March 2000 Newsletter

Over twenty organizations representing American-flag vessel operators (inland, deep sea, Great Lakes, tug & tow), trade associations, and U.S. labor unions participated in the inaugural Maritime Afloat Conference, February 15th and 16th, 2000. The event was a huge success. The purpose of the conference was to bring together U.S.-flagged maritime industry organizations to network with each other, to discuss areas of mutual interest and concern with Academy faculty and staff, to meet with USMMA midshipmen, as well as promote the American-flag maritime industry.

U.S. Transportation Command personnel and U.S. Maritime Administration staff also participated in the Maritime Afloat Conference. The Honorable Clyde Hart, U.S. Maritime Administrator, delivered a moving keynote speech at a dinner attended by the entire regiment of Academy midshipmen, Academy staff, and participating companies and American seagoing labor union representatives.

With manpower being a major issue for American-flag carriers, this year’s conference focused on career opportunities for midshipmen. Nearly two dozen companies were represented at the conference and nineteen companies provided booths in Land Hall for meeting with midshipmen, Academy faculty and staff, and other conference attendees. (In total, 51 persons from industry were present at the conference.)

Based upon feedback from industry participants, the first annual Maritime Afloat Conference was very successful. Accordingly, the second annual Maritime Afloat Conference is already in the planning stages and tentatively scheduled for November, 2000.

The Army Reserve, through the 77th Regional Support Command (RSC) and the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC), is requesting the GMATS to offer specialized education and training programs for Army Reserve personnel, particularly those engaged in transportation activities.

In February, the Director met and provided a GMATS briefing to the following Army personnel:

- Major General Kenneth Privratsky, Commanding General, Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC)

- Major General Charles Mahan, Chief of Staff, Army Material Command (AMC)

- Colonel M.B. Westcott, Deputy Chief, U.S. Army Reserve (USARC)

Based upon feedback from these briefings, the Director plans to travel to Fort Eustis VA during the month of March and meet with Brigadier General William E. Mortensen, U.S. Army Chief of Transportation; Brigadier General Donald D. Parker, Commanding General, MTMC Deployment Support Command; and Colonel Arthur L. Breithaupt, Assistant Commandant, Army Transportation School. It is hoped that GMATS can forge a new partnership with the Army Transportation Corps and the Army Transportation School in an effort to better serve the Army Reserve.

The Director traveled to Houston TX to meet with the Maritime Advisory Committee of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA and the Committee have expressed interest in having GMATS provide training for new OSHA inspectors who will be later assigned as shipyard inspectors. The Director provided a briefing on GMATS and the proposed two-week course to the Committee which included numerous representatives from the shipbuilding/ship-repair industry.

The proposed course will familiarize new OSHA inspectors with the shipbuilding/ship-repair industry. Following the two-week program at USMMA, students will be further trained at the OSHA Institute in Ohio. It is anticipated that two, two-week programs will be conducted each year in Kings Point.

OSHA has also expressed interest that GMATS provide a similar program for new marine terminal inspectors.

The 3rd meeting of the GMATS Advisory Board will take place April 26 - 27, 2000, in Kings Point, New York. An early evening reception followed by a dinner with guest speaker is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26. The meeting will be held Thursday morning, April 27. Please contact GMATS for further details.

GMATS Transportation, Logistics, and Management (TLM) Division participated in the Transportation Research Board (TRB)’s conference, Global Intermodal Freight, in Long Beach CA. GMATS had a booth display at the conference highlighting its partnership in education and training with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) and the joint GMATS/IANA intermodal course.

The first joint GMATS - Intermodal Association of North America (IANA)/Foundation for Intemodal Research and Education (FIRE) professional training course designed for mid-level intermodal freight executives is scheduled for June 12 - 16, 2000, in Kings Point, New York. The four-day program features: well respected, senior level industry experts as program facilitators; “hands-on” intermodal problem solving case studies; field visits to Port of NY/NJ seaport and intermodal rail facilities; and networking opportunities for industry participants. The course is offered in-residence aboard the campus of the USMMA in Kings Point, New York. Another course is scheduled August 28 - September 1, 2000.

Mr. Bartholomew J. Walsh, the newest member of the GMATS Advisory Board, visited Kings Point February 14 - 15 and met with GMATS staff. Mr. Walsh, who is President of the Maritime Group with Middendorf and Associates, is a 1964 graduate of the USMMA. Prior to his current position, Mr. Walsh had a very distinguished career with the Naval SEA Systems Command in Washington DC.

The Director traveled to the Star Center in Dania FL to meet with Tom Johnson (Director of Training) and tour the Star Center. Discussions were held in areas and mutual interest. The Star Center is operated by the American Maritime Officers (AMO) union. GMATS enjoys excellent working relationships with the AMO Star Center; the Masters, Mates, and Pilots’ school, MITAGS; and the National Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association’s (MEBA) school.

Global Maritime Distress Safety System (two weeks)

National Sealift Training Program (week 2)

NOAA Basic Officer Training Course (weeks 4-8)

NOAA Refresher Training for senior officers (weeks 2-3)

STCW Basic Safety Training Course (one week)

Tankerman Dangerous Liquid Cargo Person-in-Charge (one week)

USNR Drill Weekend Training for Operations Specialists (in Saint Louis MO)

 

· Qualified Member of the Engine Department - QMED (weeks 1-4)

· Stainless Steel Welding (1 week)

 

Cargo Security Management with NCSC (four days)

Port and Terminal Operations (week 1)

 

March 20 - 31 Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) Course

March 20 - 24 Introduction to the Tank Vessel Shipping Industry Course

March 20 - 24 STCW Basic Safety Training Modules Course

Mar. 20 - Apr. 21 Diesel Propulsion Systems for Marine Engineers Course

March 27 - 29 Basic Alignment Solutions Course

March 27 - 31 Shipboard Electronic Control Systems Course

April 3 - 7 Sulzer Control Systems Course

April 3 - 7 STCW Basic Safety Training Modules

April 10 - 14 Tankship/Barge Dangerous Liquid Cargo Course

April 10 - 21 Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) Course

April 10 - 21 Marine Terminal and Cargo Operations Course

April 19 - 21 Management of Time and Cost in Shipbuilding and Ship Repair

Projects Course

April 24 - 28 Fundamentals of Chartering and Brokerage Course

April 26 - 28 Advanced Alignment Solutions Course

May 1 - 5 Shipboard Electronic Control Systems Course

May 1 - 12 Basic Electrical Course

May 1 - 12 Basic Refrigeration Course

May 1 - 12 Repair Techniques for Medium Speed Diesel Engines Course

May 1 - 12 Strategic Intermodal Freight Transportation Course

May 8 - 12 Sulzer Control Systems Course

May 15 - 19 Marine Diesel Surveyors Course

May 15 - 19 Refrigeration Course

May 15 - 26 National Sealift Training Program for Engineers

May 15 - 26 OSHA Engineering Course

May 22 - 26 Pump Maintenance, Operation and Troubleshooting Course

June 5 - 9 Global Logistics Management Course

June 5 - 16 Autocad 2000 Course

June 5 - 16 Basic Electrical Course

June 5 - 16 Basic Refrigeration Course

June 5 - 16 Engineering Management Course

June 12 - 16 Intermodal Freight Transportation Course (with IANA/FIRE)

June 14 - 16 Basic Alignment Solutions Course

***** For information about events scheduled beyond June 30, 2000, please contact the Global Maritime and Transportation School:

Telephone: (516) 773-5120 Facsimile: (516) 773-5353 E-mail: gmats@usmma.edu