The SS Savannah

Today here in the U.S. is National Maritime Day!

National Maritime Day was officially declared by Congress in 1933 to honor the contributions of the American merchant marine in wartime and in peace, as well as the U.S. maritime industry and the benefits it brings to the country in terms of transportation, jobs, goods, and recreation.

The date May 22 is significant because in 1819 the SS Savannah completed the first successful voyage by a steam powered ship across the Atlantic, quietly sparking a new age of maritime travel and transport.

National Maritime Day later took on a special significance in World War II when the United States Merchant Marine answered the call and transported necessary supplies and services to troops abroad, all while suffering an extraordinarily high death rate.

Today, United States flag vessels and the mariners who sail them continue to be an integral part of our country, and ON THIS DAY you are saluted!

How are you celebrating? Join the discussion on gCaptain’s Facebook page.

The Maritime Administration has released a new video in honor of the merchant mariners that responded to the September 11th attacks, evacuating hundreds of thousands from lower Manhattan and bringing valuable supplies and resources to first responders at the World Trade Center.

“The story of merchant mariners coming to the aid of those in need on September 11, 2001 is an inspiring one,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “On that terrible day, our nation’s seafarers, with courage and selflessness, transported hundreds of thousands of people out of harm’s way to safety.”

The Maritime Administration says that more than 300,000 people were evacuated by water from lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks in what was the largest unplanned water evacuation in the history of the United States.

“The men and women of the New York and New Jersey merchant maritime community provided a beacon of light on one of the darkest days in our country’s history. They were among the heroes running toward danger and exemplify what it means to be a U.S. merchant mariner,” said U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda.

Via Maritime Administration

Last week, the United States Postal Service issued 60 million Forever stamps commemorating the history of the U.S. Merchant Marine.  The stamps, illustrated by Dennis Lyall under the art direction of Carl Herrman, feature four vessels that played an integral role in America’s maritime history — clipper ships, auxiliary steamships, Liberty ships and container ships.

With the issuance of the stamps, USPS reminds us that it’s not just about the ships, but the men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine that deserve recognition. “As we dedicate these stamps, we pay homage not only to the ships, but also to the valor of the thousands of dedicated members of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served their country and served it honorably,” said USPS’ Vice President of Product Information, Jim Cochrane.

Now here is a look at each stamps illustration and little bit about why it was chosen.

The Clipper Ship stamp (top left) is based on an undated lithograph (by Frank Vining Smith) of the famous clipper Sovereign of the Seas, which launched in 1852. Clipper ships, ushered in by the California Gold Rush of 1849 and noted for their streamlined shape and majestic cloud of square-rigged sails, set numerous speed records for their time.

The Auxiliary Steamship stamp (top right) is based on contemporary lithographs of ships of the Collins Line, which provided service between New York and Liverpool in the 1850s. Auxiliary steamships—steam-powered ships with back-up sailing rigs—were the ocean liners of their day, competing in the 1850s with clipper and other sailing ships for transatlantic mail and passenger service.

The Liberty Ship stamp (bottom left) is based on a photograph of an unidentified Liberty ship in the files of the Westport Public Library in Connecticut. During World War II, the United States built more than 2,700 Liberty ships, plain but sturdy cargo vessels that sustained the Allied forces with a steady supply of food and war material.

The Container Ship stamp (bottom right) is based on an undated photograph of the R.J. Pfeiffer, a modern container ship launched in 1992 and operated by Matson Navigation Company. Container ships, pioneered in the 1950s, are the lifeblood of today’s global economy, carrying nearly all the world’s manufactured goods across the oceans and exemplifying the modern merchant marine.

Interested in picking us your U.S. Merchant Marine stamps?  Click HERE to start shopping at USPS.com

Via USPS

Jealous of your ASU buddies’ “girls gone wild” college experience?  How about your friends over in NYU bragging about how hip Manhattan is?  Are you sick and tired of having to explain where your school is with reference to the Throggs Neck Bridge?  Keep this in mind SUNY Maritime students; it gets better, much better.

According to a report released by PayScale, Inc., a global compensation data house, SUNY Maritime is ranked in the top 20 best colleges by salary potential for new graduates.  To give you some perspective, schools on the list include Princeton, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.  In fact, at number 13 on the list with a median starting salary for recent grads of $57,300 and mid-career median salary of $109,000, SUNY Maritime ranks ahead of Cornell, Yale, Brown and even Berkeley.  Also interesting to note, SUNY is ranked first among public universities, and fifth among engineering schools.

