Modern Merchant Marine

The maritime industry has always been evolving and innovating. From the days of sail to the days of steam, and now in today’s modern environment, technology has made the business of shipping more efficient, faster and more reliable than ever before.

But even with increased efficiency and productivity has not been able to halt the continued decline of the American merchant marine and the U.S. maritime industry.

From its height at the end of World War II, the modern American merchant marine has shrunk to a tenth of its former size.

According to statistics compiled by the Maritime Administration, in 1955 there were 1,072 vessels sailing internationally under the U.S.-Flag. In 2005, that number was down to 95. Its Jones Act domestic fleet numbers 105. Some of this drop represents increased size of vessels (the 1,072 ships in 1955 combined for approximately 13 million deadweight tons, while the 195 in 2005 combined for 9.1 million DWT), but it still represents a major decline. Overall, in 1955 the U.S.-Flag fleet was almost 25% of the world’s overall tonnage. Today, we represent less than 3%.

There are a variety of reasons for the decline in the U.S. Merchant Marine – disparities in taxes (both corporate and on the mariner), overregulation of the industry, competition with foreign mariners from the developing world, and a lack of a coherent national maritime policy have all contributed to the decline of the merchant marine.

All is not lost, however. The American maritime industry has been the world leader in innovation and modernization for much of the 20th century. AMC and the rest of the industry will be working hard to level the playing field with our foreign competitors, educating the public and Congress on the need for regulatory reform, a coherent maritime policy, and tax reform.

AMC is confident that working together in a close partnership with industry, labor and government, we can return the U.S. Merchant Marine to its former place as the worldwide leader in ocean shipping.

Statistics (from the U.S. Maritime Administration)

Vessel Types

Tankers: Asphalt & Bitumen Carriers, Chemical & Oil Carriers, Molten Sulfur Carriers, Product Carriers, Crude Oil Carriers. Roll-on/Roll-off: Pure Car Carriers, Ro-Ro/Containerships.

General Cargo: Barge Carriers, General Cargo Liners, Heavy Lift Cargo Vessels, Multi-Purpose ships.

Containership: Fully Cellular Containerships.

Dry Bulk: Bulk Carriers.

Vessel capacities are expressed in deadweight (DWT) which is the total weight (metric tons) of cargo, fuel, fresh water, stores and crew which a ship can carry when immersed to its load line.

Breakdown of the modern U.S.-Flag Fleet by Vessel type:


  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
  Number DWT (Mil) Number DWT (Mil) Number DWT (Mil) Number DWT (Mil) Number DWT (Mil)
Tankers 84 5.5 77 5.2 68 4.3 60 4.4 58 4.3
Roll-on/Roll-off 32 0.6 32 0.6 35 0.7 35 0.8 40 0.9
General Cargo 12 0.3 7 0.1 9 0.2 8 0.2 8 0.2
Containership 78 2.9 75 2.9 74 3 78 3.2 75 3.1
Dry Bulk 15 0.8 14 0.7 14 0.7 15 0.7 14 0.6
Total 221 10.1 205 9.5 200 8.9 196 9.3 195 9.1

