| Print | Close Window | AMO Currents - Posted: October 14, 2016 |
M/V Patriot christened for American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier fleet
ARC President and CEO Eric Ebeling welcomed guests to the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, a fitting venue as the port is ARC's largest port of call. Maryland Port Authority Executive Director Jim White was on hand to welcome Captain Kiah Pinto and the rest of the ship's officers and crew to Baltimore.
The keynote address at the christening ceremony was delivered by Department of Defense Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Alan Estevez. His wife, Susan Pearson, is the sponsor of the M/V Patriot.
"U.S.-flag carriers such as ARC are providing DOD with access to a global intermodal logistics network in support of European operations, Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and other contingencies, exercises, and sustainment moves," Estevez said. Further, since 2009 alone, "privately-owned U.S.-flag commercial vessels and their civilian U.S. citizen crews have transported more than 90 percent of the sustainment cargo needed to support U.S. military operations and rebuilding programs in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Presentations were also made by ARC's labor partners, Executive Vice President Augie Tellez of the Seafarers International Union (SIU) and American Maritime Officers National Assistant Vice President, Government Relations, Christian Spain.
"The ship is called the Patriot, but it may as well be the Commitment: the commitment that ARC has made and the commitment American mariners will sail into harm's way to get the job done," Tellez said.
The ship adds much-needed merchant mariner jobs for the U.S.-flag fleet.
Ebeling said: "The American mariners who sail on board these ships are the most reliable and dedicated in the business and also serve as a critical manpower pool to crew government reserve ships in time of need."
During his presentation at the ceremony, Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen stated: "the Maritime Security Program (MSP) provides guaranteed access to the commercial sealift and intermodal capabilities necessary to meet U.S. national security requirements. It is a cost effective program that ensures our nation can globally project and sustain our Armed Forces using U.S.-flagged vessels crewed by U.S. merchant mariners."
Formerly the M/V Aida, Patriot was re-flagged to American registry on March 30 as the seventh RO/RO vessel in ARC's fleet. The re-flag was conducted by the Coast Guard in the Port of New York. The vessel is enrolled in the Maritime Security Program, the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program, and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). Consistent with past practice to name ARC ships after American values, she was renamed M/V Patriot.
Ebeling referenced the decline of the U.S.-flag fleet in recent years from approximately 120 ships to 79, as cargo volumes have declined due to the changing overseas military footprint, lack of a fully functioning Ex-Im Bank, and other factors. Despite the challenging market conditions, ARC has remained steadfast in its commitment to U.S.-flag shipping, and remains dedicated to "continuing the process of investing and recapitalizing our fleet in the coming years."
M/V Patriot is 199 meters long with a beam of 32.26 meters. She has a 14.15-meter-wide and 7.04-meter-high stern opening, with a stern ramp rated for cargo up to 240,000 metric tons. The vessel is among the most capable and militarily-useful vessels in the U.S.-flag commercial fleet, able to carry tracked vehicles, helicopters, trucks and other military and high and heavy project cargoes.
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