The U.S. Maritime Administration last month announced the names of the vessels and operators for the new Maritime Security Program (MSP)—and the notice couldn’t have been better for the SIU.The union gains 13 additional ships under the new MSP, which runs from 2005-2016. Overall, the updated MSP fleet includes 60 vessels—an increase of 13 ships compared to the MSP which expires this fall. Each of the 13 additions to the MSP fleet is operated by an SIU-contracted company.
The 47 Seafarers-crewed vessels already enrolled in the MSP have been renewed for the expanded, extended program.
“This is a tremendous gain for the membership,” said SIU President Michael Sacco. “Bringing 13 additional ships into our contracted fleet is fantastic news. It means new jobs and job security for Seafarers.”
SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez said the new MSP as a whole “is a win-win situation. It improves our national defense capabilities and it obviously boosts the employment opportunities of Seafarers for at least the next 10 years.”
The 13 new MSP slots are assigned to OSG Shipholding Group (three ships), Central Gulf (one), Fidelio (ARC) (four), Liberty Global Logistics (one), Lykes Lines (two), and Patriot (two).
Overall, the awards are as follows, with the company name followed by the vessels: APL Marine Services, Ltd.—APL Korea, APL Philippines, APL Singapore, APL Thailand, President Adams, President Jackson, APL China, President Polk and President Truman.
Central Gulf Lines, Inc.—Green Cove, Green Point, Green Lake and Hercules Leader.
American Auto Carriers, Inc.—Liberty.
Fidelio Limited Partnership—Patriot, Freedom, Takasago, Resolve, Otello and Aida.
Farrell Lines Inc.—Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, Endeavor, Endurance and Enterprise.
Liberty Global Logistics, LLC—Splendid Ace.
Lykes Lines Limited, LLC—Lykes Navigator, Lykes Discoverer, Lykes Liberator, Lykes Motivator and Tmm Yucatan.
Maersk Line, Limited—Maersk Missouri, Maersk Virginia, Maersk Georgia, Maersk Carolina, Sealand Achiever, Sealand Florida, Sealand Pride, Sealand Motivator, Sealand Commitment, Sealand Atlantic, Sealand Charger, Maersk Alabama, Sealand Lightning, Sealand Meteor, Maersk Arkansas, Sealand Intrepid, Sealand Comet, Sealand Performance and Sealand Quality.
OSG Shipholding Group, Inc.—Overseas Joyce, Maersk Rapier, Maersk Regent and Maersk Richmond.
Patriot Shipping, LLC—Industrial Challenger and Industrial Chief.
Waterman Steamship Corporation—P&O Nedlloyd Vera Cruz, Atlantic Forest, Green Dale and P&O Nedlloyd Buenos Aires.
The current MSP expires Sept. 30, 2005, with the new one beginning immediately thereafter.
In announcing the awards, the Maritime Administration noted, “The MSP serves to maintain an active, privately owned, U.S.-flag and U.S.-crewed liner fleet in international trade. This fleet also is available to support the Department of Defense sustainment in a contingency.”
The program was established through the Maritime Security Act of 1996. It helps retain “a labor base of skilled American mariners who are available to crew the U.S. Government-owned strategic sealift fleet, as well as the U.S. commercial fleet, both in peace and war,” the agency pointed out.
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