AMO Currents - AMO exceptionalism and Jones Act fleet expansion

AMO Currents - Posted: March 6, 2015

AMO exceptionalism and Jones Act fleet expansion

By Paul Doell
National President

In January 2015, the keel was laid for the first of two dual fuel combination container/roll-on, roll-off ships ordered by a unit of Crowley Maritime Corp. from VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss. These ships will be fueled by liquefied natural gas.

Next month, TOTE, Inc. will launch the first of two dual fuel combination container/roll-on, roll-off ships at the General Dynamics NASSCO yard in San Diego. This will be the first ship of its kind to be fueled by liquefied natural gas.

These remarkable developments will result in four unique U.S.-flagged ships that will ply domestic routes between Florida and Puerto Rico. They will result as well in new jobs for American Maritime Officers - which will represent the engine and deck officers aboard these unique LNG-powered vessels - and new employer contributions to the AMO benefit funds.

But the good news does not end there. By the end of this year, U.S. shipyards will begin turning out at least 20 product tankers for domestic trade - and each of these vessels will provide new work for AMO engineers and deck officers and generate new employer contributions to AMO Plans.

Savvy business decisions, private investment and market forces - classic supply and demand - are factors here. But I see AMO exceptionalism and the Jones Act among the principal considerations.

Our union is distinguished coast-to-coast and worldwide by the quality of its skilled seagoing members, who bring professionalism to increasingly higher levels, no matter what the mission.

Were it not for the Jones Act - Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which holds domestic waterborne commerce for merchant vessels owned, flagged, crewed and built in the United States - overseas interests would monopolize cargo movement between and among U.S. ports and between the U.S. mainland and the remote states and territories of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam. This venerable law is challenged all the time, but it stands on merit - and in significant part on the strength of legislative legwork done for generations in Washington by AMO.

In the context of this enhanced job and benefit security and its driving forces, I ask AMO members everywhere to support the AMO Voluntary Political Action Fund in defense of the Jones Act and to keep current on membership dues so that they can benefit fully from the boom ...

A reminder: keep dues current

Preliminary cost containment measures adopted by the American Maritime Officers National Executive Board - including salary cuts in principal official positions and savings resulting from payroll attrition- are producing significant results, and board members are preparing additional cost control measures for official discussion and review.

Meanwhile, deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters AMO members are pleased to know that the board voted unanimously to cancel the membership dues increase that had been set for January 2015.

Seagoing AMO members can now complement these productive initiatives effectively by keeping current with their dues payments. Applicants for AMO membership can do the same with initiation fee installments and the timely payment of dues (Article V [Finances] of the AMO National Constitution requires that membership dues be paid "in advance quarterly").

Dues delinquency carries consequences, including loss of membership in good standing as defined in the AMO National Constitution. Loss of membership in good standing could, in turn, result in the loss of permanent jobs, the inability to vote in AMO elections and policy referenda, and dismissal from AMO membership after one year - which could, in turn, complicate career planning and put long-term job and benefit security at real risk.

Applicants for AMO membership are required to pay initiation fees within five years, in one payment or in five equal annual installments. Applicants who fail to meet these terms can be denied membership in AMO and may forfeit money already paid to AMO as initiation fees.

Chronic dues delinquency and lagging initiation fees could also limit our union's ability to function at peak efficiency, undermine service to all AMO members and their families, thwart the executive board's developing cost containment strategy and make it difficult for the board to hold the line on dues increases.