A Ship to Sail New Trade and Education Routes By Jay Bolton Our heritage in American mant1me commerce is a monument of our nation's growth to a world power through ocean-borne commerce and export trade. The time to preserve this legacy is now, on the threshold of the twenty-first century, as we enter upon the dramatic globalization of world trade. It is imperative that we seek "new trade and education routes" for our country. How will future generations judge our performance in perpetuating America 's maritime commerce heritage in this critical era? As of today, the answers are not encouraging. Since 1946, US flag ocean-borne commerce has steadily declined to a point where we now carry only four percent of all cargo to and from the United States. By the year 2000, this percentage is expected to diminish to a mere one percent (further exacerbating our trade deficit). Essentially, we will become totally dependent upon foreign carriers for our economic survival and ocean transportation requirements. In the 1940s, America's shipyards outproduced the rest of the world combined. Now, for the first time in our history, they are without commercial contracts, unable to compete against foreign subsidized shipyards. If not revitalized soon, more American yards will close permanently and a vital national resource essential for our national security will be tragically lost. Our US flag merchant fleet, once the world's largest, is now only one fifth the size of the Soviets, one fourth of the Japanese, and one third of the Chinese. Recent spills have increased resistance to domestic oil exploration. That, with the depletion of Alaskan oil supplies, will lead to further reduction of the US flag tanker fleet-the last vestige of our US flag Jones Act trade. Oil imports, soon to exceed fifty percent of our requirements, are carried almost exclusively by foreign flag ships. In short, we are becoming totally dependent on foreign carriers for our survival. The US merchant marine is considered to be a vital component of our national sealift capacity--our ability to transport troops and supplies. It has always been there in time of need. But now, as a result of the dangerous decline of our nation 's "Fourth Arm of Defense," it may not be there when the alarm bell sounds. In fact, many of our nation 's leaders consider the lack of available US flag ships, properly manned SEA HISTORY 54, SUMMER 1990
"The Department of Commerce wholeheartedly supports the TS Liberty concept. The research, training, national pride and educational benefits of this proposal are immeasurable." -ROBERT A. MOSBACHER Secretary of Commerce by American citizens, to be the Achilles heel of our ability to respond to military threat in a still turbulent world. Our nation 's sea service academies are the source of some of the world's most professional merchant mariners and our nation 's firiest naval, Coast Guard and NOAA officers. They also produce engineers, scientists, business executives and national leaders. Simply stated, if
the maritime schools are to provide this skilled workforce, they must obtain modern, effective training ships to replace the antiquated, World War II vintage vessels now in service. Surely the time is now to make maritime history for future generations; to dedicate ourselves to our leaders of tomorrow; to form an American constituency for America as a world trading partner. The United States Tall Ship Foundation , a not-for-profit organization devoted to maintaining the maritime commercial heritage of the United States, is addressing the critical needs of our sea service schools and our nation. Initially the Foundation will build a modern training ship to be dedicated to national educational service. Appropriately named Liberty, it will be a state-of-the-art tall ship, one of the world's largest, and will be the first US ship specifically built for training. Liberty will: • Create a new national maritime symbol for America. • Generate a new national awareness and appreciation of the role the US merchant marine plays in our economic and military capability. • Provide our sea service schools with a critically needed training ship and recruitment vehicle to attract our
nation 's finest youth. • Provide American citizens and corporations with an opportunity to make a dramatic national/international statement of their commitment to our country's interest. The TS Liberty will be a 3,000-gross ton, 350 foot, four-masted, bark rigged sail training ship with alternative 4,000 hp diesel power, accommodating approximately 160 cadets. TS Liberty will contain all of the modem engineering and navigation equipment used aboard larger ships, affording professional training, while providing the opportunities for personal and leadership development uniquely found aboard tall ships. The Liberty project, sponsored by the private sector, provides an opportunity for all to create a new national asset to help America stand tall once again in its traditional role as innovatorand leader in the world's seaborne commerce. The Foundation, guided by an advisory board comprised of nationally recognized individuals of achievement, including all of the sea service schools' presidents and superintendents, invites all who are concerned for the future of our heritage in maritime commerce to join us in building TS Liberty. Inquiries should be directed to: The United States Tall Ship Foundation, c/o Burke & Parsons , 1114 A venue of the Americas, New York NY 10036; tel. 212 354-3800. 0
Captain Bolton, a graduate of the State University of NY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, New York, has served in the US merchant marine for 22 years, most recently as skipper of a 90,000 DWT super-tanker. He has commanded two historic square riggers, the Elissa of 1877, and the Gaze la of 1883, on voyages from Quebec to Texas. He now serves as President of the Tall Ships Foundation. 13