Page 6: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2005)

A s we enter the half-year mark, I sit back with amazement at how another beginning of a year is here and gone in the blink of an eye.

In gathering information and setting the editorial line-up for this edition, it's quite intriguing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. For example, there is still a migration of commercial ship orders leaving European yards for the Far East, how- ever, today much attention is on China and the tremendous strides it has made in recent years against the traditional shipbuilding powers in Japan and

Korea.

Domestically, the U.S. Navy continues to downsize - a trend well-entrenched since the late 1980s and the abandonment of the 600-ship navy, with fewer deep-draft oceangoing ships despite an increased reliance on naval power to ful- fill war requirements around the globe. But there are numerous exciting and expansive projects within the U.S. military and government, with the building of the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class and the United States Coast

Guard's Deepwater Project. Both of these projects are good examples of the migration toward marine technology rather than ship technology. There is an undeniable and unstoppable trend towards "network centric" warfare and defense, whereby ships and boats are an interchangeable cogs in the big picture, a picture which includes many sensors, data processors, aircraft, land based facil- ities and communication technology.

For owners of all vessels in nearly every corner of the world, from tugboats to tankers, increased emphasis on maritime security and increasing reliance (and regulation) regarding new technology and maritime safety continues to add lay- ers of additional cost, further eroding already thin bottom lines. But these are technologies that undoubtedly add overall operation safety and efficiency, if properly employed.

It is human nature, perhaps, to fear and fight change, perhaps preferring to rely on business models tried and true. It is the industry leaders, however, that embrace change for what it is, and continually search for a way to turn a poten- tial negative into commercial advantage.

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No. 6 Vol. 67

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Audit of Circulation, Inc. 57 Book Review: A Speck on the Sea 80 Editorial Index 85 Buyer’s Directory 88 Ad Index 89 Ship’s Store 90 Classifieds

On the Cover: The Military Sealift

Command (MSC) auxiliary dry cargo carri- er USNS Lewis and Clark, (T-AKE 1), is launched into San Diego Harbor after a christening ceremony held at the National

Steel and Shipbuilding Company, (NASS-

CO) in San Diego, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's

Mate 3rd Class Timothy F. Sosa)

Editor’s Note www.marinelink.com [email protected]

On the Cover

Circle on Reader Service Card

Coming in Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

July 2005 The SATCOM Edition

Satellite Communications increasingly impact the bottom line. Read about the lead- ing companies. Maritime Security: Cameras, Night Vision & CCTV • U.S. Navy

Report CAD/CAM 2004 Diesel Engine Buyer’s Guide

August 2005 The Inland & Offshore

Edition

U.S. Maritime Reporter Maritime Communications Deck Machinery & Cargo

Handling Equipment Repair & Conversion Facilities Finland www.marinelink.com 6 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

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