U.S. Merchant Marine – A link in the chain of our national
security
March 10, 2011
2011 Navy League Maritime Policy Regarding US Merchant
Marine
• A strong U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and Maritime Industry are essential to
support the U.S. national defense and economic security interests. In
peace, we rely upon the merchant marine for economic viability, as over 95
percent of trade is transported by ship – less than 3 percent of which is
aboard U.S.-flagged ships. In war, we turn to the merchant marine force
and maritime industry to transport military reinforcements and materiel.
The Navy League is concerned about the diminishing size and strength of
the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and maritime industry.
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The U.S. Merchant Marine has served its nation for more
than two centuries
• U.S. Merchant Marine has been a vital component of American Sea Power
since the Revolutionary War
• The Merchant Marine is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Navy responsible for
transporting cargo and passengers , except in times of war when, mariners
are considered military personnel and can be called upon to deliver troops
and supplies for the military
• Today, the U.S. Merchant Marine composed of 69,000 seamen, continues to
play a critical role in our nation's defense and in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
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The U.S. Merchant Marine provided the greatest sealift in
history during WWII
•
Prior to the war, the total of experienced mariners
was 55,000. During WWII this number increased to
over 215,000.
• During WWII, 1 in 26 mariners serving aboard
merchant ships perished in the line of duty,
suffering a greater percentage of war-related deaths
than all other U.S. services.¹
• 2,825 merchant Allied vessels were sunk during
WWII by German U-boats (military submarines).²
• In 1988, a law granted veteran status to merchant
mariners who served in war. Prior to such
legislation, they were considered civilians and were
not eligible for veteran's benefits given to U.S.
armed forces.
1942 propaganda poster
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¹ War Shipping Administration Press Release 2514, January 1, 1946
² Crocker III, H. W. (2006). New York: Crown Forum.
Our U.S. Merchant Marine is aging and baby boomers are getting
ready to retire
Officers who sailed in
the past
Officers who sailed within
the past 24 months
Officers who sailed within
the past 12 months
42.8
44.3
45.2
14, 343
5,740
4,105
Average age
Number of
officers
Source: MARAD
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Ships’ technologies are evolving to improve maritime performance
requiring mariners to constantly acquire new skills
Cargo load optimization
Voyage planning and execution
Basic load optimization
Optimum trim guidance
for all vessel classes
Main Engine efficiency
Auxiliary Engine efficiency
Monitoring of hull &
propeller conditions
Propeller technology enhancements


Waste heat recovery system
Slow steaming and super-slow steaming
Monitoring of new paint technologies
Cylinder oil optimization
Other Initiatives
 Alternative fuel tests
 New propulsion technologies  Modified bulbous bow
 ISO 14001 certified
 Micro bubbles
 Crew awareness and
engagement
 Ballast water
optimization and
treatment systems
 SOx scrubber studies
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 QUEST: Low energy
chilled containers
U.S. Merchant Mariners’ training requirements are exhaustive
• Federal or State Maritime Academies (i.e. United States Merchant Marine, California,
Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, and New York Academies) ensure a consistent supply of well
trained merchant marine officers
• “After graduating from the USMMA, new Merchant Mariners will have three credentials – a
degree, a Naval Reserve commission and a Merchant Mariner license.” (excerpt from
SEAPOWER magazine February 2011)
• All mariners have to complete training requirements set out by the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) Code of Federal Regulations specific to their position
• Mariners that work on seagoing vessels that go beyond the boundary lines (as defined in
Title 46 CFR Part 7), have to comply with the requirements of the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch Keeping (STCW)
• Carriers, such as MLL require their mariners to fulfill additional training:
− Electronic Chart Display & Information Systems (ECDIS)
− Drug and Alcohol Collection Training
− Engine Specific Training from manufacturers (MAN B&W, Sulzer/Wartsilla)
− EPA and Environmental training onboard
− HAZMAT Training
− Vessel security officer slips, trips and falls training
− Senior Officer Safety Leadership Conferences
− Unlicensed Safety Leadership conferences
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U.S. Merchant Mariners are subject to piracy risks
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Current vessels held by Somali pirates: 33
Total number of Hostages: 712
Source: ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) - updated on 02/15/2011
The Maritime Unions play an important role in our nation’s
merchant marine
• The Unions protect their members’ job security by shaping
policies and programs that ensure the continuation of a strong
U.S. maritime industry
• Merchant Mariners are recruited through the Unions including:
–
–
–
–
American Maritime Officers (AMO)
Seafarers International Union (SIU) - unlicensed
Masters, Mates and Pilots (MMP)
Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA)
• They negotiate salaries with the Carriers and provide paid
vacation, pension, medical, and education benefits
• They offer advanced and comprehensive training, license
upgrading and Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping programs
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Without the U.S. flag commercial fleet the U.S. would be unable
to deploy and sustain its military forces on a global basis.
