— The Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. —
CAMM Views & Positions
Views & Positions Home Page
Page last updated on Mon, Nov 10, 2008
Welcome to CAMM Views
Here will be important issues of the day for Masters and your opportunity as a member of CAMM to voice your feedback and provide additional support or testimony in relation to these (or other) subjects. Your input gives CAMM the opportunity to buttress, debunk, and scrutinize items while at the same time allowing time and changing world events to induce reflection by year’s end.
A POSITION is a statement of support or opposition concerning a major issue or incident effecting mariners, which position has been voted on by the membership at a previous CAMM Annual General Meeting (AGM). The POSITION expresses the majority opinion of the membership.
A VIEW is a statement currently under consideration but which has not been voted upon by the membership. The VIEW will be offered at the next Annual Meeting for consideration. The purpose of the VIEW is to offer information or opinion germane to the merits of adopting a position regarding the issue and to alert members of facts which may not be previously known to them. This allows us all to be well informed about each major issue well before it is debated at the AGM.
As the Annual General Meeting approaches, the issues of VIEWS will be culled down to issues that have proven to be most substantive. After discussion and debate at the AGM, Official Position Statements will be generated for proposal to The Council. Once approved, these CAMM VIEWS will become Official Positions and will be archived for reference and viewing. Each year at the AGM, positions from the previous year will be reviewed, and will then either be amended, carried forward, or dropped. This will keep all our positions current and up-to-date.
CAMM is widely recognized as an organization whose members are highly regarded and extremely knowledgeable about the issues on which we take positions. This is your opportunity to assure that issues about which you are passionate get proper attention from this influential organization. Post your comment so that you get your “oar in the water” well before the next AGM, helping us to have informed discussion well before the vote. To post your comments and input, and read other's comments, visit the Views and Positions Forum. It's easy.
The following are CAMM’s current positions on Maritime matters. Positions were agreed on by attendees at our AGM. Views were discussed, deemed pertinent, but were not agreed upon.
POSITION
Criminalization of Shipmasters (08-01)
CAMM is opposed to the growing tendency to arrest and detain Masters (and crews) following maritime incidents. The intent in many cases is a means of using pressure over ship-owners and Clubs to persuade terms of financial remedy to a Port State while holding the liberty and freedom of the innocent seaman for ransom. CAMM stands in concert with IFSMA, The International Salvage Union, The IMO, the EU’s Council of Ministers and other world bodies in disapproval of this trampling of human rights by Port States.
CAMM believes that the continuation of such practices will in fact lead to rising fears, anxiety (and possible indecision) by mariners at the most crucial times when faced with an emergency. As is the case currently in Pakistan where a Salvage Master is being held against his will since August of 2003, there is also a danger that salvors and other agencies will avoid taking salvage assignments as failure could mean fines, imprisonment or both.
CAMM reminds Port States that shipping is by far the safest, cleanest and most efficient use of energy and resources in which to transport the world’s goods. CAMM calls upon the USCG, the IMO, the ICS and other international bodies to assert the impeccable record shipping has earned and not condone the backlash of illegal actions by some Port State politicians in response to headline grabbing maritime accidents of which no industry is immune.
Finally, in an industry where recruitment of highly qualified personnel is getting more and more difficult, the false imprisonment and possible loss of one’s freedom and livelihood without trial may steer many talented individuals from deciding to make a career at sea.
POSITION
Ports of Refuge (08-02)
SUPPORT a requirement that Port States permit ships in distress to have access to a nearby port of refuge, as approved by the Master, rather than forcing such a ship out to sea.
POSITION
One Man Bridge Watch (08-03)
OPPOSE one man bridge watch in effect in some commercial fleets. SUPPORT amendment to international regulations requiring an additional bridge watch stander for vessels of 1600 gross tons and larger.
POSITION
Law of the Seas Treaty (LOST) (08-04)
OPPOSE U.S. ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which would give important domestic powers to an international authority based in Brussels. Specifically oppose provisions which would result in American ship masters accused of offenses at sea being tried by an international court in Europe, and conducted without the benefit and protection guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.
POSITION
Witness Treatment by US Officials (08-05)
OPPOSE detention of crew of violating ships for the purpose of serving as witnesses, causing loss of liberty, wages, proper due process.
