|
Prayer Requests:
In thanksgiving for the dedication of all US merchant mariners on National Maritime Day
For all our brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard & the US Merchant Marine on this Memorial Day Weekend!
|
Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
|
|
Dear Friends of the Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center,
We wanted to share this edition of the AOS-USA Maritime E-News with each of you. There is an article on the Port Arthur Maritime Day observance, in addition to many other articles and video links regarding the Maritime Administration and the US Merchant Marine.
Wishing each of you a blessed & relaxing Memorial Day weekend!
Doreen M. Badeaux
|
So, how did you celebrate National Maritime Day?
For the past 27 years, the maritime community in Port Arthur has gathered together at the Seamen's Memorial Sundial (built in honor of the local mariners lost on the S/S Texaco Oklahoma in 1971) to remember our mariners and fishermen, pray for those who have sailed off to Fiddler's Green, and ask for God's continued blessing on all our people of the sea.
This year had special meaning because it was a time to remember a number of anniversaries:-
The 50th Anniversary of the disappearance of the
S/S Marine Sulphur Queen, who sailed from Beaumont, Texas on February 2, 1963, and was never heard from again after a marine phone call on February 4, 1963. Many of her 39 crew members were from the Port Arthur/Beaumont community.
- The 20th Anniversary of the the S/S OMI Charger,
 | |
Mr. Eldridge Smith, QMED on
OMI Charger when it exploded in 1993 off Galveston.
|
which exploded in Galveston Roads while undergoing repairs on October 9, 1993. Not only did she frequently call in our ports, but two of her crew members were from our local community. - The 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Port Arthur International Seafarer Center. Our center is the 4th seafarer welfare facility in our community, and continues a tradition going back to the 1930's of welcoming seafarers to Port Arthur.
 | |
Billy Greer, Supervisor for MARAD Central Region
|
In this edition of the AOS USA Maritime Update, I want to share with you a few items tied to our celebration of National Maritime Day, and important changes taking place at our United States Maritime Administration.
Finally, I want to congratulate our Apostleship of the Sea National Director, Sr. Myrna Tordillo, for giving the invocation at the official MARAD National Maritime Day Observance at the Department of Transportation. It is a shame, though, that in his introduction Deputy Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen just noted that she was from the USCCB, and missed the opportunity to note that she is the primary coordinator for US Catholic maritime ministry by being our National Director.
In this newsletter you will find:
- President Obama's 2013 National Maritime Day Proclamation;
- A link to Maritime TV's complete recording of the US Maritime Administration's National Maritime Day Observance;Deputy Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen
- A link to Maritime TV's complete recording of the House of Representative's Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on the importance of the US merchant marine;
- A press release on the resignation of the administrator of the US Maritime Administration;
- A streaming video from Maritime TV with Clay Maitland discussing changes at MARAD;
- A press release from Seafarers' Rights International, which the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants staff person Fr. Bruno Ciceri sits as a board member.
Blessings,
Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.
President - AOS USA
|
 The White House Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 21, 2013
Presidential Proclamation -- National Maritime Day, 2013
NATIONAL MARITIME DAY, 2013 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROCLAMATION Through every chapter of the American story, ordinary men and women have accomplished extraordinary things as members of the United States Merchant Marine. When the idea of America depended on the success of a revolution, mariners took on the world's most powerful navy and helped secure our future as a sovereign Nation. In the decades since, they have sustained critical supply lines for our troops abroad -- at times enduring profound losses to keep our sea lanes open. And through war and peace alike, the Merchant Marine has driven our economic growth by shipping our products all around the world. On National Maritime Day, we honor the generations of mariners who have served and sacrificed to make our country what it is today. To keep America moving forward in the 21st century, we need to expand trade and commerce that creates good jobs for our people. Businesses in every corner of our country are stepping up to meet that challenge, ramping up manufacturing and selling more goods and services overseas. As they do, our Merchant Marine is making sure our products get wherever they need to go -- from ports here at home to new markets halfway across the globe. Their work is essential to growing our economy, and my Administration remains committed to getting our mariners the support they need to carry out their mission. Whether equipping our service members in the theater of war or guiding our maritime industry in the calm of peace, the United States Merchant Marine has helped keep America strong for more than two centuries. Let us mark this day by reflecting on that legacy of service, honoring the men and women who forged it, and saluting the proud mariners who carry it forward today. The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as "National Maritime Day," and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2013, as National Maritime Day. I call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance and to display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their communities. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh. BARACK OBAMA |
| | United States Merchant Marine |
|
|
MARAD Deputy Matsuda Resigns
David Matsuda, the U.S. Maritime Administrator, announced that he is stepping down. 
In a statement released by Marad spokesperson Kim Strong, Matsuda's career highlights and accomplishments were also listed. The statement reads as follows: "Matsuda, who previously worked as the primary transportation counsel to Sen. Frank Lautenberg, was responsible for overseeing more than $1 billion in federal assistance to modernize over 100 of America's small shipyards, upgrade 25 U.S. ports, and build new vessels in the U.S.
He helped secure the future of the 60-ship militarily-useful merchant fleet by leading the charge with an industry coalition on Capitol Hill to advocate passage of the agency's 10-year, $2 billion Maritime Security Program.
During his three years as administrator, Matsuda tackled legacy agency challenges, including environmental cleanup of the California Suisun Bay fleet site and addressing ailing infrastructure at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and refocused the agency on future maritime challenges including use of alternative maritime fuels like liquefied natural gas and Panama Canal expansion impacts on U.S. ports."
Also, according to Marad, Matsuda will be replaced by interim Deputy Administrator Chip Jaenichen, who will serve as Acting Administrator, commencing at the end of the month.
|
 | |
Clay Maitland on Maritime TV
|
At the beginning of this week, David Matsuda stepped down from his role as the U.S. Maritime Administrator.