‘‘
‘‘
[W]e simply cannot, as a nation,
fight the fight without the
partnership of the commercial
maritime industry.
General John W. Handy, USAF
U.S. TRANSCOM former Commander
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The Maritime Security Program is a critical enabler of U.S.
military sealift
• DOD-funded, MARAD- administered program
• MSP allows the U.S. government access to:
– Military-useful U.S. flag vessels that participate in international
commerce for commercial and national security needs of the U.S.
– Intermodal assets including logistics management services,
infrastructure, terminals facilities, and U.S. merchant mariners to
crew government owned/controlled and commercial fleets
• MSP provides carriers with:
– Direct payments to U.S. flag ship operators engaged in international
trade to partially offset higher operating costs associated with U.S.
flag registry
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MSP participant companies provide for a fleet of 60 military
-useful vessels
MSP Ships
Other U.S.
Flag Ships
APL
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10
American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier
8
1
Central Gulf / Waterman
6
0
Hapag-Lloyd
5
0
Intermarine
2
1
Liberty
1
2
27
2
OSG
2
0
Total
60
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Maersk Line, Limited
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OIF and OEF sealift rely on commercial U.S. flag carriers in MSP
The U.S. military benefited from the flexibility and global reach of
commercial ocean carriers to greater extent than in past contingencies
Sealift of OEF/OIF Cargoes 2002-2008
Foreign Flag
3%
10%
VISA and Other U.S.
Flag Charters
90%
Carriers in the Maritime
Security Program (MSP)
40%
57%
Government
U.S. Flag
Commercial
Total: 44.6 million
measurement tons
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Through the VISA program, carriers commit their fleet to
support the U.S. military
• Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) allows the U.S.
Government assured access to U.S. flag assets, Intermodal capacity which
includes dry cargo ships, equipment, terminal facilities and intermodal
management services and supports the emergency deployment and
sustainment of U.S. military forces
• Carriers must participate in VISA to qualify for:
– MSP payments
– The highest priority for moving Defense cargo in peacetime
• VISA provides carriers with:
– Established incentive compensation for contingency operations
– Reduced carrier risk of commercial disruption during contingencies
Since the Maritime Security Fleet was first established, the U.S. government has
realized $70 billion in capitalization and re-capitalization cost benefit savings for
the vessels and intermodal infrastructure capabilities provided through MSP/VISA.
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We must preserve the capability of U.S. Merchant Mariners
• MSP/VISA bolsters and leverages the capability of U.S. merchant
mariners
– It provides international seafaring experience in places where we may need to
deploy
– National control of sealift resources is essential to be assured of the ability to
conduct sealift operations in a crisis or war
– It ensures the availability of trained, STCW certified mariners to help crew U.S.
government sealift assets
• MSP has helped preserve our nation’s commercial maritime capability
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Navy League’s 2011 Maritime Policy Advocates for a strong US
Merchant Marine
• Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Ready Reserve Force (RRF) –
Funding is needed for the enhanced 60-ship, 10 year MSP and the
recapitalization of the Ready Reserve Force. These assets are worth $8
billion annually to the Department of Defense.
• Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program – Funding is needed to assist
U.S. shipbuilders and carriers. The 20 year timetable underlying Title XI will
leverage and multiply each appropriated dollar several times over.
• Maritime Transportation System (MTS) – Funding for MTS initiatives is
needed to maintain waterways, ports, inter-modal connections, and the
Marine Highway System (short-sea shipping) – all crucial to economic
security.
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – Full funding for USMMA and programs at
the state maritime colleges and maritime industry training facilities is
needed to ensure sufficient numbers of licensed mariners.
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Questions & Answers
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Thank you!
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