So next time your sitting in class with 20 other dudes, 1 female and the fear of the Throggs Neck Bridge crumbling down on you, stew on this; you’re going to make more money right out of school and throughout your career than most of your other friends can only dream of.

By: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Strategic Mobility and Combat Logistics Division

WASHINGTON (NNS) — After extensive coordination with several Navy organizations and the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics approved revisions to the latest CNO Instruction (OPNAVINST 1534.lD) transitioning the Merchant Marine Reserve (MMR) Program into the Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP) on June 10.

The SSOP supports national defense sealift requirements and capabilities, which are executed by Military Sealift Command (MSC). The program provides the Navy with officers that possess sealift, maritime operations, and logistics subject matter expertise, and further hold U.S. Coast Guard credentials as merchant marine officers.

“These changes will help align and improve support to Military Sealift Command and numerous other Joint and Navy commands,” said Vice Adm. Bill Burke, Deputy CNO for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, who is the SSOP program sponsor. “This revision improves stewardship, integration, and opportunities for about 2,400 Navy Reserve officers.”

The SSOP, like the old MMR Program, will continue to provide the capability for emergency crewing of sealift ships and shoreside support to Navy commands that require unique maritime expertise. Further, this change provides opportunities for greater operational support to the Navy by expanding selected reserve (SELRES) billets and active duty recalls to SSOP officers.

“The improved program aligns strategic sealift officers under MSC to provide the best use for their training as both Navy officers and licensed Merchant Marine officers,” said Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, MSC, who is Flag sponsor of the program. “It also expands training requirements to ensure that these officers are best ready for mobilization.”

“Both the Navy and the officers in the SSOP will benefit from improvements such as increased opportunities to serve, better alignment of name to its military purpose, streamlining to a single designator, and improved training consistent with other Navy communities” said Rear Adm. Buzz Little, commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. “This new SSOP builds upon the tradition of the MMR, by becoming more ready, relevant, visible, and providing greater opportunities for service.”

For more information about the SSOP, please see OPNAVINST 1534.lD.

Source: Military Sealift Command

“The ability to access [the] maritime capability of ships and seafarers is essential to our national and economic security,” the Navy League said. “The Voluntary Intermodal Agreement, which includes the domestic Jones Act fleet, provides 135 ships, 213 barges and tugs, and worldwide intermodal capability. Without these commercial capabilities, the U.S. government would be required to provide significantly more funds to build a replacement fleet and infrastructure while losing the pool of highly qualified mariners needed to sail these vessels.”

The Navy League also emphasized the critical importance of a strong American shipyard capacity.  Citing the benefits of Navy, Coast Guard and commercial shipbuilding, the League said that “It is essential that this nation have a policy at the highest levels of government to support and sustain an adequate industrial base capable of providing and supporting a strong Navy and maritime commerce.”

The report said the Jones Act and other U.S. maritime laws boost security by adding a sealift capacity as well as an expanded pool of trained and experienced mariners to crew U.S. government-owned sealift assets.  These laws also help to sustain the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industrial base that is vital to the U.S. Navy.  Ninety-five percent of the equipment and supplies required to deploy the U.S. armed forces is moved by sea.

“The Navy League recognizes that our military needs to maintain a strong Merchant Marine of U.S-flagged vessels and domestic shipbuilding capacity to support our armed services worldwide,” said James Henry, President of the Transportation Institute and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Maritime Partnership.  “The domestic fleet provided fully half of the mariners needed to crew U.S. government-owned sealift vessels activated from reserve status to support military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we need to be certain the United States can continue to sustain this essential capacity.”

According to the Policy Statement, the base of skilled U.S. Merchant Mariners is shrinking. The shipping capabilities of the Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force and the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Military Sealift Command are currently sized to support routine and some surge logistics and specialized mission requirements. “This critical capability must be maintained by ensuring an active commercial U.S.-flag Merchant Marine to support efficient and cost-effective movement of DoD cargo,” the Navy League said.

Via U.S. Navy League

So, I’m writing this no reason other than to help other Navy guys that wish to transfer over to the Merchant Marines. I’m a newbie myself, but this is just some advice and experiences.

So a brief Background. I served 8 1/2 years in the US Navy. The first 18 months in Nuclear Power School, the following 7 years as a mechanic on board Fast Attack submarines. I left the Navy as a Chief and started my transition.

So up to speed, I started this whole process in Febuary 2010, It’s now Dec 2010 I just completed testing and should have my 3 A/E STEAM in about two weeks. Following issuing I still need to get a one month course to add HFO diesels to my license. End result about a year to be fully licensed to sail on all vessels.

