United States Merchant Marine Academy - Midships Yearbook (Kings Point, NY)

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 i I Slii|) nmerioapr it costs no more . “. . . American prosperity — perhaps even American survival — still depends on keeping the sea lanes open . . . And a strong Navy and Merchant Marine are essential to a strong America . . . Let it never be said that we permitted our mer- chant fleet to disappear by attrition.” President Gerald Ford April 23, 1975 Ever since the end of the Second World War, the size of the American merchant fleet has declined. Many ships owned by American interests are regis- tered under flags of convienience. This enables them to compete on an even basis with foreign shipping interests, which are mostly supported by their governments. The U.S. government must act to stop the decline of the Amer- ican merchant fleet by lending more sup- port to U.S. flag shipping. Businesses should be encouraged to export American products on U.S. flag ships. Bulk quantities, such as grain bound for the Soviet Union, should also be carried in American hulls. A certain amount of our oil imports should be re- quired by law to be carried in U.S. flag tankers, not only for economic, but also for defense reasons. American ships are the fastest, safest, and most efficient af- loat. Support must be given in order to place the U.S. Merchant Marine in the place where it belongs: the number one merchant fleet in the world. five

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Congress first enunciated its “Decla- ration of Policy” in the Merchant Marine Act of 1920: “That it is necessary for the national defense and for the proper growth of the foreign and domestic commerce that the United States shall have a merchant marine of the best equipped and the most suitable types of vessels sufficient to carry the greater portion of its commerce and serve as a naval or military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency, ultimately to be owned and operated privately by citizens of the United States . . . The purpose of the act was to reserve coastwise, intercoastal, and non- contiguous trades for U.S. flag ships manned by American crews. Subsequent amendments to the act added strength to the Merchant Marine in the form of sub- sidies, loans, and training programs. The United States is the world’s third largest trading nation. The majority of the raw materials necessary for the oper- ation of our economy must be imported. Most of this cargo should be shipped on U.S. flag vessels in order to provide safety on the seas, remain independent of foreign flag vessels, and provide thousands of jobs in the maritime indus- try for Americans. This may be ac- complished through legislation such as a cargo preference law. The American Merchant Marine is be- neficial to every citizen of the United States, and therefore deserves the sup- port of each and every American in order to carry out its mission successfully. four

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In order to have an effective U.S. flag merchant fleet, we must possess the abil- ity to build and maintain the finest ves- sels afloat. Essential to this is a strong network of shipyards located in major U.S. ports. Thomas Jefferson recognized the importance to a maritime nation of building its own ships: “ . . . Placing as a reserve with a foreign nation, or in a foreign shipyard, the carpenters, blacksmiths, caulkers, sailmakers, and the vessels of a nation, would be a singu- lar commerical combination. We must, therefore, build them for our- selves . . . .” American shipyards are important to the economy and well being of the United States for many reasons. Ship- yards employ thousands of workers in many different capacities. Their liveli- hood is dependent upon U.S. shipping companies placing orders for new ships. Manufacturers of marine machinery and fittings are able to produce the finest machinery available, but without the shipyards producing vessels for potential buyers, this industry might collapse. Shipyards produce the naval vessels that are vital to the defense of our nation. Our navy is second to none and possesses the finest warships afloat. Shipyards also maintain both merchant and naval ves- sels in top shape, enabling them to oper- ate safely and efficiently. SIX