By Ship—The Salt of the Sea Not Withstanding

Abstract

Years of constant study and controversy have always reaffirmed our national policy that a strong merchant marine is essential for economic and defense reasons. Yet, the status of the United States Merchant Marine today is continuing to be debated pro and con. High labor and construction costs place American maritime operators at an economic disadvantage, and political and nationalistic factors place them at a competitive disadvantage. Labor problems, marked by struggles between competing unions and accentuated by the advent of automation, create serious difficulties. With the heterogeneous nature of the industry ignored or misunderstood, the importance and function of essential portions of the United States merchant fleet are often distorted. As a matter of practice, foreign businessmen use their national ships to a greater degree than American shippers. The competitive position of the American operator is also affected by omnipresent government regulation. The increased dependence of the United States upon world trade, however, and the need to achieve a more favorable balance of payments have created a national awareness of the essentiality of an American-flag merchant fleet. This will help to create the atmosphere in business, government, and labor necessary for the solution of present problems and the achievement of a more effective national maritime policy.