Page 25: of Marine News Magazine (March 2019)

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46 CFR Appendix I, Part 390 lays this out nicely. On behalf of all shipyard workers and all members of

I believe that MARAD and the U.S. Department of the U.S. Merchant Marine we need MARAD’s assistance

Transportation are, in fact, interested in building the in focusing on this important issue to include all passen-

U.S. fag vessel feet, so we have asked them repeatedly to ger vessel operators in the CCF. It is not in our national add more passenger ferries and short sea shipping in the interest for MARAD to continue to drag their feet on this

CCF. We have more than 6,000 (H, K and T) domestic important issue. And, yet, the question seems to be: “Does passenger vessels with an average life of 27 years – fully DOT and MARAD truly want to see a newer, stronger fve years older than the U.S. feet as a whole – that po- U.S. fag feet or will they just continue to talk about it?” tentially could be, and need to be renewed. It therefore Bringing practical clarity to this CCF topic, it is true makes sense to build new passenger ferries utilizing the that the gross revenue of the Red and White Fleet in re-

CCF, as is being done by the blue water, deep draft opera- lationship to its U.S. fag blue water, deep draft feet op- tors. Nevertheless, MARAD appears to have washed its erators is similar in size to “a pimple of the fanny of an hands of the matter, saying in effect, “this is a legislative elephant,” but that fact has no relationship to building a matter, out of our control.” stronger U.S. maritime industry. And the sooner maritime

The proper application of CCF regulations to the pas- stakeholders realize that the backbone of the U.S. feet now senger vessel industry would make a great deal of sense, rests frmly in the workboat sector, with fully 16 percent of for many reasons. For starters, MARAD says that it wants those totals classifed as subchapter H, K and T tonnage, more shortsea shipping, to remove cars off the road, and to the quicker that the CCF can be opened up to a wider clean up the air. What better way to accomplish this than swath of its members. And, not a moment too soon.

to foster more robust domestic commuter ferries?

In 1960, Tom Escher, the grandson of the founder and now the

Similarly, MARAD has its much-publicized ‘designated current owner, started working as a sweeper and a mechanics marine highway program.’ But, if CCF rules only help blue helper on the Red and White vessels. In 1997, Escher purchased water shipping, what’s the point of having either the des- the Red and White Fleet, becoming the third generation of the ignated marine highways or pushing shortsea shipping at family to own and operate the business. In September 2018,

Red and White Fleet welcomed Enhydra, the newest and largest all? Finally, it should be lost on no one that Red and White addition to the feet. Enhydra is the frst 600-passenger hybrid-

Fleet’s own, ultra-clean hybrid drive Enhydra is the perfect drive vessel operating in the United States. Escher will be example of what we could be building to clean up the envi- building more zero pollution passenger vessels.

ronment and at the same time furthering shortsea shipping.

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