American Maritime Officers

What American Maritime Officers does

American Maritime Officers (AMO) is the largest union of U.S. merchant marine officers, representing licensed deck officers, engineers, electronic technicians, and radio officers working aboard commercial, military sealift, and government vessels in domestic and international deep-sea trades, the Great Lakes, and U.S. inland waterways. Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, AMO maintains nearly 3,500 members and holds collective bargaining agreements with more than 25 shipping companies covering approximately 200 vessels. Major operator relationships include Crowley, Fairwater Holdings, USMMI, Tote Maritime, and American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier.

AMO's core offering is union membership bundled with job dispatching, training, benefits administration, and legislative advocacy. The STAR Center (Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research) in Dania Beach serves as the union's training engine, delivering STCW certification, Nautical Institute-accredited dynamic positioning, SIGTTO-standard LNG training, and accelerated programs including the TECH (Engineering Candidate Hawsepipe) program producing licensed Third Engineers in roughly 2.5 years, and a 17-week OICEW program (7 weeks shorter than USCG standard). Member benefits are administered through AMO Plans (medical, vacation, pension, 401(k)), the Coast Guard Legal Aid Program, and the Membership Assistance Program for disaster relief. A Washington DC office drives regulatory advocacy through the Voluntary Political Action Fund (VPAF) and the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department, focused on defending the Jones Act, Maritime Security Program, and cargo preference laws.

Revenue is generated primarily through member dues (described as the lowest among the three U.S. officer unions), employer contributions to the AMO Safety and Education Plan that fund STAR Center operations, and ancillary fees. The organization maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification and is governed by a National Executive Board led by National President Willie Barrere. AMO's competitive position rests on regulatory protection of U.S.-flag shipping, deep recruiting pipelines at all seven U.S. maritime academies, and substantial switching costs embedded in member retirement balances and benefit plans.

Name

American Maritime Officers

Legal name

American Maritime Officers

Website

https://amo-union.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Maritime Officers is the largest U.S. labor union for licensed merchant marine officers, representing nearly 3,500 members across approximately 200 vessels and 25+ shipping companies, with training via STAR Center and benefits administered through AMO Plans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Labor Union Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD), Maritime Safety Management Systems & Training (ISM/ISO 45001, Drills, Competency) (TLAHANAF), Pilot Training, Certification & Medical/Fitness Services (TLAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Maritime officer union
• Merchant marine representation
• Maritime training services
• Maritime officer dispatching
• Maritime labor collective bargaining

Headquarters

HQ city

Dania

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AMO collects initiation fees and ongoing dues from members. Dues are deducted through the AMO Vacation Plan from vacation benefits. The union notes its dues are the lowest among the three officer unions.
2. Training Services: STAR Center provides training programs available to AMO officers at no cost (sponsored by employer contributions to AMO Safety and Education Plan). Additional courses may be available for non-members or those not under covered employment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

American Maritime Officers is a national labor union representing nearly 3,500 licensed U.S. merchant marine officers working aboard U.S.-flagged commercial, military sealift, and government vessels. AMO provides collective bargaining with shipping companies, job dispatching, STCW and license-upgrading training at the STAR Center, member benefits (medical, vacation, pension, 401(k)), Coast Guard legal aid, and legislative advocacy.

Product overview

American Maritime Officers is the largest union of U.S. merchant marine officers, offering a comprehensive suite of services including labor representation, professional training, and member benefits. The core offerings center on union membership with dispatching services for job placement aboard U.S.-flagged vessels, supported by the STAR Center training facility for STCW certification, license upgrading, and specialized programs like TECH and OICEW. Member benefits include medical, vacation, pension, and 401(k) plans managed through AMO Plans. Additional services include Coast Guard Legal Aid, the Membership Assistance Program for disaster relief, and the Voluntary Political Action Fund for legislative advocacy. The organization represents officers working aboard tankers, containerships, roll-on/roll-off ships, cable installation vessels, and government-operated sealift vessels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STAR Center: Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research - the premier maritime training institution operated by AMO, offering STCW certification, license upgrading, dynamic positioning training, and LNG training certified to SIGTTO standards
• TECH Program
• AMO Plans

