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Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee News

26 Oct 2023

USCG Eases Firefighting Training Requirements for Towboats

© Bonita / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Coast Guard has moved to ease firefighting training requirements for towing vessels operating on America's inland waterways.The agency this week issued a final rule revising the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland and western rivers routes, excluding the Great Lakes.Consistent with recommendations from the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (NMERPAC) and the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (NTSAC)…

18 May 2023

Cultivating Tomorrow’s Waterways Workforce

© Marina Tolkacheva / Adobe Stock

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) is taking action to help address an industry need and a national imperative to recruit, retain and develop the next generation of maritime employees.As much as the tugboat, towboat and barge industry contributes to our nation’s prosperity and security today, we are an industry with an incredibly bright future that has even more to offer in the years to come. Our industry is uniquely positioned to be part of the solution as shipper-customers…

06 Oct 2017

MMPAC October 2017 Meeting Set

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and its working groups are scheduled to meet October 26-27, 2017, at United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, WV.   Although the meetings are open to the public, attendees must pre-register to be admitted. Additional details about the location, point of contact, how to submit comments, and the agenda can be found in the Federal Register in notice document 82 FR 44433, published on September 22, 2017

08 Nov 2016

MPT's Amy Beavers Passes Away

Amy Beavers, USCG Licensed Master, Academic Principal and VP of Regulatory Compliance at Maritime Professional Training has passed away on November 5. Services will be held on Saturday, November 12, at 11:30 a.m. at Rio Vista Community Church, 880 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33316. Longtime maritime training expert and provider Amy Beavers was widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable stakeholders in the industry when it came to regulatory matters, especially where it intersected the U.S. Coast Guard's credentialing department. Notably, she served as Vice Chair of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), but to most of the mariners who came through MPT for training, she was simply regarded as the "go-to" person for answers.

26 Jun 2014

Maritime Fuel of the Future: Training to an Uncertain Standard

Despite its unquestionable allure, LNG as a fuel carries with it as many risks as it does answers to the problems it promises to solve. As industry and OEM’s work to remove any doubt, the collaborative effort outpaces the slow-moving regulatory machine. Even as Lloyds Register predicts that LNG will reach a maximum 11% share of marine propulsion solutions in 2030, it also says that segments with higher proportion of small ships will see the highest LNG uptake. And, at the same time, says the global classification society in its recent paper entitled, Global Marine Fuel Trends 2030, the marine fuel mix for bulk, containers and tankers…

10 Apr 2014

MERPAC to Meet on IGF Code Training Requirements

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet to work on Task Statement 80, concerning crew training requirements onboard vessels subject to the International Code of Safety for ships using gases or low flashpoint fuels (IGF Code). This meeting will be open to the public. The working group will meet on April 17, 2014 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The working group will meet in Room A129 of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. Meeting materials will be made available on the MERPAC site before the meeting.

11 Mar 2013

Amy Beavers Appointed to MERPAC

Amy Beavers: Photo credit MPT

Maritime Professional Training V-P of Regulatory Compliance, Amy Beavers, appointed to serve on Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). Maritime Professional Training announced that Amy Beavers has received a federal appointment from Secretary Napolitano to serve in the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). The committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), via the Commandant and U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to the training, qualification, licensing, certification and fitness of seamen in the merchant marine.

08 Aug 2012

MERPAC to Meet in Washington, DC

Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee to meet on September 11, 2012 at USCG Headquarters. AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting. SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet in Washington, DC, to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. This meeting will be open to the public. DATES: MERPAC working groups will meet on September 11, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., and the full committee will meet briefly on the morning of September 11 and on September 12, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. may adjourn early if all business is finished. Written comments to be distributed to committee members and placed on MERPAC’s website are due August 31, 2012.

14 Jan 2012

MERPAC Working Group Meeting

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will conduct an intercessional meeting to facilitate working group discussion of Task Statement 76, titled “Review of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria)”, and Task Statement 77, titled “Development of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria).” This meeting will be open to the public. The MERPAC working group will meet on January 31, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on February 1, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please note that meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished.

12 Dec 2011

USCG Seeking MERPAC Applicants

The Coast Guard is seeking applications for membership on the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). This Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters related to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine, including training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards. Applications for six positions that expire or become vacant on June 1, 2012 will be considered. To be eligible, you should have experience…

01 Sep 2011

MMMAC and MERPAC Advisory Committees to Meet

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MMMAC), sponsored by the US Coast Guard, will hold its inaugural meeting in Easton, Maryland on September 19-21.  Topics on the agenda include maritime casualties with a nexus to mariner medical issues; mariner medical conditions leading to denial of a mariner's application; and aging mariners.  76 Fed. Reg. 53924  (August 30, 2011).The Coast Guard has also announced that the next scheduled Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) meeting in the Federal Register. The Meeting is scheduled for October 6 and 7 in Washington DC. Click here for details:http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/announcements/m35-FR-Notice-meeting-081611.pdf

14 Jun 2011

MarPro INTERVIEW: USCG Admiral Robert Papp

When Admiral Robert J. Papp assumed the duties of the 24th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on May 25, 2010, he also served notice that it won’t be business as usual at headquarters. Papp, unlike his three immediate predecessors, apparently has no intention of setting the world on fire by instituting sweeping changes. Inside the Coast Guard, the proverbial round turn is probably good news. For maritime businesses that trudge along under the collective weight of mounting regulatory burdens, an arguably willing partner now resides in the C-suite. From Papp’s perspective, the overarching link for all of the Coast Guard’s collective missions is the maritime aspect of their service.

