Why a Council of American Master Mariners? The answer can be found in the viability of an active, national, non-profit organization comprised of masters, pilots, and maritime professionals in an industry undergoing rapid and dramatic technological change. With reduced manning programs and ever increasing punitive regulations, the need for the Master's input into shipping policies and regulations has never been greater.

The Master is responsible for the ship and its safety, yet the ability of the Shipmaster to control his/her destiny has been seriously eroded. Modern ships are larger and more complex. Today's Master has little say in the selection of his officers and crew. He is often ignored in developing the regulations that effect his profession. Shipmasters and Pilots often find their views and opinions discounted and they are isolated from the fast-moving stream of progress.

The voice of a single Master is easily overwhelmed by the tide of change. At best, the outspoken Master may be seen as an individual with an experienced but self-serving point of view. At worst, he or she may be perceived by their employer and others as a ‘trouble-maker’ or lacking in ‘team spirit’ if their views do not reflect the company goals. The stand-alone, say-what-I-think Master may have the courage of his convictions, but he or she is rarely effective.

CAMM offers a means to be heard. As a member your voice is added to many others representing all types of vessels, cutting across company divisions and union affiliations. It is a voice based upon the prestige of the Master and backed by the collective expertise of over 20,000 years of maritime experience. The greatest irony of our industry is that the maritime community and its regulatory agencies recognizes the importance of the masters’ opinion. They sincerely wish to avail themselves of that maritime expertise, but generally have reservations in accepting such help from labor, lobbyist groups, or individuals.

The Council of American Master Mariners is in a unique position to supply  expertise to the industry for the public good. This was the intention of the founding members and it remains true today. The Council, represents a broad and diverse spectrum of experienced Master Mariners. Today the Council is revitalized and energized with a sense of purpose supported by the membership. It is not about enhancing your social life, It is about being heard and making a difference for the Merchant Marine, our nation, and ourselves.

If you are a Master Mariner, Pilot, or Maritime Professional you are welcome to join us in our endeavor to achieve the goals stated in the Declaration of Policy. They remain as valid today as they were in 1936.

2024 Annual General Meeting and

Professional Development Conference

In New Orleans    April 17-19, 2024

Click Here or on Annual Meeting for Details

CAMM comments on MARAD'S EMBARC  (Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture) policy.

The below letter from CAMM was publicly posted on Regulations.gov by the Maritime Administration in response to their request for public comments on EMBARC policy.

The Council of American Master Mariners

Restore Sea Year for all U.S.

Merchant Marine Academy Midshipmen

25 February 2022

The Council of American Master Mariners is committed to the education and training of future U.S.

Merchant Mariners.  The recent interruption of Sea Year for midshipmen at the United States

Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is of concern to the Council. The Sea Year is needed for midshipmen

to complete their preparation for service as Navy Reserve merchant mariners in the Navy’s Strategic

Sealift Officer (SSO) force.  USMMA graduates comprise over 80% of the SSO force which crew the

cargo ships carrying 90% of military material to war fronts overseas.

The time spent during sea year on commercial cargo vessels provides essential training for

midshipmen aboard modern commercial ships.  Midshipmen are exposed to a variety of propulsion/power

plants while serving aboard highly specialized, military useful, ships such as oil tankers,

container ships, underway replenishment ships, RO-RO (roll-on-roll-off ) ships, and heavy-lift

ships. Sea Year is the only way to directly acquire expertise on these vessels while enabling

one-on-one training, an experience not replicated on training vessels.  The pool of graduates from

USMMA has experience on all of these vessels, thus providing the U.S. Government with a valuable

resource. In short, Sea Year is to Strategic Sealift Officer training what Flight School is to Navy

Aviator training.

In November 2021, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) suspended all USMMA at-sea training in

response to a sexual assault against a female midshipman during her Sea Year in 2019.  On 15

December MARAD issued their sea year training criteria – EMBARC (Every Mariner Builds A Respectful

Culture - https://www.maritime.dot.gov/education/sea-year-training-program-criteria ) . The EMBARC

policies replace earlier commitments made by vessel operators to comply with sea-year eligibility

requirements previously established by MARAD. The EMBARC plan is not perfect, it presents as a work

in progress.  The goal is to improve the prevention of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH)

in the merchant marine. The Council fully supports this goal and stands ready to assist MARAD to

make EMBARC workable for all stakeholders.

The Council recognizes that zero episodes of sexual assault and sexual harassment at sea is a

critical goal for our industry and continuous improvement must be made in support of that goal.

Both objectives – the sea year training of future SSO officers and the work towards zero SASH

incidents – must be accomplished simultaneously, one cannot be sacrificed for the other.

The Council’s view is that the re-integration of USMMA Midshipmen onboard all U.S. Flag commercial

vessels must occur immediately.  This will ensure an uninterrupted supply of trained SSO officers

to the U.S. Government. The future of U.S. Sea Power depends on it.

Captain RJ Klein Executive Vice-President

Council of American Master Mariners