POSITION
Contamination and Safety (08-06)
SUPPORT efforts of all regulatory agencies to detect and hold accountable all substandard vessels of all flags and registries which contaminate US waters through discharge of oil, contaminated water, sludge, sewage, etc. Ships infested with cockroaches, having insufficient fresh water for crew needs, and lacking basic safety and sanitation conditions should not be permitted to operate in US waters.
POSITION
Changes to USCG Merchant Mariner Licensing Program (08-07)
OPPOSE proposed legislative changes affecting the USCG credentialing in the Merchant Marine Licensing Program, in part removing Congressional oversight from the process.
POSITION
Physical Guidelines for Merchant Mariners (08-08)
OPPOSE creation of rigorous physical guidelines for merchant mariners as proposed in a review of USCG NVIC 2-98. The issue which should be addressed is the lack of adequate watch standers on the bridge while underway, rather than the physical condition of one individual.
POSITION
IFSMA’s Fair Treatment of Seafarers (08-09)
SUPPORT the formation of an ILO/IMO Working Group on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers, to develop internationally accepted guidelines for addressing actions against and criminalization of seafarers. SUPPORT the IFSMA draft proposal modeled on the 1991 IMO guidelines on oil pollution.
POSITION
Seafarers Biometric Cards (08-10)
SUPPORT US adoption of ILO Convention 185 for Seafarers Biometric Cards. The convention has not been adopted because of lack of agreement regarding what biometrics should be included. The lack of concurrence has resulted in US cancellation of crew list visas.
POSITION
ILO Maritime Labor Convention (08-11)
Support ILO Maritime Labor Convention draft to eliminate sub-standard shipping with respect to maritime labor. The Convention would lay down stringent rules regarding working conditions and request proof of compliance from ships. Port State control officers would have the power to fine and detain ships which do not abide by the “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights”.
CAMM also supports the two thirds majority vote of member states for adoption of the “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights” and urges US adoption of this doctrine.
VIEW
IFSMA E-Navigation Comments (08-12)
SUPPORT IFSMA Working Group comments` regarding having newly installed E-NAV equipment designed and driven by watch standers rather than technicians.
AGM attendees voted to leave as view pending further information.
POSITION
IFSMA Advocates Goal-based Manning (08-13)
SUPPORT IFSMA position that minimum manning levels established by Flag States be “performance based”, taking into consideration ship type and trading pattern.
VIEW
USCG Authority over US Merchant Marine (08-14)
CAMM supports the transfer all of the Coast Guard’s marine safety functions and merchant marine personnel functions to MARAD and the transfer of operational functions to a bona fide classification society such as the American Bureau of Shipping. The purpose of this transfer of authority would be to facilitate processing, providing more timely service to the mariner and a better understanding of commercial vessel operations.
MARAD, a government agency, is peopled with both professional mariners and government careerists. Most of these individuals are more adept at handling administrative matters than operational ones. Merchant Marine Personnel functions which would be transferred to MARAD include: ID Documentation, Licensing, Training, Discipline, etc.
American classification societies such as ABS are well versed in handling operational matters which would be transferred from USCG, including Rules and Regulations, Life Saving Equipment, Repairs, and Inspections. ABS is currently working with the U.S. Coast Guard to incorporate joint repair and inspection responsibilities.
AGM attendees voted to hold for review.
POSITION
Seaman’s Mansluaghter Act (08-15)
CAMM SUPPORTS changing the Seaman’s Manslaughter Act to require a higher standard of proof than simple negligence.
POSITION
US Coast Guard ownership of Merchant Marine Certificates (08-16)
CAMM stands in opposition of the Coast Guard’s position that they own the new Merchant Marine Certificates and can revoke or recall them at any time without cause as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations.
The person who has been issued a USCG License to Merchant Marine Officer or Mariner’s document own that license or document. The license or mariner’s document is surrendered to the Coast Guard only on the Coast Guard’s legal request for such license or document.
This is another instance of the Coast Guard’s lack of knowledge and history of licensing and documentation and now coupled with the lack of legal advice by the Coast Guard’s Legal Counsel.
Licensing of Merchant Marine Officers and documentation of seamen must be removed from Coast Guard’s jurisdiction. As it now stands the Coast Guard stands as an issuer, revoker, judge and jury of the Licensed Officer and Seaman. This is contrary to our system of law.
POSITION
Vessel Documentation, Inspection & Mariner Credentialing (08-17)
CAMM supports the transfer of vessel documentation, vessel inspection and mariner credentialing from USCG (DHS) to MarAd (DOT). This change would align US maritime policy with that of other seafaring nations.