Page 13: of Marine News Magazine (June 2020)

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McAllister Towing recently took delivery of the 34th tractor tug in its ?eet, built by Washburn & Doughty in Maine. The

McAllister Towing newly built 6,770-horsepower shipdocking tug, Eileen McAllister, slated to enter service in Port Everglades, Fla. isolated case so far. The most impactful aspect of the crisis for ployed. These programs are not of much help to organizations the maritime sector has been the economic impacts on trade. whose costs are largely building, maintaining and fueling the

Hardest hit have been cruise ships, passenger ferries and com- critical maritime infrastructure that moves 90% of everything.

muter services. Cruise ship operators have completely shut down. The Passenger Vessel Association estimates that ferry

How were you best prepared for this event?

operations have lost 90% of their business and may lose $3 I have the bene?t of working with some of the ?nest profes- billion dollars in 2020. sionals in the maritime industry. Our crews have consistently risen to the occasion of any crisis, from hurricanes to 9/11. Our

How, speci?cally, has it impacted your company? personnel have delivered unsurpassed service to our customers

It is not good. Every business in the maritime transportation throughout the pandemic. We maintain close communications system is experiencing a drop in revenue. The reduction in the with the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies. Our partners in volume of our work is requiring us to defer development projects government were quick to recommend protocols for protect- and focus on maintaining core business lines. There have been ing mariners from exposure to the virus, and we were quick to numerous public announcements about ocean carriers cutting adopt protocols through our quality and safety management back on capacity. Unfortunately, our intermediate and long-term System. For the most part, government agencies have also been planning needs to focus on how to address a drop in overall trade. committed to maintaining a fully operational posture for the

One silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic has been the marine transportation system to support our communities. Is- opportunity to be part of the team supporting our home com- sues that arose were rapidly escalated, with the help of groups munities. Our tugs assisted the USNS Comfort into Man- like the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New hattan. The ship received great fanfare. The Comfort has de- Jersey, American Waterways Operators, the Passenger Vessel As- parted to return to her home berth, and while its role in the sociation and the Offshore Marine Service Association. response was a little more muted than anticipated, hundreds of people were treated on the ship and it no doubt saved lives.

When the smoke clears and there is a return to nor- malcy, what areas will you strengthen to prepare for the

As a transport sector, maritime has never really got- next event of this magnitude?

I think that the most important thing that we can do is to ten its due, but this event highlights the importance of take care of our people. With reductions in work, we have maritime as an enabler of commerce. What is the one had to furlough personnel, both on vessels and ashore. We takeaway on maritime you hope that legislators or the have done our best to keep people on health care bene?ts and general public understand?

Airlines and small businesses have had their own government make sure that they keep their licenses and certi?cations. Our assistance programs. Many of the programs put in place have employees are critical to keeping maritime commerce moving been aimed at assisting small businesses to keep personnel em- safely and securely.

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