Now, Much of this time delay was due to me not knowing how to get things done and nearly all of it was waiting on one thing or another. Hence me writing this to help others avoid the same mistakes I made.

Step 1) If you are even considering this career before you get out of the Navy, get your TWIC card. You need this to even apply to the US Coast guard for evaluation. It takes a few weeks to a month and can save you some time if you start early.

Step 2) Get plenty of character/Professional recommendations while you are in service. As all military members know the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I waited nearly a month to get the Letters of recommendations I wanted. You need at least 3 to apply for a Merchant Mariner Document. If you have them in hand from Chiefs, Div o’s, Department heads, CO’s ect early you have saved some time. These people may have appreciated you when you were there, but are very hard to get to things from when you are out of the service.

Step 3) Get a Sea Service Transcript before you get out….. I don’t know if this is even possible. Mililington writes them once you are out, but will not recieve your record until after you are DISCHARGED… This doesn’t mean terminal leave. I had to wait 3 months after my EAOS to receive mine. So 60 days terminal + 3 months = 5 months waiting on a stupid piece of paper…. My advice. Your Current CO can write a sea service letter for the time served at your current command…. But not previous commands. Get PSD to figure out what a Sea Service Transcript is, Have them write one to date and have the CO sign one when you leave your ship on terminal…. Send BOTH into the coast guard for evaluation.

Step 5) Send your record into the NMC for evaluation. Request the Highest thing you can reasonably imagine you deserve. Then send them as much supporting paperwork as possible, Schools, Evaluations, Letters of Commendation/ NAMS ect. I was approved for 3 assistant Engineer STEAM only… I know others who have slid by and received a Diesel endorsement too. But request anything you can.

Step 6) This is debatable and really depends on your dedication to become a Merchant Mariner at all costs and how rapidly you want. The NMC will take up to 60 days to evaluate your application and determine what you are eligible for. If you recieve an officer endorsement you will need certain classes before you take an exam…. I can’t tell you what these are so you will just have to wait. I needed a one week Fire Fighting course. HOWEVER, if you plan on doing any work outside of the US international law requires a series of courses for a STCW 95 certification. These are basic courses everyone needs so you could spend some money while you are waiting and take these. These requirements are going to change soon (2012 i think) but any for profit maritime school will be able to help you figure out what you need. Mine were as follows

1 week Basic safety training (Personal survival technics, First aid/CPR, personal Safty Social responsibility, and Fire fighting) – Cost $950

Furthermore on training, If you want to ASSUME what the NMC will approve you for, You could take more STCW courses. This may save you some time but could also become a costly mistake if you assume wrong.

In total I had the following classes

Basic Safty training mentioned above $950
Proficency in Life Craft – $995
Medical First aid provider – $650
Basic and Advanced Fire fighting – $750

I also took a non-required 3week Exam Preparation course – $2000

Step 7) After you complete all you classes and are ready to take an exam, Take your exam and get your credentials!!!

Other tips and Advice. Marine schools are expensive but food and lodging can be expensive too. PRICELINE dot com saved me a ton on hotels and such (although I only need them 4 days a week as I lived about 3 hours from the school). But Crew houses are another good option. Search for a crew house with shared accomodations and I would guess about $300 a week with everything included.

once the coast gaurd (NMC) approves your application for some rating QMED, Engineer, Mate, etc call around to a few unions. I found one that offered to pay for all my room, board and schools if I commited to working for them 3 years…. I politely declined, based off my financial situation and the whole being afraid of contracts now…. But it was a great opportunity, schooling paid for and an employer all at the same time.

I know this is a long and drawn out post with mostly personal experiences but maybe it can help someone. If anyone has any further advice or feels I am off basis please comment. Like I said, I’m very new and lack experience in the industry and could be wrong on a few points.

Happy sailing,
-Matt

No matter what is preserved or kept safe, it costs money! In my past life I shared my useful abilities with the U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Navy. I shipped in 12 merchant ships and served in 7 navy ships, commanding 3. In each I came away with lessons that today I share in VOX OCEANUS articles, a dozen published pieces and three novels. What little wealth I acquired is from my retirement from the Navy, the California Maritime Academy, employment as a pilot, consulting, and wise investments thereafter. So, I ask myself, who do I owe?

Recently I joined the Navy League, Merchant Marine Chapter; became a life member of the Tin Can Sailor Inc., and the Military Officers’ Association for reasons I do not recall. Any writing I do is gratis; I get pittance from my books, but my personal communications has increased; some is favorable. But mostly I am targeted to help support worthy causes, and, there are many of them. The dilemma faced is which ones and how much?

