Collapse of U.S.-flag merchant shipping fleet poses security risk

this problem is for U.S. authorities and industry to develop a strategy to deploy more U.S. crews on ships carrying sensitive cargo. “Thousands of foreign-controlled ships manned by many tens of thousands of foreign personnel visit our many ports and navigable waterways — many of which are registered under ‘flags of convenience’ with owners, operators, and multinational crews that have no national relationship to the country where the ship is registered,” says Captain Dan Fuller, U.S. Merchant Marine Shipmaster and highly regarded maritime consultant. “More American ships carrying a larger proportion of our foreign trade give the U.S. greater control over our trade, as well as significantly increased security for our ports, waterways, and adjacent communities.” He adds: “Laws, regulations, and tax policies must be thoroughly addressed and adjusted as practical and necessary to allow American citizen mariners and American ship owners and operators to effectively compete against foreign counterparts who operate under much lighter legal and tax burdens.”

Two tentative conclusions suggest themselves: First, if Congress is interested in legislating stricter port security, there is room here for an enlightened and useful approach. Look at two examples: TSA places air marshals on U.S. commercial planes; UEFA, the European Football Association, is proposing a regulation which will make it mandatory for professional soccer clubs in Europe to have six players on the pitch during a game who are eligible to play on the national team in the country where the club plays (that is, Real Madrid will have to have at least six Spaniards on the pitch during the ninety-minute game; Arsenal will have to have at least six Englishmen on the pitch, etc). Applying these examples to maritime security: The United States may insist that ships carrying sensitive cargo to the United States must have a certain number of U.S. citizens (perhaps even U.S. citizens with some background in the U.S. Navy; or U.S. citizens who have been specifically trained for the mission) among the crew and command structure of these ships. It is important to