The Maritime Administration (Marad) announced Tuesday that it had reached full enrollment for its Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Tanker Security Program (TSP).
Both programs provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with access to a fleet of U.S.-flagged sustainment sealift vessels and product tankers for use during times of armed conflict or national emergency. The programs strengthen the U.S. supply chain.
“In peacetime, our U.S.-flagged commercial fleet serves as a critical link in our supply chain; and in times of war and crisis, it supports military missions around the globe,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “In the years ahead, these vessels will deliver vital goods, strengthen both our economy and our national security, and create good jobs for American mariners.”
The newly selected MSP vessels Liberty Power and Tulane operate under Liberty Global Logistics LLC, Lake Success, N.Y., and Fidelio Limited Partnership, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., respectively. The U.S.-flagged Liberty Power is a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) cargo vessel built in 2011, with 220,586 sq. ft. of cargo capacity. The RoRo cargo vessel Tulane, built in 2012, has 194,665 sq. ft. of cargo capacity. The Tulane is scheduled to reflag under U.S. registry by the end of this year and will be renamed the Arc Honor.
The final product tanker selected for TSP is the Pyxis Epsilon, operated by U.S. Marine Management LLC, Norfolk, Va. The eight-year-old, 325,000-bbl. tanker is scheduled to reflag under U.S. registry by the end of this year and will be renamed the Shenandoah Trader.
“MSP and TSP accomplish two key maritime sealift objectives: both grow our U.S.-flagged commercial fleet to benefit the U.S. economy, and both sustain our ability to deliver vital supplies to support military missions across the globe,” said Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips. “MSP has been a success story for the U.S. maritime industry for over 27 years. MSP, together with its sister program TSP, will support U.S. economic competitiveness globally, and ensure U.S. armed forces have unquestioned logistics access anywhere in the world. The award of these three final operating agreements will ensure the programs’ continued success and value to the United States.”
The MSP was established in 1996, to strengthen the U.S. supply chain by ensuring a viable presence for the U.S.-flag merchant marine in international trade while creating good-paying jobs both afloat and ashore. The program now supports a fleet of 60 commercial ships operating internationally. The recently established TSP supports a fleet of 10 commercial product tankers operating internationally and capable of loading, transporting, and storing on-station bulk petroleum refined products to support national economic security and DoD contingency requirements.
Both programs help address the shortage of both U.S.-flag ships and Coast Guard-credentialed mariners with unlimited licenses.
