The growth of the SIU-contracted U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet continued last month with the formal reflagging of the car carrier Alliance New York under the Stars and Stripes.Ceremonies took place Nov. 10 in Baltimore and included addresses by Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant, United States Marine Corps; Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); Vice Adm. David Brewer, commander, United States Military Sealift Command (MSC); SIU President Michael Sacco; United States Deputy Maritime Administrator John Jamian; and officials from the respective companies Liberty Global Logistics, Alliance New York and Hoegh Autoliners.
Unlicensed apprentices from the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education served as the honor guard.
Sacco described the MSP as “clearly a great value for our nation. It’s a program that’s working exactly as intended, and the United States is better off as a result.”
He told the audience of approximately 200 individuals from throughout the U.S. maritime industry that SIU members “are extremely proud to sail aboard the Alliance New York, and we’re equally proud to continue serving as part of America’s fourth arm of defense. Our members are the best-trained seafarers in the world, and I know for a fact that they are patriotic men and women who are ready, willing and able to deliver the goods—anytime, anywhere.”
Magnus delivered the keynote address during an early afternoon ceremony that immediately followed a separate celebration closer to the vessel. Speaking on the 230th anniversary of the Marine Corps, he described SIU President Sacco as “a great labor leader” and added that sea power boosts national power.
Magnus underscored the need for America to maintain a “sovereign (maritime) capability.” He noted that while the majority of this nation’s “expressions of power” are peaceful, in times of conflict, vessels such as the Alliance New York “support America’s military power.”
He further pointed out that the U.S. Merchant Marine continues supporting American troops involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Schwartz gave the keynote address in the earlier ceremony. He stated that the addition of the Alliance New York is significant for the companies, the mariners “and in fact for our nation.”
He touched on the long and proud history of the U.S. Merchant Marine and said that in modern times, “We rely heavily on our commercial partners and associated labor organizations. We cannot do business without you. That’s a reality that’s not about to change.”
Schwartz pointed out that the expanded MSP (increasing the fleet from 47 to 60 U.S.-flag vessels) is helping to augment the pool of well-trained, reliable, U.S. citizen mariners who sail aboard civilian-crewed military support ships. He credited those mariners for their performance during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Brewer said that the addition of the Alliance New York “marks the beginning of another great chapter in the continuing story of freedom, strength and liberty. It is always a comfort to know that ships such as Alliance New York stand ready to serve, helping protect America’s shores and projecting combat power and strength wherever it’s needed in our turbulent world.
“This ship will be one of the most useful ships to come under the Department of Defense umbrella,” he continued. “She also has the added plus of allowing access to the Hoegh network and infrastructure. That means more flexibility, which means quicker response in time of need.”
He added that the new vessel “joins dozens of other ships bearing the U.S. flag—ships that demonstrate the strong partnership between the U.S. maritime industry, the U.S. maritime unions and the Department of Defense. This is a partnership for America, a partnership for strength, a partnership for the future. The need for a strong merchant marine and a strong industry to build the ships those merchant mariners will sail is as crucial to America today as it was 230 years ago when the first sea engagement of our American Revolution was fought by civilian mariners aboard the privately owned sloop, Unity.”
Jamian said that the U.S. Merchant Marine “is critical to our national and economic health. America has seen the important role of the U.S. Merchant Marine as our ships deliver in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.”
He emphasized that the MSP creates thousands of shipboard jobs, which helps ensure the availability of U.S. crews during times of conflict. Without mariners who sail in times of peace, the U.S. fleet itself would disappear—something that simply cannot be allowed to happen, Jamian said.
Jamian also called the Alliance New York “an outstanding addition” to the MSP fleet.
Speaking on behalf of the respective companies were (in order of appearance) Robert Wellner, executive vice president, Liberty Global Logistics; Philip Shapiro, president and CEO, Liberty Global Logistics and Liberty Maritime Corp.; James Butcher, chairman and CEO, Alliance New York; and Erik Falkenberg, senior vice president, Hoegh Autoliners. The vessel is operated through a newly formed strategic alliance between those organizations.
General Magnus’ wife, Rose, served as the ship’s U.S.-flag sponsor.
As previously reported, the new MSP which took effect in October increases the number of participants to 60 ships; provides financial assistance to construct five newly built tankers in the United States that are capable of carrying military petroleum products during a war; establishes a 30-month period to replace older ships with newer Defense Department-approved and militarily useful ships; and increases the annual payment to ship operators.
The MSP has been a key element of America’s economic and defense security since its enactment in 1996. Its vessels are available to the Department of Defense in times of war or national emergency, and the MSP also gives the U.S. access to program participants’ infrastructure, terminals, communications networks and more.
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