Roster of U.S.-Flag Vessels Over 10,000 DWT

  YEAR TYPE FLEET OWNER DWT
ALASKAN EXPLORER 2005 Tanker Jones Act BP PLC 193,050
ALASKAN FRONTIER 2004 Tanker Jones Act BP PLC 193,049
ALASKAN NAVIGATOR 2005 Tanker Jones Act BP PLC 185,000
ALLEGIANCE 1980 Tanker Jones Act Maritrans Op. Ptnrs. 34,952
ANASAZI 1997 Tanker Jones Act AHL Shipping Co 40,015
ARIZONA VOYAGER 1977 Tanker Jones Act ChevronTexaco Shpg. 39,836
ASPHALT COMMANDER 1984 Tanker Jones Act Sargeant Marine Inc. 33,869
BLUE RIDGE 1981 Tanker Jones Act Crowley Maritime 42,268
CAPTAIN H.A. DOWNING 1996 Tanker Jones Act AHL Shipping Co. 40,017
CHARLESTON 1983 Tanker Jones Act United States Shpg. 48,846
CHELSEA 1975 Tanker Jones Act Keystone Shpg. 39,971
CHEMICAL PIONEER 1968 Tanker Jones Act United States Shpg. 35,489
CHEVRON MISSISSIPPI 1972 Tanker Jones Act ChevronTexaco Shpg. 71,340
>COAST RANGE 1981 Tanker Jones Act Crowley Maritime 40,632
COLORADO VOYAGER 1976 Tanker Jones Act ChevronTexaco Shpg. 39,842
DELAWARE TRADER 1982 Tanker Jones Act Keystone Shpg. 50,860
DENALI 1978 Tanker Jones Act Keystone Shpg. 188,099
DILIGENCE 1977 Tanker Jones Act Maritrans Op. Ptnrs. 39,959
HMI BRENTON REEF 1999 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 45,671
HOUSTON 1985 Tanker Jones Act United States Shpg. 30,610
INTEGRITY 1975 Tanker Jones Act Maritrans Op. Ptnrs. 39,847
KENAI 1979 Tanker Jones Act Alaska Tanker Co LLC 125,089
KEYSTONE TEXAS 1981 Tanker Jones Act Keystone Shpg. 40,632
KODIAK 1978 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 124,751
NEW RIVER 1997 Tanker Jones Act AHL Shipping Co. 39,483
OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS 1983 Tanker Jones Act OSG 43,643
OVERSEAS PHILADELPHIA 1982 Tanker Jones Act OSG 43,387
PERSEVERANCE 1981 Tanker Jones Act Maritrans Op. Ptnrs. 34,637
POLAR ADVENTURE 2004 Tanker Jones Act Polar Tankers, Inc. 141,740
POLAR ALASKA 1979 Tanker Jones Act Polar Tankers, Inc. 191,460
POLAR CALIFORNIA 1980 Tanker Jones Act Polar Tankers, Inc. 127,003
POLAR DISCOVERY 2003 Tanker Jones Act Polar Tankers, Inc. 141,740
POLAR ENDEAVOUR 2001 Tanker Jones Act Polar Tankers, Inc. 141,740
POLAR RESOLUTION 2002 Tanker Jones Act Polar Tankers, Inc. 141,740
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND 1975 Tanker Jones Act Keystone Shpg. 125,925
PUGET SOUND 1983 Tanker Jones Act OSG 50,860
S/R AMERICAN PROGRESS 1997 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 41,250
S/R BAYTOWN 1984 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 58,646
S/R COLUMBIA BAY 1978 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 191,120
S/R GALENA BAY 1982 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 50,920
S/R HINCHINBROOK 1977 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 92,017
S/R LONG BEACH 1987 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 214,862
S/R WILMINGTON 1984 Tanker Jones Act SeaRiver Maritime 48,781
SEABROOK 1983 Tanker Jones Act Fairfield Chemical 34,080
SEABULK AMERICA 1990 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 46,587
SEABULK ARCTIC 1998 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 46,069
SEABULK CHALLENGE 1981 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 51,668
SEABULK ENERGY 1999 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 45,671
SEABULK MARINER 1998 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 46,069
SEABULK POWER 1969 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 38,460
SEABULK PRIDE 1998 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 46,069
SEABULK TRADER 1981 Tanker Jones Act Seabulk Internat. 51,668
SEA VENTURE 1983 Tanker Jones Act Atlantic Tankships 19,266
SULPHUR ENTERPRISE 1994 Tanker Jones Act Sulphur Carriers 27,240
THE MONSEIGNEUR 1997 Tanker Jones Act AHL Shipping Co. 39,483
WASHINGTON VOYAGER 1976 Tanker Jones Act ChevronTexaco Shpg. 39,796
  4,216,774

EL MORRO 1974 RO/RO Jones Act Maston Navigation 16,079
EL YUNQUE 1976 RO/RO Jones Act Maston Navigation 16,144
GREAT LAND 1975 RO/RO Jones Act Totem Ocean Trailer 16,188
JEAN ANNE 2005 RO/RO Jones Act Strong Vessel Oper. 13,000
LURLINE 1973 RO/RO Jones Act Maston Navigation 22,221
MAJOR STEPHEN W. PLESS 1983 RO/RO Jones Act Waterman Steamship 21,529
MATSONIA 1973 RO/RO Jones Act Maston Navigation 22,501
MIDNIGHT SUN 2003 RO/RO Jones Act Totem Ocean Trailer 22,437
NORTH STAR 2003 RO/RO Jones Act Totem Ocean Trailer 22,437
NORTHERN LIGHTS 1975 RO/RO Jones Act Totem Ocean Trailer 16,011
PFC. DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS 1985 RO/RO Jones Act Willmington Trust Co. 22,454
PFC. EUGENE A. OBREGON 1982 RO/RO Jones Act Wilmington Trust Co. 25,073
SGT. MATEJ KOCAK 1981 RO/RO Jones Act Wilmington Trust Co. 24,032
SGT. WILLIAM R. BUTTON 1986 RO/RO Jones Act Wilmington Trust Co. 26,523
WESTWARD VENTURE 1977 RO/RO Jones Act Totem Ocean Trailer 18,202
Total, Roll-on/Roll-off 304,831 304,831

