Weekly News Summary For June 8-14, 2009:
In comments to the Coast Guard’s regulatory docket, the Passenger Vessel Association said that most domestic passenger vessels shouldn’t be required to have electronic readers of Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWICs).
“Security on the majority of domestic U.S.-flagged passenger vessels can be ensured” without requiring the card readers, PVA said in a May 29 press release.
A TWIC reader scans the biometric data on the maritime worker’s credential to confirm the validity of the card and verify the identity of the person using it. In a Federal Register notice March 26, the Coast Guard said it was considering the use of TWIC readers on a wide class of vessels and facilities, including U.S. vessels with an authorized capacity of 500 passengers or more. The exact use of the reader would depend on the Coast Guard-declared maritime security level is in effect and the vessel’s risk group….
Like many Americans these days, Craig Rauhecker is retooling his career. He spent many years as a welder and fabricator, and liked the work. But work is getting slow around Huntington, W.Va., especially after the economic downturn.
At 43, Rauhecker is older than most of the 18 students in the deckhand certificate program he just completed in the Maritime Training program at Marshall Community and Technical College in Huntington. Most of the others are in their 20s.
Unlike many Americans making career transitions, Rauhecker can be reasonably sure of continued employment in his new field. Until last year’s downturn, there was a worldwide shortage of trained maritime personnel. Although the slowdown has affected the waterways and slowed hiring a bit, the need remains.
According to industry figures given on the program’s Web site, deckhands begin at about $25,000 a year, with at least four months off total in a year, depending on shifts and schedules. Trained tankermen average $41,000, and engineers command around $45,000.
After 18 months of experience, deckhands can take further Coast Guard-approved courses to qualify for a Steersman license; another 30 months of experience can qualify for a Master of Towing license. Eventually, they can work up to a position as a towboat captain making up to $90,000 a year.…
The South East Texas Waterways Advisory Council (SETWAC) was recognized as the National Harbor Safety Committee of the Year at the 12th annual National Harbor Safety Conference in Tampa, Fla., May 28.
Local SETWAC board members Sheriff Mitch Woods and Chief Deputy Ron Hobbs, along with SETWAC executive secretary Jackie Rice and Houston-based board members Tom Marian and Niels Aalund accepted the award on behalf of the other 24 members of the committee. The award was presented by Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard.
In the award presentation, Allen cited SETWAC for its facilitation of maritime community cooperation to restore normal waterway traffic after the passage of Hurricane Ike, and for its proactive responses to the threats of Hurricanes Edouard and Gustav. He also cited SETWAC’s initiative in the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels from the waterway, and its emphasis on seaman’s welfare issues associated with restricted facility and shore-leave access in a post-9/11 heightened security environment….
Magnolia Marine Transport Company recently put into service the fifth new towboat in a series of six built by Nichols Boat Company, Greenville, Miss. Named in honor of a company official who MMT president Lee Lampton described as “a remarkable man,” the vessel was launched in November and has been delivering black oil on the inland waterways since early December.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Stan Humphreys here at MMT and his commitment to the company is unsurpassed,” Lampton said. Humphreys is senior vice president.
“He is always thinking of new ways to help our customers. His foresight and ability to satisfy our customers’ needs has helped make us the leader in the black-oil transportation market. He has been a driving force behind Magnolia Marine’s success,” added Lampton.
Responding to an ad in The Waterways Journal, Humphreys landed a job as personnel manager for Magnolia Marine Transport in 1977, working out of the Vicksburg, Miss. office. Prior to that, he had been delivering crews and supplies to the boats of Warfield Towing Company on the Arkansas River.
A year and a half later, he moved to the Jackson, Miss., headquarters as assistant traffic manager, assisting Lee Lampton….
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