The American flag must always sail in the sea lanes

of the world.

 President Bill Clinton

 October 8, 1996

Sealift 

America’s Maritime Heritage

The United States has three main sources of

sealift vessels to carry military supplies and

cargo to support the nation's armed forces:

1. Department of Defense sealift ships

kept fully loaded with military material,

and fully crewed at all times, ready to

embark immediately to a war zone.

2. Standby reserve ships operated by the

Department of Transportation's

Maritime Administration, available to

load military cargoes within 4 to 20

days' notice.

3. U.S.-flag merchant ships, normally

operated in commercial service but

available when needed to service

national defense needs. These ships

would carry cargo such as ammunition,

tanks, military equipment, vehicles,

spare parts and food, needed to sustain

the deployment of American armed

The Administration’s new Maritime Security

Program is designed to provide sustainment sealift

for national emergencies at minimal cost.

forces. terminals and equipment, communications

The Bush Administration and the Clinton trained, professional U.S. citizen seafarers,

Administration both proposed legislation to and 22,000 shoreside employees located

be sure the nation will continue to have a throughout the world.

fleet of commercial cargo vessels available to

carry sustainment cargo to support U.S.

military forces. U.S.-flag merchant ships are

owned by U.S. citizens and crewed by loyal

American citizen seafarers.

Under the Maritime Security Program (MSP),

the Government contracts with the owners of

U.S.-flag commercial ships for service when

needed for national emergencies or war. This

approach avoids the need to spend billions of

dollars to acquire additional cargo ships

dedicated solely to carrying military cargoes,

and the millions of additional dollars

required to maintain more standby vessels.

The MSP maintains a modern U.S.-flag fleet

providing military access to vessels and The ship capacity and associated intermodal

vessel capacity, as well as a total global, capabilities of the MSP vessels are enrolled

intermodal transportation network. This in the new sealift Emergency Preparedness

network includes not only vessels, but Program, the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift

logistics management services, infrastructure, Agreement.

MSP Participants

American Ship Management 9 vessels

Central Gulf Lines 3 vessels

Waterman Steamship 4 vessels

Automar International Car Carrier 3 vessels

First American Bulk Carrier 2 vessels

Farrell Lines 3 vessels

First Ocean Bulk Carrier I,II,III 3 vessels

Maersk Line 4 vessels

OSG Car Carriers 1 vessel

U.S. Ship Management 15 vessels

Total 47 vessels

18 Large Containerships > 3,000 TEU

(intermodal surge/sustainment)

18 Medium Containerships < 3,000 TEU

 (unit equipment/containerized ammo)

 3 LASH

 8 Car/Truck Carriers (unit equipment)

 

118,000 Total TEU’s -or10.4 Million Sq. Ft. of Militarily Useful Capacity

and cargo-tracking networks, 20,000 well-
On September 24, 1996, the United States

Senate joined the House of Representatives

in passing H.R. 1350. President Clinton

signed Public Law 104-239, the Maritime

Security Act, on October 8, 1996.

For additional information call 

1-800-99-MARAD or visit the Maritime

Administration’s Web Page at

http://www.marad.dot.gov.

April 2000 

Maritime Administration400 Seventh Street, S.W.Washington, DC 20590

U.S. Department of Transportation

Maritime Administration

The Maritime Security Act will protect

American jobs and maintain a U.S.

presence in international maritime trade,

ensuring that vital imports and exports

are delivered in both peacetime and

wartime. The Act reaffirms our Nation’s

resolve to maintain a strong U.S.-flag

presence on the high seas for our

continued national security and economic

growth.

 President Bill Clinton

 October 8, 1996

MARITIME SECURITY ACT

Meeting National Sealift Needs