Reference no: EM131706295

Question: The Alcoa Seaprobe was a U.S.-flagged oceangoing vessel engaged in offshore geophysical and geotechnical research. While berthed in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, its owner, Alcoa Marine Corporation (a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas), had contracted with Brazil's national oil company to use Alcoa Seaprobe for offshore exploration of Brazil's continental shelf. When Alcoa sent the Seaprobe to Brazil, it did not intend to return the vessel to the United States. The Masters, Mates & Pilots Union (International Longshoremen) filed a petition to represent the crew of Alcoa Seaprobe. Alcoa Marine Corporation argued that since Seaprobe was not expected to operate in U.S. territorial waters, the NLRA did not apply. How should the NLRB have ruled? See Alcoa Marine Corp. [240 NLRB No. 18, 100 L.R.R.M. 1433 (1979)].