Page 6: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2011)

6 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

EDITOR’S NOTE

A common lament from U.S. maritime companies that I’ve heard, said, read and written many times is regarding the overall down- turn of the maritime business in the United States. While there is some truth to the statement in certain sectors, I think it unfair and unwise to paint broad stroke an industry this broad and diverse. Case in point, accord- ing to the World Factbook (as reported by Rich DeSimone in his colum on page 20), in 2010 the U.S. received nearly $2 trillion in imports (#1 in the world); and shipped out close to $1.3 billion in exports (#3 in the world behind China and Germany). A maritime nation with global influence, we are.

From nearly two decades of observation, I can reasonably conclude that many U.S. companies sim- ply don’t bother to explore opportunities abroad as domestic business in certain sectors dwindle.

Later this month I will attend my 10th Norshipping exhibition in Oslo, arguably the second best maritime exhibition in the world behind SMM in Hamburg, Germany. Without looking, I can reason- ably guess that in Oslo — and in most other major global maritime exhibitions — there will be maybe two dozen U.S. companies among a cast of thousands. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, and increasingly it appears that U.S. companies are jumping into global competitions.

Late last month the U.S. Maritime Administration announced that it has signed a $241m loan guar- antee that would allow the Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, FL, to build five PSVs for ex- port to Brazil, a much needed boost U.S. shipbuilding industry. Eastern Shipbuilding Group has built eight PSVs since 2003, with three more under construction. The vessels, being built for Boldini S.A. of Rio de Janeiro, are estimated to result in 300 new local jobs over the next 3.5 years.

Personally, I had the opportunity to interview Barry Dreyfus, the candid CEO of United States Ma- rine, which is a small (200-employee) boat builder for the U.S. military, but with much experience and many contracts building for foreign militaries in the Middle East and Asia. In fact, when I interviewed

Barry, he was in Singapore on his honeymoon ... with some scheduled business presentations on the side!

Founder: John J. O’Malley 1905 - 1980

Charles P. O’Malley 1928 - 2000

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No. 5 Vol. 73

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ON THE COVER

Pictured on this month’s cover is an image from the Norwegian Shipowner’s Association (NSA). In an interview this month, start- ing on page 30, Tore Forsmo, NSA’s Director, shares the organization’s vision on investing in re- cruiting and talent development, in times good and bad. (Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Shipowner’s Association)

Gregory R. Trauthwein, Editor & Associate Publisher [email protected]