter by Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning.