— The Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. —
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06-04: HR 889, Section 425: Citizenship Requirements for Riding Gangs
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06-04
HR 889, Section 425 Amendments
Citizenship Requirements for Riding Gangs
CAMM strongly opposes Section 425 of HR 889, entitled Citizenship and Naval Reserve Requirements, as passed by the House of Representatives, will allow foreign workers to be employed aboard U.S.-flag commercial vessels. Ships crews are truly the first line of defense against terrorism.
Employing workers or riding crews who are not part of a vessels crew complement to perform various shipboard maintenance functions has been a common practice in the international maritime industry. We realize that until recently, foreign citizen riding crews could work aboard U.S.-flag commercial vessels. However, in todays world, as we continue to fight this War against Terrorism, we believe that section 425 as passed raises a number of security related issues that should be addressed. Section 425 is also inappropriate as our nation continues to recognize the importance of promoting and maintaining a U.S. citizen maritime manpower pool to meet national defense sealift requirements.
Allowing foreign riding crews aboard our vessels will become a security nightmare. Foreign riding crews will have access to secure spaces aboard the vessel. The additional work of managing personnel who have not met the same requirements that U.S. Citizen crew members will significantly increase the work load on the vessels master and US citizen crew.
Finally and equally important, by failing to limit the number of foreign workers who can be employed aboard the U.S.-flag vessel, and by failing to more specifically define the nature and scope of the work these workers can perform, the legislation raises the distinct possibility that the number of American citizen personnel employed aboard the ship, and who will be available whenever and wherever needed by the Department of Defense, will be reduced.