October marks the start of the renewed, expanded U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP)—a vital component of America’s national defense capabilities.As reported early this year, the SIU gains 13 additional ships under the new MSP, which lasts from 2005-2016. The updated MSP fleet includes 60 vessels overall, an increase of 13 ships compared to the MSP set to expire at the end of September. Each of the 13 additions to the MSP fleet is operated by an SIU-contracted company.
Meanwhile, the 47 Seafarers-crewed vessels already enrolled in the MSP remain in the new program.
President Bush authorized the expanded MSP as part of a Defense bill that he signed in late 2003. The program initially 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,” noted the U.S. Maritime Administration.
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—Alliance New York.
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.
In announcing the operating contract awards early this year, the Maritime Administration noted, “The MSP serves to maintain a7n 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.”
Support for the program has been widespread, including from the top levels of government and the military. In October 2000, President Bush noted, “In time of war or national emergency, the U.S. military depends on shipping and seafarers drawn from the U.S.-flag commercial fleet to deploy our military overseas and, once deployed, to transport the supplies necessary for them to fight, and win anywhere in the world. . . . Programs . . . that guarantee intermodal cargo lift and management services when needed in times of crisis or conflict, such as the Maritime Security Program, should be maintained.”
In 2002, the head of the United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) urged Congress to reauthorize the MSP. U.S. Air Force General John W. Handy told Congress, “I wholeheartedly support reauthorization of MSP beyond expiration of the current authority on September 30, 2005. The MSP is a vital element of our military’s strategic sealift and global response capability. As we look at operations on multiple fronts in support of the war on terrorism, it is clear that our limited defense resources will increasingly rely on partnerships with industry to maintain the needed capability and capacity to meet our most demanding wartime scenarios. That makes MSP reauthorization even more important as we look toward the future.”
MSP ships—and crews—continue to play important roles in supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
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