Posted:
March 27, 2012
U.S. merchant mariners, commercial operators and shipyards are essential to maintaining a militarily-secure nation and a strong and stable economy, declared the Navy League of the United States in its 2012- 2013 policy statement. The report cites the Jones Act, Maritime Security Program, Ready Reserve Force and cargo preference laws as necessary components of U.S. national security and defense.
The report, Maritime Primacy and Economic Security, emphasizes the roles American merchant mariners and the U.S. commercial maritime industry serve in national defense and in the domestic and international economies.
"Skilled Mariners are more critical than ever to ensuring our ability to sustain U.S. national and global security interests," the report states. "Ninety-five percent of the equipment and supplies required to deploy the U.S. armed forces is moved by sea ... This critical capability must be maintained by ensuring an active commercial U.S.-flag merchant marine to support efficient and cost-effective movement of DoD cargo."
The report highlights the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, U.S. cargo preference laws, the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, the Ready Reserve Force and the Military Sealift Command fleet as necessary elements of a "substantial logistics force and commercial sealift capability."
U.S. merchant mariners and the U.S. commercial fleet "played a significant and indispensable role in strategic sealift support for Iraq operations and continue to supply operations in Afghanistan," the report states. The Navy League supports full compliance with the nation's cabotage laws, expanding the Maritime Security Program fleet, increased efforts to counter piracy and legislation "for Department of Veterans Affairs to treat merchant marine veterans of World War II as they do all other veterans."
The report also stresses the need to increase investments in maritime infrastructure and technology to maintain a "technologically advanced, secure, efficient and environmentally-sound maritime transportation system." The America's Marine Highway program, increased dredging of the nation's harbors and waterways and additional Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee funding will significantly contribute to a vibrant commercial maritime sector, the report states.
The Navy League called for policies that create a stable growth environment so shipyards can prepare long-term strategies and make proper investments in technology and materials. "All shipyards need long-term predictability and stability in order to properly manage their business, deliver quality and timely work and know when and how to invest in people and facilities. The current environment does not provide that," the report concludes.
The Navy League of the United States was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt and has grown to become the foremost citizens' organization to serve, support and stand with all the U.S. sea services - the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag merchant marine. The Navy League's public education efforts are designed to inform the nation, and its political leaders, of the vital importance to the country of comprehensive and fully prepared sea services.
Navy League: Jones Act, U.S. merchant mariners essential to national security
U.S. merchant mariners, commercial operators and shipyards are essential to maintaining a militarily-secure nation and a strong and stable economy, declared the Navy League of the United States in its 2012- 2013 policy statement. The report cites the Jones Act, Maritime Security Program, Ready Reserve Force and cargo preference laws as necessary components of U.S. national security and defense.
The report, Maritime Primacy and Economic Security, emphasizes the roles American merchant mariners and the U.S. commercial maritime industry serve in national defense and in the domestic and international economies.
"Skilled Mariners are more critical than ever to ensuring our ability to sustain U.S. national and global security interests," the report states. "Ninety-five percent of the equipment and supplies required to deploy the U.S. armed forces is moved by sea ... This critical capability must be maintained by ensuring an active commercial U.S.-flag merchant marine to support efficient and cost-effective movement of DoD cargo."
The report highlights the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, U.S. cargo preference laws, the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, the Ready Reserve Force and the Military Sealift Command fleet as necessary elements of a "substantial logistics force and commercial sealift capability."
U.S. merchant mariners and the U.S. commercial fleet "played a significant and indispensable role in strategic sealift support for Iraq operations and continue to supply operations in Afghanistan," the report states. The Navy League supports full compliance with the nation's cabotage laws, expanding the Maritime Security Program fleet, increased efforts to counter piracy and legislation "for Department of Veterans Affairs to treat merchant marine veterans of World War II as they do all other veterans."
The report also stresses the need to increase investments in maritime infrastructure and technology to maintain a "technologically advanced, secure, efficient and environmentally-sound maritime transportation system." The America's Marine Highway program, increased dredging of the nation's harbors and waterways and additional Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee funding will significantly contribute to a vibrant commercial maritime sector, the report states.
The Navy League called for policies that create a stable growth environment so shipyards can prepare long-term strategies and make proper investments in technology and materials. "All shipyards need long-term predictability and stability in order to properly manage their business, deliver quality and timely work and know when and how to invest in people and facilities. The current environment does not provide that," the report concludes.
The Navy League of the United States was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt and has grown to become the foremost citizens' organization to serve, support and stand with all the U.S. sea services - the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag merchant marine. The Navy League's public education efforts are designed to inform the nation, and its political leaders, of the vital importance to the country of comprehensive and fully prepared sea services.