Three car carriers enter U.S. fleet under Maritime Security Program

Three car carriers enter U.S. fleet under Maritime Security Program

New jobs for AMO aboard Integrity, Honor, Courage

The car carrier Integrity is one of three that were brought under U.S. registry by American Roll-On/Roll-Off Carrier and renamed before entering commercial trades under the Maritime Security Program. The other two vessels are the Honor and Courage. All three are operated by Interocean American Shipping and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.

Three car carriers--each manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers--were welcomed to the U.S. merchant fleet Sept. 29.

The ships were the reflagged Integrity, Honor and Courage, owned by American Roll-On/Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) and operated by Interocean American Ship Management Corp.

The Integrity, Honor and Courage were christened during a mid-day ceremony in the vast cargo space of the Integrity at Dundalk Marine Terminal in Baltimore. The ships' sponsors wielded the traditional champagne bottles--filled with glitter--symbolically against three anchors representing the vessels.

Mrs. Bonnie Ebeling, wife of ARC President and Chairman Raymond Ebeling, christened the Integrity. Mrs. Mickey Handy, wife of retired U.S. Air Force Gen. John W. Handy, former commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, christened the Honor. Mrs. Sophie Sacco, wife of Seafarers International Union of North America President Michael Sacco, christened the Courage.

The Integrity, Honor and Courage are enrolled in the renewed and expanded Maritime Security Program. Authorized initially for 10 years in the Maritime Security Act of 1996, the MSP supports qualified U.S.-flagged merchant ships in foreign trade and ensures a commercial fleet that can supplement government-owned and chartered sealift ships during defense emergencies. Legislation enacted in November 2003 renewed the Maritime Security Program for 10 years and expanded its scope from 47 vessels to 60, beginning in fiscal year 2006 on Oct. 1, 2005.

"This is the single largest addition to the American merchant fleet ever at one time," Raymond Ebeling said at the event. Ebeling described the MSP as a reliable and cost-effective way to enhance U.S. strategic sealift capabilities and the product of a partnership between the federal government and the private sector, including seagoing unions.

Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, who succeeded Gen. Handy at the TRANSCOM helm Oct. 1, said the Maritime Security Program "plays a critical role in expanding our U.S. mariner base" for military support services at sea.

Gen. Handy offered similar perspective. The MSP, he said, means new ships under the U.S. flag and new jobs for civilian American merchant mariners. "When we need seamen to man our military support ships, they will be there," he said.

SIU and AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department President Michael Sacco described the occasion as "truly fantastic" for the U.S. merchant fleet and the seagoing workforce. "I'll go a step further and call it a great day for our nation because what's good for the U.S.-flag fleet is also good for the United States of America," Sacco said.

Sacco noted "the constant battle" in Washington to "keep our industry alive and growing--we're always under attack by foreign-flag interests who have no regard for America's national and economic security," he elaborated. "But we keep fighting back, and we're winning--the reflagging of these three ships is proof."

AMO National President Michael R. McKay commented: "Our union is pleased to participate in so significant a way in the expansion of the American merchant fleet and to have a role in ARC's remarkable success story. This particular event demonstrates the value of the Maritime Security Program, which keeps a U.S.-flag presence in overseas trade, and which is increasingly important to U.S. interests everywhere in this volatile world."

The ARC car carriers Patriot, Freedom, Liberty and Resolve already participate in the Maritime Security Program. Interocean American Ship Management Corp. operates these ships--as well as the U.S.-flagged car carrier Independence--under AMO contract for ARC.

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