Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2015)

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Photo: MarAd

Women on the Water Conference, at USMMA: Maritime Administrator (center) with Rear Admiral Sue L. Dunlap,

Deputy Superintendent, Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Superintendent and a group of USMMA midshipmen.

eral government eventually underwrite a tion’s merchant marine is a radically that this could support approximately Bottom Line built-for-purpose training ship – perhaps different animal today than it was ? fty $454 million in shipyard projects. Fair Without a doubt, Maritime Admin- even a series ? eet – for the state maritime years ago. Back then, a reasonably ro- enough. The FY 2016 Budget Request istrator Jaenichen stepped into a tough academies. Naturally, the state maritime bust blue water ? eet was the centerpiece for the Ship Disposal Program was set situation at Marad when he took the academies are thrilled at the prospect of of the country’s merchant marine. Today, at $5 million, amidst lingering questions reins. Many of the issues that permeate such a process. ADM Richard Gurnon, as many as 39,500 of our +/- 40,000 hull as to how well the program is being car- the agency’s problematic portfolio pre-

President of the Massachusetts Maritime merchant ? eet can be classi? ed as brown ried out. At least one contractor is upset date his arrival by many years, and the

Academy, has vocally championed that water, workboat and/or inland vessels. that they have missed out on scrapping vast majority of these challenges won’t approach for years. Hence, building a 600’ training ship to business despite making the highest bid be solved overnight.

Some stakeholders, however, ques- educate mariners who, down the road, on one contract, something that saw the Reportedly, when DOT set about nam- tion the direction of such an effort. On will likely be driving DP capable, azi- government in theory leave as much as ing a new maritime administrator, the paper, it – the training ship – is a great muthing-propelled vessels in close prox- $400,000 on the table when it awarded number one quali? cation for the posi- idea, but the concept has always been imity to land or on inland waters may or the contract to the next lowest bidder. tion was said to be the need for a “strong dead on arrival in Washington. And, Jae- may not represent the best bang for the Marad still hasn’t fully answered for leader.” Well, they got one. nichen himself told this writer last week buck. That said, the academies deserve that decision, although Jaenichen prom- Because of it, morale is said to be up at that the cost of such a vessel would prob- to be supported, Fort Schuyler needs a ised the subcommittee members that he the agency and Jaenichen, a former U.S. ably come in somewhere between $100 ship, and I applaud Jaenichen for show- would respond, post-hearing. naval of? cer, has rolled up his sleeves and $200 million. And, in an atmosphere ing the leadership to advocate for such Beyond the administration of the dis- and become immersed in the business of where we can’t even get a desperately an effort. The Title XI Maritime Guar- posal contracts themselves, funds earned the commercial waterfront. needed Coast Guard icebreaker built, anteed Loan Program also got some love from this program are stipulated for vari- All of that, however, isn’t nearly what hope do we have for building mer- on the Hill. Noting the current portfolio ous purposes, including the state mari- enough.

chant training vessel for a country who of $1.5 billion in Title XI outstanding time schools, who are supposed to see Questions remain about Marad’s abil- thinks that Marad deserves less than one- loan guarantees and 38 individual loan 25 percent of the approximate $75 mil- ity to be a good steward of the funding half of one percent of the DOT’s operat- guarantee contracts, representing 21 lion taken in over the course of the past entrusted to it. And the money is only ing budget. I’m just sayin’ … companies covering approximately 250 ten years. one part of the problem. Until we as a

Beyond the funding, fundamental vessels, Jaenichen asked for $3.1 mil- But, the six state academies have re- nation start to take the waterfront and questions should also be asked about lion for administration of the loan port- portedly received less than half of that its infrastructure seriously, Marad’s per- what form a new training platform folio and to process new loan applica- money. That has left some parents of ca- ceived relevance will continue to mirror should take. Maybe that’s what the $5 tions. Jaenichen says that the balance for dets and academy administrators steam- its slice of the DOT funding pie. And, million is for. It is no secret that the na- new loan applicants is $42 million and ing mad. that ain’t much. 10 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • APRIL 2015

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