A top priority for the U.S. maritime industry in 2012 will be to build on the momentum achieved by the American Maritime Partnership in 2011. Last year, the former Maritime Cabotage Task Force “rebranded” itself with a new name that reflected the organization’s interest in better communicating to Congress and the general public the importance of having a strong domestic maritime industry. AMP’s 450–plus members span the United States and its territories and represent vessel owners and operators, shipboard and shore-side labor groups, shipbuilders and repair yards, marine equipment manufacturers and vendors, trade associations, dredging and marine construction contractors, pro–defense groups and companies in other modes of domestic transportation.
An important part of last year’s efforts involved identifying key points that resonate with the public when discussing why the U.S. needs to have a strong domestic maritime industry. As a result of the research, a clear consensus emerged: the U.S. maritime industry is critical to our national security, it makes our homeland more secure and fosters American jobs.
In looking at the economics alone, the benefits are substantial. According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study, the unsubsidized Jones Act fleet of U.S.-owned, U.S.-built and U.S.-crewed vessels generates 500,000 jobs and $100 billion in total economic output, while adding $46 billion to the value of U.S. economic output, providing $29 billion in wages and contributing $11 billion in taxes. Equally important, U.S.-flag vessels are built and operated to comply with the world’s highest safety and environmental standards.
These are strengths that have a broad-based bipartisan appeal. It is important to remember that the current and previous four presidents have all supported the Jones Act and the U.S. Merchant Marine. The priority for our industry in 2012 is not about persuasion, but rather building awareness.