Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

University of Alaska, Board of RegentsFisheries, Seafood, and Maritime Initiative

Captain Michael Neussl, DOT&PF Deputy Commissioner for Marine Operations

June 8, 2012

“The best safety device on any ship is a well trained crew.”

The Ultimate Goal

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• Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Overview• AMHS Training Needs• AMHS Training Challenges• AMHS - UA Successes & Opportunities• Questions

Agenda

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AMHS Overview - Vessels

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MV Matanuska408 feet

Built 1963

MV Malaspina408 feet

Built 1963

MV Taku352 feet

Built 1963

MV Tustumena296 feet

Built 1964

MV LeConte235 feet

Built 1974

MV Columbia418 feet

Built 1974

MV Aurora235 feet

Built 1977

MV Kennicott382 feet

Built 1998

FVF Fairweather235 feet

Built 2004

MV Lituya193 feet

Built 2004

FVF Chenega235 feet

Built 2005

Integrity ∙ Excellence ∙ Respect

AMHS Overview - System Map

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IFA = Interisland Ferry Authority

Integrity ∙ Excellence ∙ Respect

AMHS Overview - Personnel

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• Personnel Summary:

Vessels Shoreside Total

Permanent Full-Time: 724 126 850

Permanent Part-Time: 48 38 86

Non-Permanent: 80 15 95

Total Positions: 852 179 1031

Integrity ∙ Excellence ∙ Respect

• Shipboard workforce is very seasonal.

• Unions represented in the AMHS workforce:

AMHS Overview - Unions

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Shoreside: Vessels:

ASEA(GGU)

Alaska State Employees AssociationGeneral Government Unit

IBU Inland Boatmen’s Unionof the Pacific Alaska Region

ASEA(SU)

Alaska State Employees AssociationSupervisory Unit

MMP International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots

APEA Alaska Public Employees AssociationConfidential Unit

MEBA Marine Engineer’s Beneficial Association

LTC Public Employees Local 71Labor, Trades, and Crafts Unit

Integrity ∙ Excellence ∙ Respect

• MM&P USCG Licensed Deck Officers:

• Masters, Mates, Marine Pilots

• MEBA USCG Licensed Engineering Officer:

• Chief Engineers, Assistant Engineers

• IBU Unlicensed Employees:

• Deck: Able Bosun, Able Seafarer, Ordinary Seaman, Watchman • Engineering: Junior Engineer , Oiler, Wiper• Passenger Services: Pursers, Stewards, Cooks, Cashier, Storekeeper

AMHS Overview - Jobs

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• “Hurdle Requirements” just to be eligible for hire Transportation Worker Identification Credential “TWIC” Merchant Mariner’s Document (MMD) or Credential (MMC) Drug Test Application Integrity

• Multiple Training Requirements First Aid, Firefighting, Survival Craft, Fast Rescue Boat, Vessel Security Officer, Radio

Operator, Food Worker Card, Survival Training, Alcohol Server course, Crowd Management, Crisis Management, and many, many more.

• USCG License Requirements Deck Officers and Engineers

• Multiple Training Sources UAS, AVTEC (Seward), MITAGS (Baltimore), PMI (Seattle), Commercial, Vendors

AMHS – Training Needs

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AMHS - Training Challenges

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• Desire Local Training to the Extent Possible (Cost, Frequency)• Desire for Local Alaska Hire Employees• Lack of Qualified and/or Willing Applicants

Annual requirement for 100-120 unlicensed employees This year we hired 72, and had to go outside Alaska to do it

• Seasonal Work is a Challenge for Retention• STCW Changes – Manila Amendments require USCG

Approved Training Courses

• AMHS partners with UAS (Ketchikan, Juneau) for some training Basic Safety Training, Oiler Program, Lifeboatman, Fast Rescue Boat

Training, Crowd Management, etc. Somewhat dependent upon AMHS resources Timing issues (vessel availability, student availability)

• Courses need to be USCG Approved• Opportunity for Additional Cooperation

AMHS Summer work, UA Winter school/degree Program? More robust specific courses/training (resources, timing)? Consolidation of multiple requirements?

AMHS – UA Successes and Opportunities

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09/08/2011 Alaska Marine Highway System | Alaska DOT&PF 12

Thank YouQuestions?

Captain Michael A. NeusslDeputy Commissioner for Marine Operations

Alaska DOT&PF, AMHS(907) 465-6977 michael.neussl@alaska.gov