Sealift and the U.S. Merchant Marine: vulnerabilities and implications for defense
Loading...
Authors
Christian, Jonathan.
Subjects
Sealift
U. S. Merchant Marine
Ready Reserve Force
National Defense Reserve Fleet
MARAD
Desert Shield
Desert Storm
U. S. Merchant Marine
Ready Reserve Force
National Defense Reserve Fleet
MARAD
Desert Shield
Desert Storm
Advisors
Brown, R. Mitchell, III
Date of Issue
1993-12
Date
December 1993
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
This study determines which of the two critical variables--vessel or personnel availability--will have the greater impact on strategic sealift given the post-Cold War geopolitical and fiscal environment, and examines the key implications of a depressed U. S.-flag Merchant Marine (and maritime industry) on contingency planning. In addition to reviewing the evolution and development of the U. S. Merchant Marine and considering the repercussions of past legislation on the current state of the industry, a synopsis of recently- proposed maritime reforms and government-administered sealift programs is provided. Further, shipbuilding and maritime labor trends are discussed. Using Operations Desert Shield/Storm as a conceptual model for future sealift scenarios, this analysis concludes that mariner availability, not ship availability, will be the sealift 'Achilles' heel' in a nearly simultaneous two MRC scenario. This study includes the views of maritime industry representatives and government officials as primary source data, and offers recommendations on potential sealift manning options and opportunities.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
141 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.