Buzby: Declining Ship Numbers, Opportunities Causing Merchant Marine Talent Loss

World War II Merchant Marine recruiting poster.

The Maritime Administration’s top official warns of “a bleed-off of talent” in the merchant fleet because there are fewer ships for each year’s maritime academy graduates to serve on and even fewer chances of a long career.

The American merchant marine is at least 1,800 officers short of what’s needed to meet sustained wartime needs of more than four-to-six weeks of operations in a contested environment, said retired Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, speaking...

https://news.usni.org/2019/08/22/buzby-declining-ship-numbers-opportunities-causing-merchant-marine-talent-loss

Jones Act Not The Cause Of Higher Shipping Costs Supporters Say

A crew member of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw keeps a lookout before the ship’s departure for icebreaking operations on Whitefish Bay and Lake Superior ahead of the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie Locks March 25th, the start of this year’s shipping season. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

The Maritime Administration’s top official challenged critics of the Jones Act to prove the law’s requirement for having American-made ships with American crews is the “source of all evil” causing prices to increase...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/24/jones-act-not-the-cause-of-higher-shipping-costs-supporters-say

Keeping Up With the Jones Act

World War II Merchant Marine recruiting poster.

In the last several weeks, the Jones Act has drawn headlines over how it has shaped the U.S. and worldwide shipping industry. After almost 100 years as a part of federal law, there’s much misunderstanding as to what the law actually does.

What is it?

MT West Virginia, a Jones Act product tanker built by Philly ships

The Jones Act requires that all merchandise loaded at one U.S. port and unloaded at another U.S. port be transported on vessels that...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/04/keeping-up-with-the-jones-act

MARAD Ready Reserve Force Still Faces Readiness, Manning Challenges

RRF vessel SS Cornhusker State off the coast of Haiti, February 2010. MARAD Photo

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force is still as small and perhaps less ready than this time last year, when a top MARAD official said the RRF was “on the ragged edge” of readiness.

Asked about those comments today at the Navy League’s annual Sea Air Space conference, MARAD Administrator Mark Buzby said “I could say the same statement again this year, I’m afraid.”

“We have not, in...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/06/marad-ready-reserve-force-still-faces-readiness-manning-challenges

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