Baltimore Important to US Maritime Security Program
- gjohnston7
- Dec 10, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 24
By Glenn T. Johnston
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the Port of Baltimore in 2021 and recognized the port’s close relationship with the US Maritime Security Program (MSP). During that visit we learned the Port of Baltimore is a major gateway for several Maritime Security Program enrolled vessels and that MSP companies American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier Company, Liberty Maritime Corporation and Waterman Logistics/SEACOR all call on the Port of Baltimore. Consequently, the Port of Baltimore plays a vital role in our nation’s Maritime Security Program and the overall supply chain. Baltimore’s International Longshoremen’s Association workers keep the cargo flowing. That being said, what is the MSP Program?
The US Maritime Security Program (MSP) identifies US-flagged commercial ships that may be of military use during times of conflict or in other national emergencies. The program also provides DoD access to MSP participants’ worldwide transportation networks (terminals, facilities, logistic management services) and US citizen merchant mariners (seamen). The program is run by the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Office of Sealift Support. It currently enrolls approximately 60 vessels.
The MSP program pays a retainer to the owner(s) of enrolled vessels in exchange for their availability when needed.
MSP vessels are US-registered and must make their ships and commercial transportation resources available upon request by the Secretary of Defense during times of war or national emergency.
The MSP incentive is explicitly financial, in the form of a retainer.
Vessels participate under an umbrella of limited Congressional funding.
There is a limited number of ship-related operating agreements (currently 60).
The MSP fleet is comprised of several types of vessels and leans toward military sustainment sealift support: container ships, heavy lift ships, roll-on/roll-off ships, tankers, containerships with onboard cranes (geared containerships), and cable layers.
President Clinton first established the Maritime Security Program (MSP) on October 8, 1996 as part of the Maritime Security Act of 1996. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (S. 1790) authorized the Secretary of Transportation to extend existing Maritime Security Program operating agreements through September 30, 2035.
