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COLORFUL CEREMONY CELEBRATES REFLAGGING OF
M/V ALLIANCE NEW YORK
Maritime Security Program Fleet Complete with 60
Ships
A
shipside audience applauded as a giant American flag unfurled over
the side of the M/V Alliance New York in Baltimore Harbor on
Thursday, November 10. The colorful U.S. flag dedication ceremony
celebrated the entrance of the ship into the U.S.-registry
commercial fleet, and into MARAD’s Maritime Security Program (MSP).
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Maritime Administrator John Jamian
said, “The M/V Alliance New York has particular significance
for our national future. It is symbolic of the rising tide of the
rebuilding of the American merchant marine—a movement that is well
under way and gathering momentum.” The U.S. flag registry means
U.S. jobs: crew members of MSP ships must be U.S. citizens. The
Alliance New York is one of ten ships that changed its registry
from foreign to U.S., in order to join the MSP fleet.
The Department of
Transportation’s Maritime Administration Maritime Security Program
has created more than 2,400 merchant mariner jobs on 60 MSP ships.
Congress authorized the expansion this year of the MSP fleet from 47
ships, and the expansion alone created 200 jobs for mariners. MSP
serves to maintain an active, privately-owned, U.S.-flag and
U.S.-crewed fleet in international trade. This fleet is available
to the U.S. Armed Forces in time of international conflict or
emergency.
The Alliance New
York is a roll-on/roll-off ship, or RO/RO, meaning that its main
cargo is vehicles. The ship was loaded before the ceremony, and
went right back to work, departing with cargo for Wilmington,
Delaware.
List of 60 MSP Ships
Photo Gallery
The MV
Alliance New York leaves
Baltimore after the ceremony, accompanied by tugs and a saluting
fireboat. |
A color guard from the
Seafarers International Union Paul Hall School at Piney Point. |
MARAD’s Susan Clark
sings the National Anthem behind color guard from U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy at Kings Point. |
A seafarer raises the Stars and
Stripes over the stern of the M/V
Alliance New York. |
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