MASTER AND MMP MEMBERS ABOARD AND INTERESTED PERSONS THE MASTERS, MATES AND PILOTS' -- WHEELHOUSE WEEKLY
Bridging the Information Gap With E-News You Can Use
VOLUME 4. . . . . NUMBER 46. . . November 17, 2000
STORIES COVERED
- Only Three Days Left To Return Ballots For MM&P Election
- Procedures For MM&P Election Challenges
- President Signs Tax Relief Legislation For Mariners Into Law
- Cableship Work Available For MM&P Members
- Presidential Race In Doubt Over A Week After Election Ends
- - ALSO
- Matson Replaces West Coast Water Service With Rail Service
- New Edition Of Typhoon Havens Handbook Available
- US Government Shoreside Jobs For Weather-Savvy Mariners
- MITAGS Academic Notes
- MM&P Market Watch
ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT TO RETURN BALLOTS FOR MM&P ELECTION
Only three days are left until the MM&P election ends. In order to be counted, ballots are due back at the collection facility on or before Nov.20. The ballot count will take place on Nov.21 beginning at 1000 hrs. Any interested members wishing to accompany the balloting agent to the holding facility to retrieve the ballots should meet in room A-300 at MITAGS at 0900.
PROCEDURES FOR MM&P ELECTION CHALLENGES
The International Ballot Committee reminds all candidates and other interested parties that under provisions of the MM&P International Constitution, Article V, Section 9(i), Balloting Procedure: "Challenges to the election may be made to the International Ballot Committee at the time of the counting of the ballot by the candidate or his/her representative observer who shall possess certification of same from the candidate s/he represents. Appeals from rulings of the Ballot Committee shall be taken to the General Executive Board and then to the Convention. Challenges to the election may also be made to the General Executive Board, in writing, within 30 days from the date of completion of the counting of the ballot. An appeal from the ruling of the General Executive Board may be taken to the Convention."
PRESIDENT SIGNS TAX RELIEF LEGISLATION FOR MARINERS INTO LAW
The President has signed S.893/HR 1293, the "Transportation Employee Fair Taxation Act" into law. It may now be referred to as Public Law 106-489.
This new law which the MM&P strongly supported means that interstate water transportation workers, including marine pilots, will be treated like all other interstate transportation workers. From now on, interstate water transportation workers will not be subject to state taxation by states other than their state of residence on income earned in the course of their employment.
Congratulations and thanks to all MM&P members, officers and staffers who worked so hard for the enactment of this law.
CABLESHIP WORK AVAILABLE FOR MM&P MEMBERS
Resumes are urgently needed from Licensed Deck Officers for work aboard a cableship that is expected to be under MM&P contract as early as mid-December of this year. Initially, members and/or applicants with at least second mate's licenses are desired, but third mate candidates will be considered.
Deck officers will be selected by the company. Interviews will be scheduled before the end of this month. Cableship experience is desired, but not required. The company will train selected candidates. The vessel will be located at an East Coast port, and the contract is expected to run for at least two years.
More details are available from MM&P HQ or from local MM&P port offices. Please Email jobs@bridgedeck.org for more info or call 410-850-8700 x36 or x23.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN DOUBT OVER A WEEK AFTER ELECTION ENDS
Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush are still locked in a fierce struggle for the presidency almost two weeks after the tightest election finish in more than three decades. Florida's 25 electoral college votes are still up for grabs. The winner of those votes will then have the 270 electoral votes needed to become the 43rd president of the US. There has already been a recount of the entire state which shaved Bush's lead to a mere 300 votes from just under 6 million cast.
A major legal battle has broken out whether or not ballots should be recounted again by hand in some heavily democratic south Florida counties. Both sides and their supporters have taken their cases to various courts including the state's circuit court, the Florida Supreme Court and the US Circuit Court of Appeals.
VP Gore is still ahead in the national popular vote count, but some large states are still counting their absentee ballots.
In other national election news, many MM&P-backed congressional candidates won their races in the Nov.7 election. For further info on the presidential race and how MM&P-supported candidates fared can be found on the MM&P website under "Current Legislative Issues."
MATSON REPLACES WEST COAST WATER SERVICE WITH RAIL SERVICE
After six years of operating a weekly coastal service between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, MM&P-contracted Matson Navigation has discontinued its all-water shuttle and replaced it with a twice-weekly intermodal rail service.
Matson last month was forced to transfer the vessel it was using in the coastal shuttle to its mainline West Coast to Hawaii service when a ship in that service went into dry-dock for repairs. Matson immediately replaced the shuttle with a weekly intermodal rail service on the BNSF, but at the time indicated the coastal shuttle would resume when the carrier returned to a
full complement of ships. On Nov. 5, Matson decided not to resume the coastal shuttle, but rather to expand the partnership with the BNSF to a twice-weekly intermodal rail service.This development leaves MM&P-contracted CSX Lines as the only carrier offering an all-water coastal shuttle linking the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. CSX last month introduced its coastal shuttle as part of an expanded service between the US mainland and Hawaii. The vessel rotation is Long Beach, Honolulu, Tacoma, Long Beach.
