American Maritime Officers is the largest union of U.S. merchant marine officers. AMO officers work aboard U.S.-flagged merchant and military sealift vessels, and AMO holds a unique presence in the international energy transportation trades.
AMO officers work in a broad range of domestic and international trades aboard U.S.-flagged vessels in the deep-sea sector, including oil and product tankers, containerships, roll-on/roll-off ships, heavy-lift ships, trailerships, general cargo vessels and the only U.S.-owned fleet of undersea cable installation and repair ships.
AMO officers also work aboard Military Sealift Command’s large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships, and aboard military prepositioning vessels, fast sealift ships, product tankers, Ready Reserve Force ships and several others operated by private-sector ship managers for Military Sealift Command and the Maritime Administration.
AMO has pioneered new job opportunities for American officers aboard international liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. AMO officers have access to the only LNG training program in the U.S. certified to the standards of the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators at the AMO Safety & Education Plan’s STAR Center.
AMO officers also have access to a comprehensive dynamic positioning (DP) training program accredited by the Nautical Institute at STAR Center. AMO represents the officers and stewards in the majority of the U.S. Great Lakes fleets. AMO also has collective bargaining agreements covering scores of ocean-going and harbor tugs and inland waters vessels.
AMO members and their families draw employer-paid benefits from the AMO Medical, Vacation, Pension and Defined Contribution Plans, the Pension Plan Money Purchase Benefit, and from individual accounts through the AMO 401(k) Plan.
The AMO Safety & Education Plan has conceived the most advanced and comprehensive training, license upgrading and STCW certification programs among U.S. maritime training institutions. These training programs, including lodging and meals, are available to AMO officers at no cost at STAR Center (Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research) in Dania Beach, Florida.
The AMO legislative staff works closely with elected representatives in Congress to promote and protect the cornerstones of U.S. maritime policy, and to develop new programs to enhance and expand the US merchant marine.
AMO also works with allies in the industry to create job opportunities for its members in the U.S. fleet and will continue to cultivate new opportunities for U.S. merchant marine officers in both domestic and international trades. AMO and STAR Center have developed and launched comprehensive recruiting and training programs to expand the base of U.S. merchant marine officers with maritime academy cadets, military veterans and entry-level mariners.