Military Subsidies for Commercial Ships

Opponents of maritime subsidies to U.S. merchant ships claim that the subsidies do not work (“Merchant Fleet in Dark Seas,” May 29). Their argument is weak. Due to the maritime subsidy program, 47 U.S.-flag vessels with loyal American crews are currently in service on the trade routes between the U.S. and foreign ports. These partially subsidized ships are available to the Defense Department in time of war. The transition from commercial to wartime service is routine for the highly trained, highly skilled U.S. mariners.

Arthur Donovan of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy states that the Pentagon is “now spending billions to construct at least 30 new military cargo ships.” This fully subsidized fleet will spend most of the time tied alongside a dock and will be manned by skeleton crews who do not possess active “sea legs.” A wiser investment for the taxpayer would be to expand the military subsidy program and to encourage commercial shipbuilding in American yards.

Anthony Poplawski

Port Agent, Marine Firemen’s

Union, Wilmington