| U.S. Maritime    Administration

America's Merchant Marine -- Supporting America's Armed Forces 

"When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will      share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine." 

**General Dwight David Eisenhower**

**WORLD WAR II**

In World War II, civilian-crewed U.S. cargo ships controlled by the    War Shipping Administration carried about 75 percent of shipments from the United States.    Total cargo lifted between December 7, 1941, and the capitulation of Japan was    approximately 300.5 million short tons. The U.S.-flag merchant fleet also carried the    great majority of military personnel and civilians moving overseas and returning to the    United States during and after the war. 

Many civilian American seafarers made the ultimate sacrifice; more    than 6,000 were killed, and 733 American cargo ships were lost to enemy action. Thousands    more seafarers were injured during attacks, and nearly 600 were held as prisoners of war. 

Gen. Eisenhower and other Allied war leaders praised America's    civilian seafarers for their heroism. General Douglas MacArthur said, "I hold no    branch in higher esteem than the Merchant Marine services." 

**KOREAN WAR**

Approximately 31.5 million measurement tons of supplies were shipped    from the United States to the Far East during the Korean War. 

About 95 percent of these supplies were shipped by sea, with 80    percent carried by privately owned U.S.-flag merchant ships, and 15 percent by Military    Sea Transportation Service ships -- all crewed by civilian American citizen seafarers. 

**VIETNAM**

Privately owned U.S.-flag merchant ships delivered 65 percent of the    dry cargo shipments to support American forces in Vietnam, and Government-owned ships    carried the balance. 

The Maritime Administration activated 172 World War II era Victory    ships from its National Defense Reserve Fleet. Some 15,000 U.S. citizen merchant mariners    crewed the vessels. Cargoes totaled more than 85 million measurement tons. 

**OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM**

During the Persian Gulf war, 95 percent of the total cargo needed to    support Allied forces went by sea. U.S.-flag ships crewed by American citizen seafarers    transported nearly 80 percent of the oceanborne cargoes. These ships included privately    owned merchant ships in commercial service, chartered ships, and 79 Ready Reserve Force    (RRF) ships. 

On short notice, more than 3,000 civilian seafarers volunteered to    crew the RRF ships. Merchant mariners who served in the Persian Gulf war zone were awarded    the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal. Their service also was recognized by their    inclusion in the victory parade which followed the war. 

President Bush said at the time, "The recent coalition victory    in the Persian Gulf has demonstrated, once again, the importance of the American merchant    marine to maintaining an adequate and reliable sea lift capacity for the United    States." 

General Colin Powell said "Since I became Chairman of the Joint    Chiefs of staff, I have come to appreciate first-hand why our merchant marine has long    been called the nation's fourth arm of defense. 

"The American seafarer provides an essential service to the    well-being of the nation, as was demonstrated so clearly during Operations Desert Shield    and Desert Storm." 

**OPERATION RESTORE HOPE SOMALIA**

In 1992, three Ready Reserve Force vessels were activated to support    the United Nation's humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Somalia. These included    two offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS) tankers, the AMERICAN OSPREY and POTOMAC.    The TS EMPIRE STATE, normally used for training students at the New York State Maritime    Academy, was activated to repatriate troops from Somalia. 

In 1994, the Maritime Administration activated 14 of its Ready    Reserve Force vessels, this time to support Operation Support Democracy in Haiti. The    ships transported military cargo from various U.S. ports to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. All    were fully crewed by a total of more than 400 civilian American seafarers and were    operational within four days of being requested, ahead of the military's activation    requirement. 

General John M. Shalikashvili, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of    Staff, praised the "flawless, timely response" of everyone involved in    activating the RRF ships to support American troops serving in Haiti. 

**OPERATION QUICK LIFT & OPERATION ENDEAVOR BOSNIA**

In June 1995, two Ready Reserve Force ships were activated to    support NATO peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia. The CAPE RACE and CAPE DIAMOND carried more    than 92 percent of the cargo transferred from the United Kingdom to Croatia. This included    2,015 military vehicles, 232 containers and 3,629 pallets of breakbulk cargo. 

On December 1, 1995, the CAPE RACE was again activated to support    NATO activities in Bosnia, this time in support of Operation Quick Endeavor. A sistership,    the CAPE RISE, also was called into service. 

MARAD is an agency of DOT. Site last updated Friday, June 18, 1999Visit MARAD Y2K page.  Now    also online: Marad's Waiver Page |
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