SAVE THE DATE

from WorkBoat April 2023

by WorkBoat

LOOKS BACK

NOVEMBER 29DECEMBER 1, 2023

NEW ORLEANS

EDITOR IN CHIEF David Krapf / dkrapf@divcom.com

SENIOR EDITOR Ken Hocke / khocke@divcom.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Kirk Moore / kmoore@divcom.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Alan Bernstein • Bruce Buls • Michael Crowley

• Jerry Fraser • Pamela Glass • Betsy Frawley Haggerty

• Max Hardberger • Joel Milton • Jim Redden

DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGER / ART DIRECTOR Doug Stewart / dstewart@divcom.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jeremiah Karpowicz / jkarpowicz@divcom.com

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE S

Kim Burnham 207-842-5540 / kburnham@divcom.com

Mike Cohen 207-842-5438 / mcohen@divcom.com

Kristin Luke 207-842-5635 / kluke@divcom.com

Krista Randall 207-842-5657 / krandall@divcom.com

Danielle Walters 207-842-5634 / dwalters@divcom.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Wendy Jalbert 207-842-5616 / wjalbert@divcom.com

Producers of the International WorkBoat Show and Paciﬁc Marine Expo www.workboatshow.com • www.paciﬁcmarineexpo.com

EXPOSITION SALES DIRECTOR Christine Salmon 207-842-5530 / c salmon@divcom.com

PRESIDENT & CEO Theodore Wirth / twirth@divcom.com

GROUP VICE PRESIDENT Bob Callahan / bcallahan@divcom.com

PUBLISHING OFFICES

Main Oﬃce 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438 207-842-5608 • Fax: 207-842-5609

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION cs@e-circ.net • 978-671-0444 (Monday-Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM ET)

David Clark OSV/CTV Marine Headset Systems

Crews on board Offshore Service and Crew Transfer vessels perform a variety of complex operations. Communication is critical to ensure the safe and efﬁcient transport of cargo, equipment and personnel. David Clark Marine Headset Systems offer clear, reliable communications in the harshest marine environments, while enhancing the safety and situational awareness of crew members. Call 800-900-3434 (508-751-5800 Outside the USA) to arrange a system demo or visit www.davidclark.com for more information.

Series 9100 Digital Communication System Scalability • Versatility • Simplicity

Labor shortages and the inland waterways

Pam Glass’ Inland Insider article in WorkBoat’s January 2023 issue (“Low water, worker shortage plague inland waterways”) could have been written 30 years ago and titled “Offshore Insider.”

Over 30 years ago, I left the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Of ce for an opportunity to head a subcontracting labor company that I had hoped would offer temporary relief to ongoing labor shortages. Since then, I’ve seen labor costs explode as temporary labor shortages became the normal state of affairs for the shipbuilding industry.

My hat’s off to American Commercial Barge Line CEO Mike Ellis for recognizing how his business has been affected by reduced training programs. Now that the average age of a maritime welder is 55, most of our skilled workers are getting ready to trade their welding rods and shields for shing rods and reels. The forecast that the industry will require 50,000 new workers every year for the next decade guarantees a chronically tight labor pool.

We must have the foresight to plan for and invest in programs that will incentivize new workers to develop journeyman expertise.

Chance McVeay Christian Construction Inc. Mobile, Ala.

Update contact information for TWIC and MMC eligibility

TheCoast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate has released Marine Safety Alert 02-23 to advise mariners to keep their contact information up to date with both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Coast Guard National

Maritime Center (NMC) to assist in the timely resolution of Transportation Worker Identi cation Credential (TWIC) eligibility issues.

Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) applicants or holders who have had their TWIC applications denied or revoked because of a TSA security threat assessment (STA) may pose a security threat and have their MMC revoked. Failure to obtain or remain eligible to hold a TWIC may lead to denial of an MMC application or serve as a basis for suspension and revocation (S&R) actions against an MMC.

If an MMC holder receives a TWIC preliminary determination of ineligibility (PDI) letter from the TSA and they intend to appeal TSA’s determination or seek a waiver, they should respond as instructed within 60 days of receipt.

U.S. Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate

Washington, D.C

Hyundai Welding offers a full range of Flux Cored Wires, for high productivity and superior weldability. Our rutile and metal-cored wires for mild steel applications such as SF-71MC, Supercored 71MAG, SC-420MC, SC-70ML and Supercored 70NS have a proven track record of production savings in top shipbuilding, steel fabrication, heavy equipment and automotive industries around the world. In every kind of application, you can achieve high quality weld profiles with a superior deposition rate and increased welder comfort.