Evening star., 1941-04-14
Conference Called
Here on Shortage
Of Trained Seamen .
Ranks Reduced by Jobs
In Shipyords and Calls
For Army Service
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY.

Facing an impending shortage of |
trained men to operate ships of the |
merchant marine during the current
emergency, the Maritime Commits
sion has called a conference here
on April %, it has been learned.
1t also has become known that
national hearquarters of the selec-
tive service system has sent a
three-page memorandum to all
State directors dealing with the
classification of seamen. The let
ter quotes the naval occupational
adviser to national headquarters
and the director of the Maritime
Commissions division of maritime
personnel to the effect that it is
anticipated national shortages will
occur In the engine department of
merchant vessels, in the grades of
f1remen and higher ratings; in the
deck department, in the grades in
volving able seamen and higher
ratirSs, which includes boatswains
and quartermasters; in the stew
ards department, in chief stew
ards, marine cooks and bakers.
The anticipated shortages, it was
added, also include licensed officers
and radio operators.
Those who have been invited to
the conference include representa-
tives of the Bureau of Marine In
spection and Navigation and the
Federal Communications Commits
sion, operating officials of private
ship lines and representatives Of
the unions.
Survey Is Ordered.
Government research agencies
yesterday were directed to deter
mine the available supply of seamen
in the United States, including
those waiting for jobs at various
ports Information also will be
compiled as to the number of IL
censed and unlicensed personnel
who are actually at sea on Ameri-
can flag vessels.
Another phase of the investiga-
ton is to determine the number of
vessels to be added to the merchant
marine, which also includes person.
mel needed for the Army transport
service.
No secret is made of the fact that
serious inroads have been made on
the present operating personnel
through employment in shipyards
ashore and losses through selective
service. Licensed personnel from
the deck departments, it was point
ed out, have been attracted to the
shore positions largely for duty as
riggers, because of the greater re-
enumeration and fewer hazards.
Men in the engine departments are
taking jobs in the shipyards and
other defense plants as pipe filters,
machinists and electricians, as well
as engineers.
These shortages are all in the
skilled branches, as 1t was pointed
out that thousands of young men
between the ages of 18 and 81 can
be readily obtained for the ordi-
nary duties, such as ordinary sea-
men on deck and wipers in the en-
gine room.
Requirements for Crews.
The law, however, requires that
IS per cent of the crew of a vessel
must be able seamen, which requires
training of from II months to 8
years. Twelve months of sea serv-
ice in the merchant marine as an
ordinary seaman gives man the
right to obtain a "blue ticket" He
cannot become a full-fedged able
seaman until he has served three
years and is given green ticket"
Green ticket men in the proportion
of five to one must be employed on
all ships. The provision as to length
of service and as to proportions in
each crew is statutory.
There has been some preliminary
discussion, it was learned, of re-
ducing the proportion of able to
ordinary seamen in the crews in
order to meet the impending emer-
gency. The matter of reducing the
qualification time might also be dis
cussed, but any determination to
change it would involve legislation.
The officer personnel problem is
even more serious, it was indicated,
because these men have to pass rigid
examinations before boards of ma
rine and navigation inspectors in
order to obtain even a third mates
license. And there has not been
suggested any effective way of keep
ing the present licensed personnel
from going ashore for better re-
Enumeration.
There have been many questions
addressed to selective service head
quarters regarding the classification
of seamen, says the letter dispatched
to all State directors.