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SIU to Sail Aboard 54 RRF Ships

September 2005

In an announcement that helps ensure job security for SIU members for years to come, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) in late July announced the award of operating contracts for the U.S. Ready Reserve Force (RRF). Seafarers-contracted companies will operate all 54 ships in the RRF fleet. On 43 of those vessels, SIU members (including members of the old NMU) will fill all of the unlicensed positions. On the other 11 ships, SIU members exclusively will sail in the steward department. “The MarAd announcement says a lot about the reliability of both SIU members along with the union’s contracted operators,” stated SIU President Michael Sacco. “The new contracts are a great opportunity for Seafarers, and I know that the RRF crews will continue doing an excellent job as part of our nation’s fourth arm of defense.” MarAd announced that most of the new ship management contracts “are built on a four-year base period and include two three-year extension options that will be based on the company’s performance.” The contract awards for the military support ships are as follows: Crowley Liner Services, Inc. (11 ships)—Cape Washington, Cape Wrath, Wright, Cape Taylor, Cape Texas, Cape Trinity, Cape Intrepid, Cape Island, Cape Inscription, Cape Isabel, Curtiss, Pacific Gulf Marine (10 ships)—Diamond State, Cape Henry, Cape Horn, Cape Hudson, Keystone State, Gem State, Grand Canyon State, Alatna, Chattahoochee, Nodaway Patriot Contract Services, LLC (8 ships)—Admiral William M. Callahan, Cape Orlando, Cape Gibson, Cape Girardeau, Cape Fear, Cape Florida, Cape Flattery, Cape Farewell Keystone Shipping Services, Inc. (7 ships)—Cape Race, Cape Rise, Cape Ray, Cape Victory, Cape Vincent, Cape Kennedy, Cape Knox Marine Transport Lines (6 ships)—Cape Edmont, Cape Ducato, Cape Decision, Cape Douglas, Cape Diamond, Cape Domingo Interocean American Shipping Corp. (5 ships)— Gopher State, Flickertail State, Cornhusker State, Petersburg, Chesapeake Matson Navigation Company (3 ships)—Comet, Meteor, Cape Jacob Ocean Duchess, Inc. (2 ships)—Cape May, Cape Mohican Horizon Lines, Inc., (2 ships)—Cape Lambert, Cape Lobos Seafarers will sail in the steward department aboard the Matson and Patriot ships. MarAd estimated the total value of the contracts at $1.9 billion over 10 years. “We have seen firsthand that the Ready Reserve Force provides a vital link to the men and women of the armed services by carrying thousands of military vehicles, aircraft and other materiel to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said. “This is an extremely cost-effective and well-run program that keeps us prepared to rapidly respond to the military’s needs.” As of late July, there had been 91 RRF ship activations since December 2002. According to MarAd, those vessels have carried nearly 15 million square feet of cargo, or roughly the equivalent of 310 football fields of material. “The Ready Reserve Force has moved an extraordinary amount of cargo over the past several years and our nation’s maritime industry has kept this fleet in good working order and worked diligently to show its value,” Acting Maritime Administrator John Jamian said. The agency further noted that RRF ships “are kept in a high state of readiness at fifteen ports located on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some ships also are kept in a prepositioned status overseas.” The RRF was established in 1976 and was significantly strengthened after the Gulf War in 1991 in order to ensure the military’s continued access to cargo capacity. Many of the ships have unique capabilities and have been used for humanitarian missions such as carrying aid to Haiti and participating in the December 2004 tsunami relief efforts.