News from The American Maritime Partnership, May 27, 2011
U.S. MILITARY SAYS AMERICAN MARITIME LAWS ESSENTIAL FOR STRONG MERCHANT MARINE:
A top U.S. military leader has again emphasized the need for a strong U.S. merchant marine. At a National Maritime Day luncheon hosted by the Propeller Club in Washington, USAF General Duncan J. McNabb, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, said U.S. maritime laws have been vital to the strength of the U.S. maritime industry. “I obviously think cargo preference, MSP [the Maritime Security Program], the Jones Act… all of those things are absolutely essential for having a very strong merchant marine,” declared General McNabb. National Maritime Day, which was observed on Sunday May 22, recognizes the men and women of the United States Merchant Marine for their contribution to American trade and the U.S. military.
AMP PRAISES MERCHANT MARINE ON NATIONAL MARITIME DAY:
The American Maritime Partnership marked the 78th anniversary of National Maritime Day by crediting the strong U.S. Merchant Marine for helping to support national, homeland security and economic security. “A strong U.S. maritime industry has been critical for America in times of war and peace, from the civilians who defended freedom in 1775 to merchant mariners who support military and humanitarian efforts throughout the world today,” said James Henry, President of the Transportation Institute and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Maritime Partnership. “On National Maritime Day, we can look back on the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our merchant marine as well as focus on keeping our industry strong so we can continue to support the American economy and our national security in the 21st century.”Click here to read more.
NEW JERSEY-BASED CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR INVESTING $125 MILLION IN TWO NEW DREDGES:
125 new and permanent jobs will be created when two dredges ordered by Weeks Marine Inc. (WMI) enter service in 2011 and 2013 respectively. The Cranford, N.J.-based company is building an ocean-class dredge in an Ohio River shipyard that will be delivered by year’s end. The keel for an even larger dredge will be laid this October. Construction of that vessel will stretch into 2013. When both dredges are in service, WMI will have invested more than $125 million to double its hopper dredge capacity. (Hopper dredges are self-propelled vessels that excavate material from the ocean or river floor with drag arms and pump the sediment into the vessel’s hopper.) “Both the growth of international trade and the U.S. seaport industry, and the wide acceptance of beach nourishment and coastal restoration as the shore protection of choice, call for new energy efficient tools to be brought into the marketplace,” said Richard S. Weeks, President of WMI. “The expansion of our dredging fleet demonstrates our commitment to better serving our customers, particularly the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Navy.”
DID YOU KNOW?
When the Jones Act was enacted in 1920, the record for an iron ore cargo carried on the Great Lakes in a U.S.-flag vessel in one trip was 15,691 tons. Ninety-one years later, the reigning record for a U.S.-flag “laker” is 72,300 tons. That one cargo will make enough steel to build more than 60,000 cars, the production of which will keep a large auto plant running full out for 100-plus days.
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