In this featured video from MaritimeTV, Clay Maitland, Managing Partner at International Registries, commented on the MARAD Administrator's resignation and MARAD's future course.
|
LACK OF DUE PROCESS BREEDS FEAR OF CRIMINALISATION AMONG SEAFARERS
Download a full copy of the SRI Survey is at http://www.seafarersrights.org/category/sri-criminal-survey.
Seafarers' suggestions on how to improve their situation  when facing criminal charges were presented at the landmark 100th session of the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which met in London on 15 - 19 April, 2013.
The suggestions, which emanated from a comprehensive eight language survey conducted by Seafarers' Rights International (SRI) over a 12-month period to February 2012, focus as much on fears of their own human rights being violated as on a lack of due process in the criminal process. A total of 3,480 completed questionnaires were submitted by seafarers from 68 different nationalities.
According to the seafarers themselves, there is a frequent lack of due process for seafarers who face criminal charges. Seafarers are complaining of unfair treatment, intimidation and a lack of legal representation and interpretation services. Almost half of the seafarers in the survey said that they would be reluctant to co-operate fully and openly with casualty inquiries and accident investigators because of concerns they could be implicated in a crime; because they do not trust the authorities; and because they are concerned that co-operation would have a prejudicial affect upon their employment.
The findings in the survey strongly suggest that the rights of seafarers, as enshrined in the Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the event of a Maritime Accident, adopted by the IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are often be subject to violation: itself causing widespread concern among seafarers.
As many as 85.04% of seafarers surveyed, said that they are concerned about facing criminal charges. The main reasons were that seafarers feel they are scapegoated. Also seafarers feel there are numerous regulations which make them more vulnerable to being criminalised.
To improve the situation, seafarers want more information on the risks they are exposed to in relation to criminal charges as well as their rights if they are defendants, complainants or witnesses. They also want good and free legal representation when facing criminal charges; a fair process and fair treatment when facing criminal charges; a greater network of support from all the various stakeholders in the maritime industry if they do face criminal charges; and more uniform laws and procedures given the wide range of different crimes to which they are exposed.
"The message from seafarers is loud and clear," said Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of SRI: "Seafarers are saying that their rights are theoretical and illusory; they need them to be practical and effective.
"Since criminal laws are largely tailored to nationals, they are an uneasy fit for foreign and temporary transnational workers. It is clear that seafarers are more exposed to criminal proceedings than many other workers and therefore need special assistance," she added.
"The seafarers' suggestions for what is needed to improve their situation, or their perception of their situation, offer a challenge to the maritime industry and to prosecuting authorities generally, if seafaring is to remain a viable option for young people.
"The SRI survey has brought the seafarers' concerns to the fore and it is hoped it will create momentum amongst stakeholders - seafarers' organisations, employers, regulators and non-governmental bodies, in addition to seafarers themselves - to better address the unfair treatment of seafarers. It seems that much remains to be done to protect this body of essential workers from unfairness and injustice but the effort is essential not only for the protection of serving seafarers, but also to improve the image of the profession for new recruits to come," Ms Fitzpatrick concluded.
The 100th session of the IMO Legal Committee was attended by 88 member government delegations; 2 associate member delegations; 1 specialised agency; 2 intergovernmental organizations; and 20 non-governmental organizations.
The Committee agreed that the issue of fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident should remain on its agenda and be discussed again in 2014.
|
|
A Note from Kaija: 
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), and the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) are developing the third annual report on the human cost of piracy. They seek to identify the many ways in which piracy affects seafarers and their families in order to better understand the support needed to address these challenges. Previous reports concentrated on the physical and psychological abuse suffered by the seafarers. However, piracy has broader impacts and the next step is therefore to take into account seafarers' and families' combined fears, concerns, and emotions about piracy. The IMB, OBP, and MPHRP are asking seafarers to share their thoughts on these topics on a secured website: http://www.icc-ccs.org/seafarer-survey. This information can then be used to provide more comprehensive and relevant resources to seafarers and their families. Names and identifying information is not required.
The impact of piracy cannot be known unless seafarers share their thoughts and stories about how piracy affects their lives and work. Port chaplains provide an important link between the seafarer and the work of the IMB, OBP, and MPHRP. Port chaplains deliver a range of resources to seafarers at centers in ports across the globe (United States?). Their work, which includes efforts to ensure safe working environments, just contracts, and spiritual renewal for seafarers, places them in a unique position to also help address the impact of piracy on seafarers' lives and working environment. This can be a difficult topic, but Port Chaplains are well-placed to help seafarers facing these challenges and provide seafarers with a secure place to fill out the IMB's seafarer survey. Port chaplains are therefore an essential element in collecting the data when seafarers visit the centers.
Go to Survey by CLICKING HERE
|
A Note From Dwayne Boudreaux
 | |
Dwayne Boudreaux, ITF Inspector Regional Coordinator
|
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I need your help - CLICK HERE to download a Survey from the ITF, on Manning Agents. Could you please print them and have crew members fill them out for me - I have been trying on the ships, to get the crew to fill them out-their scared -If they come to your Center -please ask them to help us, and fill them out - Were only trying to help them and they don't have to put their name on it - Were trying to go after the bad Agents that cheat the seafarers - I'm in Tampa now and will be back Friday night. Stay in touch, and thanks, Dwayne
|
|
|
Important Upcoming Events for
AOS USA Members
Sea Sunday - July 14, 2013 For posters, homily points, and other materials, click the following link:
World Maritime Day - September 26, 2013 Theme: Sustainable Development: IMO's Contribution beyone Rio+20
Link to IMO website
World Fisheries Day - November 21, 2013
|
|
|