Locally, in the San Francisco area including the popular river ports of Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, Vallejo and bay ports of Richmond, Oakland, Alameda and Redwood City there is an abundance of memorial maritime artifacts to which I owe allegiance. Proudly they host a navy aircraft carrier, a submarine, a maritime museum, a liberty ship, a victory ship, a presidential yacht, and I believe in the Reserve Fleet we have a USCG light ship and a battleship seeking a home. At one time or another I served with or had a relationship with these vessels or their enshrined kin. I enjoy their sight, smell and feel. Memories abound when I step aboard. As a mate, I recall the vertical ladders in cargo holds, the hours in pilot houses standing watches, thinking, checking the magnetic compass, winding the chronometers, the morning coffee, the call to Fore & Aft, and landing cumbersome gangways. I often wake at 0330 for watch.

My navy days constantly remind me of years of learning, it never stopped regardless of duty, rank or stations; every day a lesson. And always people needing help, or helping, and a few that just didn’t give a damn, but all shipmates.

How does one preserve memories? The abundance of reminders makes it difficult. But there is a means to help preserve these historical remains of the great ships and memories. In every profession there are organizations, associations, chapters, clubs and groups that frequently meet to celebrate survival. Committees spend great effort to select sites of interest and reasonable places to gather. The maritime brethren (military, naval, marine, nautical all such ilk), if joined together and cooperate and coordinate plans to conduct their reunions and historical celebrations at seagoing memorial sites, such an abundance of funding could significantly provide needed support for the deserving endangered memorials and help the local populations that have undertaken their stewardship. It is a means to a useful end that can care for our sea going heritage before it is scrapped. No craft is so small, vessel too large or crew too old to be without memories.

S O S = Save our ships. John

We recently ran across some interesting statistics from a 2005 joint study on manpower from BIMCO and the ISF.

Q: How many officers are currently employed aboard ships?

A: Approximately 466,000

Here’s a chart of the numbers;

Regarding this chart the study notes:

An updated estimate of global seafarer supply has been produced based on the most recent national statistics provided by authorities in almost all principal labor supply and other maritime countries. The worldwide supply of seafarers in 2005 is estimated to be 466,000 officers and 721,000 ratings. The OECD countries (North America, Western Europe, Japan etc.) remain an important source of officers, although Eastern Europe has become increasingly significant with a large increase in officer numbers. The Far East and South East Asia (the “Far East”), and the Indian sub-continent remain the largest sources of supply of ratings and are rapidly becoming a key source of officers.

Here is the age structure of officers from OECD countries;

The study tells us:

The world fleet continues to rely heavily on officers from Europe, North America, Japan and other OECD countries However, over 25% of these are over 50 years old, and well over50% are over 40. Most are in senior positions such as Masters or Chief Engineers. The impact of their retirement, without adequate numbers of well trained and experienced replacements, could be severe.

The study itself discus, in depth, manpower issues facing the industry. You can download the report summary, including more information on the above charts HERE or the full report HERE.

In reaction to what appeared to be an attempted hijacking, a security team aboard United States Naval Vessel John Lenthall was forced to fire warning shots at two small boats that were pursuing the vessel off the coast of Somalia.  U.S Naval Forces Central Command tells us:

Despite defensive measures to deter the vessels from approaching John Lenthall, small boats continued to approach the ship. The rounds impacted the water approximately 50 yards from the closest boat and resulted in both small boats ending their pursuit. All shots were accounted for as they entered the water.

“This incident is clear proof that all mariners must remain vigilant,” said Captain Steve Kelley, the commander responsible for all Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships in the region. “I am extremely pleased with the actions taken by the ship’s master and ultimately by the security personnel aboard. They initially used defensive measures and when those weren’t enough the security personnel took action to defend the ship.”

While it is unclear if personnel on the boats were intent on attacking the 41,000-ton ship, it is clear they were not following the international rules of the road observed by mariners around the globe. More importantly, the location of the incident, the types of boats involved (small open skiffs), and the maneuvering they undertook was consistent with reports from previous attacks on merchant vessels in the region.

The John Lenthall one of fourteen of Military Sealift Command’s Fleet Replenishment Oilers, a fleet used to refuel Navy ships at sea.  This is a great example of just how dangerous, or stupid, the pirates are in these waters.

About USNS John Lenthall (TAO-189) as provided by MSC: