sealift

MARAD’s MSP and TSP sealift programs are now fully enrolled

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) says that its two key sealift programs, the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and the new Tanker Security Program (TSP) are now fully enrolled.

The MSP and TSP sealift programs provide U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed ships for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) sustainment sealift requirements during times of conflict or in other national emergencies and both pay shipowners a retainer for each enrolled vessel.

“In peacetime, our...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/shipping/marads-msp-and-tsp-sealift-programs-are-now-fully-enrolled/

HASC Advances NDAA Authorizing 10 Ships, Creating SLCM-N Program

U.S. Capitol on Dec. 29, 2022. USNI News Photo

The House Armed Services Committee passed its annual defense policy bill early Thursday, authorizing the Navy to buy a total of 10 ships, an increase from the requested nine in the budget proposal.

The advanced legislation allows the Navy to buy one Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, two Virginia-class attack boats, two Constellation-class frigates, one San Antonio-class LPD-17 Flight II...

https://news.usni.org/2023/06/22/hasc-advances-ndaa-authorizing-10-ships-creating-slcm-n-program

TRANSCOM Commander: American Shipyards Need Revitalization to Help Modernize Military Sealift Command

PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 20, 2022) An AS332 Super Puma transports cargo from the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) onto the flight deck of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during a replenishment-at-sea. U.S. Navy Photo

Buying nine used cargo ships is a first step toward the much needed modernization of Military Sealift Command’s fleet, but the sealift enterprise requires the revitalization of American shipbuilding and yard maintenance to experience...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/04/transcom-commander-american-shipyards-need-revitalization-to-help-modernize-military-sealift-command

House Lawmakers Call For Long-Term Strategy For Sealift After Decades of Neglect

An undated photo of a Watson-class LMSR. MSC Photo

House lawmakers are calling on U.S. Transportation Command and the U.S. Maritime Administration to create a sealift strategy amid decades of concerns over the capacity of the sealift fleet.

During a joint hearing between the House Armed Services Committee’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee and readiness subcommittee on Tuesday, lawmakers criticized and expressed concern over the lack of a cohesive strategy to build up the sealift fleet.

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/19/house-lawmakers-call-for-long-term-strategy-for-sealift-after-decades-of-neglect

Navy Questioning How to Sustain Fleet in High-End Fight, Says Analyst

Sailors prepare for a replenishment-at-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) in the hangar bay of aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on Oct. 18, 2020. US Navy Photo

The Navy is asking itself how the service can sustain the fleet in high-end conflict when it no longer has government-owned or American-flagged merchant vessels feeding forward bases to rely on in wartime, a maritime analyst told an international online forum Thursday.

Sal Mercogliano, associate professor...

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/29/navy-questioning-how-to-sustain-fleet-in-high-end-fight-says-analyst