CLEVELAND 1969 General Jones Act Sealift Inc. 22,536
WILSON 1969 General Jones Act Sealift Inc. 22,564
Total, General Cargo 45,100 45,100

ARGONAUT 1979 Container Jones Act Farrell Lines Inc. 16,401
CHIEF GADAO 1971 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 37,346
EWA 1972 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 38,656
HORIZON ANCHORAGE 1987 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 21,282
HORIZON CHALLENGER 1968 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 21,274
HORIZON CONSUMER 1973 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 25,651
HORIZON CRUSADER 1969 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 20,695
HORIZON DISCOVERY 1968 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 20,585
HORIZON ENTERPRISE 1980 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 31,477
HORIZON FAIRBANKS 1973 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 22,041
HORIZON HAWAII 1973 1973 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 21,909
HORIZON KODIAK 1987 1987 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 21,345
HORIZON NAVIGATOR 1970 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 31,303
HORIZON PACIFIC 1979 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 31,268
HORIZON PRODUCER 1974 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 25,651
HORIZON RELIANCE 1980 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 45,805
HORIZON SPIRIT 1980 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 46,154
HORIZON TACOMA 1987 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 21,291
HORIZON TRADER 1973 Container Jones Act Horizon Lines LLC 34,657
KAUAI 1980 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 26,350
LIHUE 1971 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 38,656
MAHI MAHI 1983 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 30,825
MANOA 1982 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 30,000
MANUKAI 2003 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 30,000
MANULANI 2005 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 26,665
MAUI 1978 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 30,000
MAUNAWILI 2004 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 30,825
MOKIHANA 1983 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 30,825
R.J. PFEIFFER 1992 Container Jones Act Matson Navigation 28,555
Total, Containership 834,492 834,492

CYNTHIA FAGAN 1981 Dry Bulk Jones Act Teco Ocean Shipping 36,414
ENERGY ENTERPRISE 1983 Dry Bulk Jones Act International Shpg. 38,848
JUDY LITRICO 1973 Dry Bulk Jones Act Teco Ocean Shipping 30,179
Total, Dry Bulk 105,441 105,441

Foreign Trade (MSP - Italics)) Int.
MAERSK RHODE ISLAND 2002 Tanker AP Moller 34,826
OVERSEAS MAREMAR 1998 Tanker OSG 47,225
Total, Tanker 82,051 82,051

ALLIANCE NEW YORK 2005 RO/RO Hoegh Autoliners 15,972
CPL. LOUIS J. HAUGE JR. 1979 RO/RO Wilmington Trust 21,050
FREEDOM 1997 RO/RO Pacific-Gulf Marine 19,884
GLOBAL PATRIOT 1978 RO/RO Red River Carriers 19,669
GREEN COVE 1994 RO/RO International Ship. 16,178
GREEN DALE 1999 RO/RO International Ship. 15,894
GREEN LAKE 1998 RO/RO International Ship. 22,799
GREEN POINT 1994 RO/RO Central Gulf Lines 14,930
GREEN RIDGE 1998 RO/RO LMS Shipmanagement 21,523
HONOR 1996 RO/RO Interocean American 19,884
INDEPENDENCE 1978 RO/RO Pacific-Gulf Marine 17,406
INTEGRITY 1992 RO/RO Interocean American 29,152
LIBERTY 1985 RO/RO Pacific-Gulf Marine 28,509
LTC. CALVIN P. TITUS 1985 RO/RO Crowley Maritime 24,500
MAERSK ALASKA 1975 RO/RO Maersk Sealand 32,178
MAERSK ARIZONA 1975 RO/RO Maersk Sealand 30,866
MAJOR BERNARD FISHER 1985 RO/RO Crowley Maritime 24,500
MERLIN 1978 RO/RO Osprey Shipping Mngt. 26,763
OVERSEAS JOYCE 1987 RO/RO OSG 16,141
PATRIOT 1987 RO/RO Pacific-Gulf Marine 15,681
PFC. JAMES ANDERSON JR. 1979 RO/RO Wilmington Trust Co. 21,050
PFC. WILLIAM B. BAUGH 1979 RO/RO Wilmington Trust Co. 21,050
PVT. FRANKLIN J. PHILLIPS 1980 RO/RO Wilmington Trust Co. 29,750
RESOLVE 1994 RO/RO Wilmington Trust Co. 20,082
SP5. ERIC G. GIBSON 1984 RO/RO Crowley Maritime 24,500
549,911

