U.S. Marine Management LLC (USMMI) recently won a long-term charter from the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) for a shallow draft tanker, bringing a new ship into the U.S. flag registry and new job opportunities for the members of American Maritime Officers.
The Redwood Trader was recently re-flagged and has entered performance under her charter with MSC. AMO will represent all licensed positions on the tanker, which is scheduled to operate in the Far East for MSC.
The Redwood Trader, a chemical product tanker, was built in 2018, is 109 meters long, and 5,422 gross tons. She is the sister ship of Pohang Pioneer, USMMI’s other shallow draft tanker on charter to MSC and also manned by AMO members.
“This new vessel is a testament AMO’s continued job base growth and to USMMI’s commitment to growing the U.S. flag fleet,” AMO National President Willie Barrere said. “When USMMI was created, we knew this would be good for AMO because it allowed another OPCO to compete for small business awards. Congratulations to USMMI on the contract and fair winds to the officers and crew of Redwood Trader. AMO looks forward to increasing our fleet with our USMMI partner.”
David Sloane, USMMI’s Vice President/Labor Relations noted that “USMMI is proud to add another U.S. flagged ship to our fleet serving U.S. national security interests. This charter continues USMMI’s longstanding relationship with the U.S. Navy supporting their requirements. We appreciate the ongoing support from American Maritime Officers to supply our company with outstanding U.S. citizen officers.”
American Maritime Officers members aboard the Redwood Trader in November included Captain Mike Hatton, Chief Mate William McDermott, Second Mate Travis Golightly, Third Mate Joseph Nicodemus, Chief Engineer Hunter Smith, First Assistant Engineer Joseph Thurman, Second A.E. Caleb Linder and Third A.E. Alexander Macrina.
The Redwood Trader being re-flagged into the U.S. registry in November.