NEW EDITION OF TYPHOON HAVENS HANDBOOK AVAILABLE
The most recent version of the Typhoon Havens Handbook is available on the Internet at: https://www.cnmoc.navy.mil/nmosw/thh_nc/0start.htm
MM&P members might also be interested in the following website which can guide them to over 150 severe weather port studies worldwide, including the Typhoon Havens Handbook: https://www.cnmoc.navy.mil/nmosw/handbk.htmA CD-ROM version is also available at no cost. You need to send your mailing address to:
Sam Brand Naval Research Laboratory 7 Grace Hopper Avenue Monterey, CA 93943
Voice: 831-656-4748; Fax: 831-656-4769; Email: brand@nrlmry.navy.mil.
MATSON REPLACES WEST COAST WATER SERVICE WITH RAIL SERVICE
After six years of operating a weekly coastal service between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, MM&P-contracted Matson Navigation has discontinued its all-water shuttle and replaced it with a twice-weekly intermodal rail service.
Matson last month was forced to transfer the vessel it was using in the coastal shuttle to its mainline West Coast to Hawaii service when a ship in that service went into dry-dock for repairs. Matson immediately replaced the shuttle with a weekly intermodal rail service on the BNSF, but at the time indicated the coastal shuttle would resume when the carrier returned to a
full complement of ships. On Nov. 5, Matson decided not to resume the coastal shuttle, but rather to expand the partnership with the BNSF to a twice-weekly intermodal rail service.This development leaves MM&P-contracted CSX Lines as the only carrier offering an all-water coastal shuttle linking the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. CSX last month introduced its coastal shuttle as part of an expanded service between the US mainland and Hawaii. The vessel rotation is Long Beach, Honolulu, Tacoma, Long Beach.
US GOVERNMENT SHORESIDE JOBS FOR WEATHER-SAVVY MARINERS
Two vacancies in NDBC's Operations Branch are open: Physical Scientist GS/1301/11/12 and Physical Scientist GS/1301/12/13. Those interested can view the vacancy announcements on the COOL website at http://www.jobs.doc.gov. This website is for status applicants only (those who have worked for the govt.).
Announcements for non-status applicants are also posted on OPM's web site (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov).
The 11/12 position would edit the Mariner's Weather Log, assist in training, and build ties with the maritime industry to promote ship observations and enhance the delivery of observations into the NWS.
The 12/13 would be the technical lead redesigning a data base containing ship information, helping document and test SEAS enhancements, and infusing new technology into the communication system and PMO operations.
MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES
The following classes are available:
- 12/4: ROR
- 12/4-8: COMP-APS, BRM
- 12/5-6: BRMP
- 12/11-15: COMP-NET
Schedule Change: SHS-INT (12/4-22) and ROP (12/11-15) have been cancelled because no students enrolled. An extra BRM (12/4-8) has been added.
AWN Simulator Renovation: Upcoming work on the simulator will require the cancellation of one ARPA class previously scheduled for Jan 8th. The majority of the work will be accomplished over the Christmas Holidays so as to minimize the training impact. Outdated equipment will be removed and improvements made to briefing and classroom areas.
Original Third Mate: Inaugural course will start on Jan. 8 and run for 10 weeks with the 10th week being the USCG exam. The course will accommodate ABs that desire licenses ranging from 500 GRT Oceans/Near Coastal to Third Mate Oceans/Near Coastal. For further info, contact Mike Wein at mwein@mitags.org.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Course changes are posted on the MITAGS website as soon as they are made and are also updated in the Wheelhouse Weekly. It is highly recommended to check with Mary Matlock, MITAGS Admissions, for the latest course info. She may be reached at: Voice: 410-859-5700 ext. 3246; Fax: 410-859-5181; Email: admissions@mitags.org.
MM&P MARKET WATCH AS OF 11-16 CLOSE
Since the Wheelhouse Weekly is usually distributed before the markets close on Friday, the numbers cited will be from Thursday's close unless otherwise specified.
DOW 10,656.03
-296.15 for the week
NASDAQ 3,031.88
-383.91 for the week
Vanguard 500 Index Fund 126.85
-5.43 for the week
Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund 32.31
-5.43 for the week
Vanguard International Growth Fund 20.12
-0.56 for the week
Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund 20.74
-1.22 for the week
Vanguard Windsor II Fund 27.44
-0.02 for the week
Chase Growth Fund 17.28
-0.25 for the week
The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is being produced under MM&P election guidelines which have been previously published and may be found in their entirety on the MM&P website. The Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots, ILA, AFL-CIO, 700 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973; Email: iommp@bridgedeck.org. For further info contact John Peige at jpeige@bridgedeck.org. The Wheelhouse Weekly is sent via Email to MM&P-contracted vessels at sea, broadcast worldwide via FEC marine telex and is posted on our web page under "News" at: http://www.bridgedeck.org.