Maritime’s Past and Future
For many years, National Maritime Day has paid tribute to the men and women who went to sea before us. This year, the program in our nation’s capital was different.
Yes, we paid our respects. But leaders from the government, industry and Congress proclaimed support for upcoming U.S.-flag projects as a way to ensure that our future will be even more secure than our past.
While the historic role of the U.S. Merchant Marine certainly got its due this year, many of the comments that stood out on May 22 addressed our industry’s potential growth rather than its past. Lt. Gen. Kenneth Wykle and Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton explained in interesting detail how rail and highway congestion, along with solidly projected growth in imports, translate into opportunities to build upon our maritime infrastructure.
Now, I realize that studies about cargo imports and road traffic may not seem too exciting to every audience, and it’s probably tough to think about maritime job growth when you’re stuck between tractor trailers on a highway somewhere. But there’s a definite connection. As Lt. Gen. Wykle, the president of the National Defense Transportation Association, put it, congestion not only is the single biggest issue facing the maritime industry, it is the biggest issue facing the U.S. economy as a whole.
He called for the development of a “marine highway system” spurred and supported by a public-private partnership. “We need to look at this as a long-term investment in America’s infrastructure and in job creation, not as an investment in capital assets,” he stated. “Moving cargo off the roads and rail systems, and onto vessels, would benefit multiple states and provide economic benefits to the entire nation. It would also benefit the environment by reducing emissions.”
Connaughton challenged the industry to “have the courage to take advantage of opportunities” coinciding with economic growth and America’s dependence on maritime. He called the U.S. Merchant Marine the world’s best shipboard manpower, and said he believes there’s a real opening for us to play a growing role.
Needless to say, I agree.
I also fully support Congressman Gene Taylor’s sentiments that the American maritime industry is nothing short of vital when it comes to homeland security. Congressman Taylor cut right to the chase, noting that if we as a nation are serious about protecting our shores and projecting our strength, we’ve obviously got to maintain a strong American maritime industry—everything from domestic shipbuilding to laws that support the U.S.-flag fleet to a regulatory environment that promotes keeping a solid shipboard manpower pool composed of reliable, well-trained U.S. mariners.
You don’t have to be a blind optimist to see the opportunities for growth. And you don’t have to be a security expert to understand why it makes sense to rely on American crews, sailing aboard American-flag ships, to carry our nation’s vital materiel.
These opportunities are real, and the SIU, as always, will do our part to help ensure that the U.S. Merchant Marine enjoys a prosperous future—one that honors those who laid the foundation of our legacy.
You Have to Play to Win
Speaking of opportunities, I was pleased to read about the recent awarding of the annual Seafarers Health and Benefits Plans’ scholarships to six SIU dependents.
And I was very disappointed to learn that no eligible Seafarers applied for the grants reserved for active SIU members.
This is a great benefit available to our membership, one that can open doors and help people realize their goals. But like the old lottery slogan says, you’ve got to play to win. Or in this case, you can’t receive a scholarship if you don’t apply.
Look for information about the scholarship program in future issues of the LOG, and listen for it at the monthly membership meetings. If you’ve ever thought about going back to school, this could be your chance.
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