SIU-contracted American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) on Sept. 29 welcomed three additional vessels into its U.S.-flag fleet during a shipboard ceremony in Baltimore.The car carriers Courage, Honor and Integrity were reflagged under the Stars and Stripes, boosting ARC’s American-flag fleet to eight vessels. The ceremony took place on the Integrity.
All three vessels are enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program.
General Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, delivered the keynote address. Also addressing the crowd of approximately 300 people were SIU President Michael Sacco; General John Handy, who recently retired as commander of TRANSCOM; and ARC President and CEO Raymond Ebeling.
“The increase in fleet size plays a critical role in expanding our U.S. mariner base,” noted General Schwartz.
General Handy pointed out that the job expansion for American seafarers “means that when we need seamen to man our military support ships, they will be there.”
Ebeling cited several key reasons why the MSP continues to work so well for America. He touched on the excellent working relationship between labor, business and government. He also credited the crew members and SIU President Sacco, whom he described as “one of the fathers of the Maritime Security Program.”
Sacco commended the other speakers for their support of the U.S. Merchant Marine. He added that the fleet expansion stood out because “what’s good for the U.S.-flag fleet is good for the United States of America.”
Complete coverage of the ceremony will be featured in the November issue of the Seafarers LOG. Included among the photos accompanying this article are images of Seafarers who compose part of the Integrity crew.
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