May 14, 2004

Good afternoon. It is a great honor to be speaking to the members of the Propeller Club of Portland. I feel privileged to be your guest and to be here on behalf of President George W. Bush and Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta.

I would like to begin by congratulating Ben Snow for receiving the Member of the Year award. Similarly, I wish to pass on good wishes to Peter Vigue, the recipient of the Person of the Year award. Your commitment and dedication to the maritime industry is exemplary.

I am pleased to see so many friends and supporters of our nation’s maritime industries, including Jeff Monroe, Port Director of the Port of Portland, Captain San Dunbar, President of the Propeller Club of Portland, and Robert A. Fry, Jr., International President of the Propeller Club of the United States, as well as members of the City Council and members of the State Legislature. We are all here today because we believe in America’s maritime industries. We know their importance. And we appreciate and honor the role that the U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. shipbuilders have played in our history. Maine has a proud maritime tradition. This tradition continues today in Portland, with the Bath Ironworks shipyard providing combat ships for our Navy, and at Maine Maritime Academy, where highly trained mariners are educated to further our commerce and defense.

On May 22, the United States celebrates National Maritime Day. The U.S. Congress approved the designation of this day as National Maritime Day in recognition of U.S. Merchant Mariners who have served their nation faithfully during war and during peace. Each year, we pay tribute to our Nation’s seafarers by remembering and honoring their contribution to defense and freedom. These contributions began before there was a United States; right from the day that first shot was fired in the war for American independence… known today as "The Shot Heard Around the World."

The first National Maritime Day was celebrated in 1933. World War II showed just how much the honor of this day was deserved. Our U.S. Merchant Marine was essential to victory. And the price our mariners paid, the sacrifice they made, will never be forgotten. More than 6,000 merchant mariners gave up their lives in that conflict. Their casualty rate was second only to the U.S. Marine Corps. Thousands more were injured during attacks and 733 American cargo ships were lost.

These mariners and what they did reflects what Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation"—not just a catchy phrase, but instead a true measure of respect for those to whom we owe so much.

So, it is with great honor and pride that I will serve as the Service Chief for the Merchant Marine during the dedication ceremony of the World War II memorial on Saturday, May 29th. This memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II. And 'all' includes merchant mariners, many of whom came from Maine.

. We must also keep in mind that Merchant Mariners played a pivotal role in World War II, as they have throughout our history, supporting America’s armed forces each time they are called to battle . . . in Korea, Vietnam, and now in the war on terror. Secretary Mineta emphasized recently, "Each time our Nation’s military deployed to protect U.S. interests, the lives of America’s men and women were placed at risk. And in each one of those deployments, their logistical lifelines—merchant mariners—were right alongside, or close behind, with the tools to get the job done and return home safely."

Today, our merchant marine is as important as ever. We continue to depend on our maritime services to help ensure our security, provide sealift, and support our economy. The maritime industry today is an integral part of national defense planning and operations. To maintain ready, dependable sealift for our Armed Forces, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is responsible for a fleet of 68 ships, called the Ready Reserve Force (RRF). These ships are owned by the Federal Government, managed under contract by an industry partner, and staffed by civilian mariners. These RRF vessels are ever ready for activation. Alongside them are private-sector commercial vessels, with the full intermodal commercial capabilities—all now committed to Defense Department use if required. And the personnel from this private-sector, commercial fleet—our U.S. Merchant Mariners—crew every single U.S. Navy-owned sealift ship as well.

Shipping, like all of modern life, has seen many technological innovations and changes. Some have presented challenges, while others have presented opportunities. And, the terrorist attacks of September 11 have made maritime security an imperative that now covers far more than just defense sealift. MARAD is one of the leaders in the development of recommendations to ensure that the flow of commerce meshes seamlessly with the requirements of security. For example, the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), signed by President Bush in November 2002, saw the U.S. Coast Guard partnering with MARAD and other federal agencies to develop a viable set of regulations for our industry. MTSA seeks to strengthen security at the nation's seaports by requiring comprehensive security plans for U.S. ports and by mandating improved identification and screening of seaport personnel.

MARAD strongly believes that applying innovative security technology for commercial maritime applications—such as cargo handling, container tracking, vessel tracking and maritime domain awareness mobility, will ultimately result in greater efficiency as well as enhanced security. Transportation security is critical to helping us identify, understand, and integrate security and efficiency issues. Goods must flow smoothly, quickly and, most of all, securely, if we are to meet the expectations of today’s global economy and enhance homeland security.

Our Nation is dependent on trade, and trade is dependent on our ports. Almost 95 percent of U.S. overseas commerce is moved by ship. Our waterways continue to serve as critical economic engines that move people and goods. Yet these ports and waterways are now facing immense challenges in terms of capacity as trade growth increases at a relentless pace.

For this reason, Secretary Mineta has initiated a broad review of our maritime policies in partnership with MARAD. The objective of this review is a comprehensive Marine Transportation System/maritime industry initiative called SEA-21. It will fit with the reforms and initiatives that the Department of Transportation and the Bush Administration are making in the other transportation modes. The SEA-21 initiative we envision will emphasize integration of all our transportation modes, and encourages improved information sharing and coordination of Federal government Marine Transportation System responsibilities.

As many of you know here, MARAD provides a loan guarantee program that already is having positive impact on the maritime industry, and the State of Maine, as well as on our nation’s economy. We do not have to look far to point to a success story. Right here in Maine, a second oil rig, the Pride of Portland, is being built and creating jobs for the area.

Many think of the United States as a continental nation. That we are, but we are, even more, a maritime nation. And, America’s marine transportation system plays a large part in determining our long-term economic health. That is why DOT, and MARAD, also are developing proposals as part of the SEA-21 initiative to strengthen the competitiveness and efficiency of our nation’s Merchant Marine and shipbuilding industry. They are vital sectors of our economy, providing jobs and broad economic benefits to our country. The Port of Portland is on the right track. Over 3,000 people currently work on the waterfront, and it is their dedication to the maritime industry which ensures trade and the free flow of commerce. Each day, their contributions help to keep our nation competitive in the global economy.

So let me conclude by saluting their contribution and the contribution of this State to our Nation’s maritime heritage. On Maritime Day, we will honor this heritage and all who made it possible. But the honor most fitting for us to give is to look forward, to continue their work, and to pass on to our children and their children the heritage we too were privileged to receive.

On behalf of MARAD, and the Bush Administration, I again want to thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today.

Thank you.

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