Products and services

• AMO Union Membership Core union membership for U.S. licensed merchant marine officers, including collective bargaining representation, job dispatching access, training eligibility, benefits enrollment, and political advocacy. Membership initiation fees and ongoing monthly dues are deducted through the AMO Vacation Plan.
• Membership Dispatching Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ members and retirees have accumulated over $1 million in retirement accounts, with some exceeding $3 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fairwater Holdings (Joint Venture of Crowley and SEACOR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 202422 AMO-contracted vessels are now owned/managed by Fairwater Holdings following successful formation of the joint venture. Vessels include former Seabulk tankers, Eco-Tankers, USS Transport, and Crowley Alaska tankers. AMO's collective bargaining agreements remain in place with successor companies.
• American Maritime PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO is an active supporter of American Maritime Partnership, which works to preserve the Jones Act and comparable laws. This coalition represents the domestic maritime industry voice and advocates for policies protecting U.S.-flag shipping.
• Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO works with the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department on matters of common interest including legislative advocacy and industry coordination.
• American Maritime Officers ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO works with American Maritime Officers Service on matters of common interest in the maritime industry.
• Lake Carriers' AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO collaborates with the Lake Carriers' Association on matters affecting Great Lakes shipping.
• Great Lakes Maritime Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO supports the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force which promotes the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway shipping system and port range.
• International Transport Workers' FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO is active in the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), connecting with global maritime labor movements and coordinated advocacy.
• Great Lakes Maritime AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO has reached an agreement with GLMA to man its training ship TS State of Michigan during summer cruises. The union also presents scholarships to top GLMA cadets during graduation ceremonies and has opened an office across the street from the academy in Traverse City for better membership service and recruiting.
• U.S. Maritime AcademiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO maintains recruiting relationships with all seven U.S. maritime academies: USMMA Kings Point, SUNY Maritime, Cal Maritime, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime, Mass Maritime, and Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Over 150 new officers joined from academy recruiting in recent year.
• Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMO maintains a pass-through process with MEBA to keep vessels moving, with members filling in billets as needed. National President Barrere stated continued collaboration between AMO and MEBA, and hopefully MM&P, moving forward.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA): Direct peer labor union representing licensed maritime engineers and officers. AMO and MEBA share a pass-through arrangement and compete for the same pool of licensed U.S. merchant marine officers across comparable vessel types.
• Seafarers International Union of North America (SIU): Affiliated union representing unlicensed seafarers. Comparable in maritime labor representation model, collective bargaining approach, and political advocacy footprint for the Jones Act and U.S.-flag fleet.
• MM&P (International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots): One of the three U.S. maritime officer unions referenced in AMO materials. Represents licensed deck officers in similar trades and competes with AMO for the same licensed mariner talent pool.
• Calhoon MEBA Engineering School: Maritime training institution operated by MEBA that competes directly with AMO's STAR Center for STCW, dynamic positioning, and license-upgrading training. The most direct training-services peer to STAR Center.

Broad incumbents

• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF): Global federation of transport worker unions, of which AMO is an affiliate. Comparable as the overarching labor framework for maritime officer representation, though it operates at a global rather than national level.
• Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO: AFL-CIO department coordinating maritime labor unions including AMO. Comparable as a higher-level collective bargaining and legislative advocacy body covering the same U.S. maritime workforce.
• U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD): Federal agency that designates AMO's STAR Center as a Center of Excellence and administers programs (Maritime Security Program, NSMV school ships) that directly drive AMO member demand. Sets the regulatory framework within which AMO operates.

Emerging players

• MITAGS (Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies): Maritime training provider operated by MM&P, offering STCW and license-upgrading courses. Comparable as a union-affiliated maritime training center competing with STAR Center for non-AMO officer candidates.

Others

• Lake Carriers' Association: Industry association representing U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel operators. Comparable as an AMO partner organization addressing Great Lakes shipping labor and policy — a complementary rather than competing counterpart.
• American Maritime Partnership: Coalition of which AMO is a supporter, working to preserve the Jones Act and U.S. cabotage laws. Comparable as the political advocacy ecosystem AMO operates within to defend U.S.-flag officer job opportunities.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AMOUnion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-maritime-officers
• Instagraminstagram.com/amounion

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Maritime Officers