ADVANTAGE 1977 General Sealift Inc. 22,180
AMERICAN TERN 1990 General Osprey Shipping Mngt. 17,328
ATLANTIC FOREST 1984 General Interational Ship. 40,881
MAERSK CONSTELLATION 1980 General AP Moller 21,213
NOBLE STAR 1977 General Sealift Inc. 18,230
VIRGINIAN 1984 General Sealift Inc. 21,541
Total, General Cargo 141,373 141,373

APL KENNEDY 1988 Container APL Limited 53,613
APL KOREA 1995 Container APL Limited 66,520
APL PHILIPPINES 1996 Container APL Limited 66,500
APL SINGAPORE 1995 Container APL Limited 66,520
APL THAILAND 1995 Container APL Limited 66,520
CHESAPEAKE BAY 1985 Container P&O Nedlloyd 36,003
CP DISCOVERER 1987 Container CP Ships Ltd. 44,966
CP LIBERATOR 1987 Container CP Ships Ltd. 44,966
CP MOTIVATOR 1991 Container CP Ships Ltd. 43,714
CP NAVIGATOR 1987 Container CP Ships Ltd. 44,966
CP YOSEMITE 2003 Container CP Ships Ltd. 40,478
DELAWARE BAY 1985 Container P&O Nedlloyd 36,003
ENDEAVOR 1991 Container Farell Lines Inc. 31,829
ENDURANCE 1991 Container Farell Lines Inc. 31,829
ENTERPRISE 1992 Container Farell Lines Inc. 31,829
LTC JOHN U.D. PAGE 1985 Container AP Moller 58,869
MAERSK ALABAMA 1998 Container Maersk Sealand 17,375
MAERSK ARKANSAS 1998 Container Maersk Sealand 17,375
MAERSK CAROLINA 1998 Container Maersk Sealand 62,229
MAERSK MISSOURI 1998 Container Maersk Sealand 62,226
MAERSK VIRGINIA 2002 Container Maersk Sealand 62,007
PRESIDENT ADAMS 1988 Container APL Limited 54,655
PRESIDENT GRANT 1988 Container NOL Neptune Orient 51,437
PRESIDENT JACKSON 1988 Container APL Limited 54,665
PRESIDENT POLK 1988 Container APL Limited 53,613
PRESIDENT TRUMAN 1988 Container APL Limited 53,613
PRESIDENT WILSON 1989 Container NOL Neptune Orient 51,534
SEA-LAND ACHIEVER 1984 Container Maersk Sealand 58,869
SEA-LAND ATLANTIC 1985 Container Maersk Sealand 58,869
SEA-LAND COMET 1995 Container Maersk Sealand 59,840
SEA-LAND COMMITMENT 1985 Container Maersk Sealand 58,869
SEA-LAND EXPLORER 1980 Container Maersk Sealand 30,298
SEA-LAND FLORIDA 1984 Container Maersk Sealand 58,869
SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE 1980 Container Maersk Sealand 30,374
SEA-LAND INTREPID 1997 Container Maersk Sealand 59,840
SEA-LAND LIBERATOR 1980 Container Maersk Sealand 30,250
SEA-LAND LIGHTNING 1997 Container Maersk Sealand 59,840
SEA-LAND METEOR 1996 Container Maersk Sealand 59,840
SEA-LAND MOTIVATOR 1984 Container Maersk Sealand 46,987
SEA-LAND PATRIOT 1980 Container Maersk Sealand 0,234
SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE 1985 Container Maersk Sealand 58,869
SEA-LAND PRIDE 1985 Container Maersk Sealand 46,987
SEA-LAND QUALITY 1985 Container Maersk Sealand 58,869
SEA-LAND VOYAGER 1980 Container Maersk Sealand 30,390
STAFF SGT. EDWARD A. CARTER 1985 Container AP Moller 58,869
TASINGE MAERSK 1994 Container Maersk Sealand 28,550
Total, Containership 2,231,367 2,231,367

CAPT. STEVEN L. BENNETT 1984 Dry Bulk Sealift Inc. 41,151
LIBERTY EAGLE 2004 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 51,812
LIBERTY GLORY 2001 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 50,601
LIBERTY GRACE 2001 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 50,601
LIBERTY SEA 1984 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 63,800
LIBERTY SPIRIT 1986 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 64,151
LIBERTY STAR 1986 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 64,059
LIBERTY SUN 1986 Dry Bulk Liberty Maritime 64,060
OVERSEAS HARRIETTE 1978 Dry Bulk OSG 25,951
OVERSEAS MARILYN 1978 Dry Bulk OSG 25,951
SHEILA MCDEVITT 1980 Dry Bulk Teco Ocean Shipping 37,244
Total, Dry Bulk 539,381 539,381

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