Maritime Administration www.marad.dot.gov 

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION 

FACT SHEET 

Maritime Security Program (MSP) 

Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) 

America’s Advocate for the Maritime Industry 

Current MSP Companies 

American International Shipping, LLC 

APL Marine Services, Ltd 

Central Gulf Lines, Inc. 

Farrell Lines Incorporated 

Fidelio Limited Partnership 

Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC 

Liberty Global Logistics, LLC 

Luxmar Tanker Corporation 

Maersk Line, Limited 

Maremar Tanker Corporation 

Patriot Shipping LLC 

Patriot Titan LLC 

Waterman Steamship Corporation 

Kevin M. Tokarski 

Associate Administrator for 

National Security 

______________________ 

Jerome D. Davis 

Director 

Office of Sealift Support 

_____________________ 

Voice: (202) 366-2323 

Fax: (202) 366-3128 

Strategic Objective: National Security: Assure that sufficient sealift capability and intermodal transportation 

infrastructure exists to support vital homeland and national security interests. 

Mission: Strengthen the U.S. maritime transportation system—including infrastructure, industry and labor 

to meet the economic and security needs of the Nation. 

Operation Iraqi Freedom: 

20 VISA (including 3 MSP) vessels chartered by Military Sealift Command 

84 VISA (including 69 MSP) vessels utilized by Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command in 

their liner service 

VISA Participation 

1. 49 Companies 

2. 133 Ocean Going Ships 

3. 178 Tugs, barges and other vessels 

VISA Open Season 

The Maritime Administration conducts an annual open season during which additional companies may apply 

to enroll in the VISA program. 

For additional MSP/VISA information please contact: 

Bill Kurfehs (202) 366-2318 

Rhonda Davis (202) 366-6379 

Maritime Administration Department of Transportation 
Maritime Administration www.marad.dot.gov 

Maritime Security Program (MSP) 

Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) Program 

The MSP serves to maintain an active, privately-owned, U.S.-flag and U.S.-crewed liner fleet in 

international trade. This fleet is also available to support the Department of Defense (DOD) 

sustainment in a contingency. 

On November 23, 2003 the MSP was reauthorized by the Maritime Security Act of 2003. The 

reauthorized program is for fiscal years (FY) 2006-2015 and provides funding for 60 ships. Annual 

funding authorization for FY 2006-2008 is $156 million and increases to $174 million in FY 2009-

2011 and $186 million for FY 2012-2015. As of August 1, 2009, 59 vessels were enrolled by 13 

U.S.-flag carriers. 

The MSP helps retain a labor base of skilled American mariners who are available to crew the U.S. 

Government-owned strategic sealift fleet, as well as the U.S. commercial fleet, both in peace and war. 

MSP is responsible for retaining approximately 2,400 U.S. citizen mariners. 

The structure of MSP encourages flexibility as operators are able to upgrade their fleets to compete in 

the global marketplace. During FY 2009, nine MSP ships were replaced with newer, modern ships. 

Maritime Administration approvals are required to ensure that vessels entering the MSP meet 

Maritime Administration and DOD requirements. The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast 

Guard have established expedited procedures to encourage reflagging of modern, efficient vessels into 

the U.S. fleet. 

MSP carriers must commit 100 percent of their MSP vessel capacity and related intermodal 

transportation resources to Stage III of DOD’s approved Emergency Preparedness Program, VISA. 

MSP contributes over 77 percent of the total capacity committed to VISA. VISA operators without 

MSP contracts are required to commit 50 percent of their U.S.-flag capacity to Stage III of the VISA 

program. 

VISA provides DOD with assured access to commercial intermodal capacity to move ammunition and 

sustainment cargo. The objective of VISA is to maximize DOD’s use of the multi-billion dollar, state 

of the art, U.S. commercial intermodal transportation system to serve America in peace and war while 

minimizing disruption to commercial operations. 

VISA activation would be time-phased to streamline the availability of capacity to coincide with DOD 

requirements. 

VISA Joint Planning Advisory Group sessions, with participants from the Maritime Administration, 

DOD, industry and maritime labor, test the ability of the maritime industry to meet military 

requirements. 

Maritime Administration Department of Transportation