When the largest power outage in our nation’s history struck last month, Seafarers answered the call.
In a scene that couldn’t help but bring back memories of September 11, SIU crews aboard NY Waterway passenger ferries transported 200,000 commuters from New York City on August 14. With subway and bus service as well as most other ground transportation out, Seafarers were there for their fellow citizens who desperately needed a ride toward home.
Thankfully, last month’s events weren’t anywhere near the same tragic scale as the terrorist attacks. But, they served up another reminder that U.S. mariners answer their nation’s call—in peace and war.
The blackout came on the heels of numerous ceremonies honoring U.S. crews—including thousands of SIU members—who supported our troops by sailing in Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Operation Enduring Freedom. During those ceremonies, high-ranking officials from our government and armed forces described the U.S. Merchant Marine as patriotic, dedicated and reliable.
Many factors are behind that dependability and the similar steadiness shown by our ferry crews. Love of country. Devotion to duty. Upholding the tradition of the fourth arm of defense. Commitment to proper training that helps ensure safe operations. Willingness to sail into harm’s way.
If you look a little further, you’ll see other important components that allow our mariners to deliver the goods. Namely, laws such as the Jones Act and the U.S. Maritime Security Program, among others, which help maintain a pool of trained, loyal crews to sail aboard American-flag ships.
Put simply, the Jones Act works. Now more than ever, with our nation constantly under the threat of more attacks, common sense says it’s more than reasonable to insist that cargo (and passengers) moving from one domestic port to another be carried aboard U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed, U.S.-built vessels. In my book, that’s the safest, most trustworthy combination on water.
Likewise, the Maritime Security Program, up for reauthorization possibly as soon as next month, works. Operation Iraqi Freedom proved it, although, as discussed here many times, the program already had shown its worth to U.S. national and economic security.
It’s too bad that it sometimes takes unwanted circumstances to remind people of the merchant marine’s importance. Yet our crews have consistently shined when they’re most needed, during wars and other emergencies and peacekeeping missions. Time after time, we deliver.
Slowly but surely, more Americans are becoming aware of our critical role. During the war in Iraq, the merchant marine received at least a passable amount of media coverage—certainly far more than during Operation Desert Storm. And, just last month, Fox News Channel aired an hour-long piece on the heroism of America’s World War II mariners. The segment concluded with a very appropriate acknowledgement of today’s seafarers and their performance in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Incredibly, even as some of our mariners return home from the war while others continue post-war sealift operations, new attacks on the Jones Act have surfaced, as reported elsewhere in this issue. Those attacks are a sobering reminder that the enemies of the U.S. Merchant Marine won’t let up.
But they’ll have to do more than trot out the same old weak arguments which are nothing more than thinly disguised attempts by foreign-flag interests to crush our industry. The U.S. Merchant Marine is a proven, valuable asset to this country. The administration knows it. The military knows it. So do plenty of people in Congress. And the public finally may be catching on.
With that in mind, I remain very optimistic about our industry’s future. As we tackle new challenges to improve shipboard and port security, the cooperation between labor, management and government has never been better. With Operation Iraqi Freedom and the blackout as backdrops, our importance remains clear.
The opportunities to strengthen our fleet have never been more critical or viable. Whether by protecting the Jones Act, or expanding the Maritime Security Program, or strengthening the fight against runaway flags, the SIU will continue to help lead the battle to maintain a strong U.S. Merchant Marine.
Our members—and our nation—deserve nothing less.
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