11 May 2009

MERPAC Seeks Applicants

The Coast Guard is actively seeking applications for appointment to the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). MERPAC gives advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters pertinent to all personnel in the maritime industry, such as training, licensing, and certification and the on-going reorganization at the National Maritime Center. Travel costs for attending the committee meetings are covered by the Coast Guard. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. EDT on July 15, 2009. A copy of the application form, as well as this notice, is available in our online docket, USCG–2009–0325, at www.regulations.gov. Send your completed application, along with a personal resume, to the Assistant DFO at the street address above. For further information contact Mr.

25 Feb 2009

Connaughton Keynote MMA Summit

Massachusetts Maritime Academy announced Sean T. Connaughton as the keynote speaker for the Maritime Education Summit to be held April 15 -17, 2009. The summit is focused on Trends and Pedagogy for the Future and will be held at the Academy’s campus in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Mr. Connaughton served as the U.S. Maritime Administrator until 2009 and recently joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as Corporate Vice President for Government Affairs. In this role, Mr. Connaughton is the bureau’s chief connection with senior government officials and works to build relationships with those who influence policy on maritime safety and classification matters. In joining the Maritime Education Summit at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Mr.

26 Apr 2004

MERPAC to Meet

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will meet in Washington, DC on June 2-3, 2004 to discuss issues related to training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. 69 Fed. Reg. 22084.

21 Jun 2004

MERPAC Vacancies

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking applications for appointment to membership on the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). This committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the agency on matters related to training, qualification, licensing, certification, and fitness of seamen serving in the U.S. merchant marine. Applications should be submitted by August 30, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 34383 (HK Law).

12 Mar 2002

MERPAC to Meet in April

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its working groups, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will meet in Easton, Md. on April 9 and 10, 2002. Items on the agenda include utilization of military sea service and training for merchant marine licenses, manning on vessels engaged in domestic service, and updating ARPA and radar observer training. Source: HK Law

14 May 2002

MERPAC Will Meet in D.C.

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee(MERPAC), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will meet in Washington, D.C. on June 18, 2002 to discuss the task statement concerning the minimum standard of competence in security necessary for a ship's security officer and crew. Source: HK Law

14 Apr 2003

Meetings Will Discuss Mariner Training Program

A subcommittee of the Coast Guard's Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet to discuss the training of merchant marine personnel on April 30 and May 1, 2003, in Seattle, WA., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meetings are open to the public. through the hawsepipe. industry after August 1, 1998. adoption at the next regular meeting. serving in the U.S. merchant marine. located at 909 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Property Management Office at (206) 220-5055. meetings, contact CDR Brian J. Peter, Executive Director of MERPAC, or Mr. [email protected]. notify building security officials. picture identification card. member of the subcommittee should be submitted to CDR B. Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Washington, DC 20593-0001, on or before April 23, 2003.

19 Feb 2003

MERPAC to Meet in D.C.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will conduct a meeting in Washington, DC on March 4, 2003. The meeting may also be attended by teleconference. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Coast Guard's proposed national security regulations for merchant vessel personnel. 68 Fed. Reg. 806

20 Jun 2007

Coast Guard Seeks Mariner Feedback

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that its Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee has established a mechanism to provide ongoing feedback on the mariner licensing and documentation program and the relocation of the National Maritime Center. The Coast Guard began restructuring its mariner licensing and documentation program in March 2005 to improve service to mariners. The project will relocate the National Maritime Center to Martinsburg, W. Va., change mission focus for the 17 regional examination centers and implement technological improvements such as electronic imaging of mariner records, electronic administration and grading of exams, and on-line payment of user fees.

08 Aug 2005

MERPAC Meeting

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will meet in Dania Beach, Florida on September 7 and 8. Topics on the agenda include: utilizing military sea service for STCW certifications; a model sea course project in conjunction with an approved program for officer in charge of an engineering watch coming up through the hawse pipe; a training and assessment program for qualified member of the engine department on sea-going vessels; and a minimum standard of competence on tanker safety. 70 Fed. Reg. 45735 (HK Law)

22 Feb 2005

MERPAC Meeting

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will meet in Washington, DC on March 21 and 22. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss task statement #47 concerning recommendations on knowledge and practical qualifications for engineers at the operational and management levels to serve on steam propelled vessels and task statement #49 concerning recommendations for use of a model sea course project in conjunction with an approved program for officer in charge of an engineering watch coming up through the hawse pipe. 70 Fed. Reg. 8601 (February 22, 2005).