More than 120 maritime labor and industry leaders – including members of the USA Maritime coalition, union officials, company executives, and association leaders and representatives – participated in the 12th Maritime Industry Congressional Sail-In on April 10. The Sail-In, which also included representatives from the American Maritime Partnership and the domestic shipping industry, the State Maritime Academies, the USMMA Alumni Foundation, and related maritime associations and organizations, provided the participants with the opportunity to meet with more than 125 congressional offices to discuss the importance of the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine to our nation’s economic, military and homeland security.
As the only event of its kind that brings together a unified maritime industry, the participants, speaking with one voice, emphasized the importance to our nation of having the U.S.-flag shipping industry and the cadre of American merchant mariners needed to counter China’s control over the ocean shipping supply chain, and to provide the commercial sealift readiness capability needed by the Department of Defense to support American troops deployed overseas.
Attending the Sail-In were American Maritime Officers National President Captain Willie Barrere; AMO National Vice President, Government Relations, Christian Spain; AMO National Assistant Vice President, Government Relations, Alaina Basciano; and American Maritime Officers Service Legislative Consultant Brenda Otterson.
During the event, USA Maritime presented the Maritime Leadership Award to Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) in recognition of his support for the U.S.-flag fleet operating in U.S. domestic and international trades. As noted by USA Maritime Chair Chris Johnsen when presenting the award to Congressman Wittman, “the U.S.-flag deep sea fleet and its cadre of American mariners have no better friend and stronger supporter than Congressman Rob Wittman.”
