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February 2000
On-Line Edition
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| New MARAD Tally Shows Larger U.S. Fleet |
| Assessment Shows 37,000 U.S.-Flag Vessels Now In Operation |
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New data from the Maritime Administration Jan. 13 showed a larger and more diverse U.S. merchant fleet than all previous tallies by the agency. MARAD reported more than 37,000 U.S.-flag cargo and passenger vessels operating in foreign and domestic markets--a total that included barges, tugs, towboats, workboats, offshore oil crew and supply vessels, ferries, and other vessels. Until this year, MARAD's fleet count focused exclusively on self-propelled ocean-going and Great Lakes vessels of 1,000 gross tons or larger. "All these vessels, whether serving our foreign or domestic trade, support the nation's booming economy and provide jobs for thousands of Americans," said Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart, who presented the new numbers to the U.S. Propeller Club/Port of Washington DC. "At the same time, they meet our nation's strict safety and environmental standards." Hart explained that the fleet total, which did not include laid-up commercial vessels or ships in MARAD's National Defense Reserve Fleet and Ready Reserve Force, was drawn from statistics compiled by MARAD, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. |
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