What is the Maritime Security Program?
A major component in our military sealift policy. In time of war or national emergency, MSP vessels provide the necessary sealift to support our nation's warfighters across the globe.
The MSP is a unique government/private industry partnership that gives the Department of Defense (DOD) the commercial sealift capability it needs while saving the American taxpayer the billions of dollars it would take for DOD to develop and maintain this capability itself. Conceptualized under President George H.W. Bush, and first implemented under President Bill Clinton, full funding for MSP has been supported by each President and Congress since 1996.
Since 2009, privately-owned U.S.-flag commercial vessels and their civilian U.S. citizen crews have transported more than 90 percent of the sustainment cargo required to support U.S. military operations and rebuilding programs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Significantly, MSP-enrolled vessels carried 99 percent of these cargoes. Without the assured U.S.-flag commercial sealift capability provided by MSP, U.S. troops deployed overseas could find themselves dependent on foreign vessels and foreign crews to deliver the U.S. government's supplies and equipment they need to do their job on our behalf.
President Clinton signed the Maritime Security Act (P.L. 104-239) into law on October 8, 1996, after the legislation was overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. This measure established the Maritime Security Program to support the commercial operation of militarily useful U.S.-flag vessels crewed by American citizens and engaged in international trade for the United States. The program provides each MSP-enrolled vessel with an annual stipend and requires that enrolled vessel operators make their ships and their global commercial transportation resources available to the Department of Defense whenever or wherever needed during times of war or national emergency. Eligible vessels may be built either in the United States or in a foreign country, but the vessels must be crewed by credentialed U.S. citizen mariners. The program, subject to annual appropriations, is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) on the basis of renewable one-year contracts with vessel operators, provided that funding is made available by Congress.
Privately owned commercial vessels suited to defense sealift needs
Operated under U.S. registry in international trade
Crewed by credentialed U.S. citizen mariners
Ships and global logistics networks on call in war or national emergency
Why the MSP matters.
National Defense
Since 2009, MSP-enrolled vessels have carried 99 percent of the sustainment cargo supporting U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Without them, deployed troops would depend on foreign vessels and foreign crews for their supplies and equipment.
Taxpayer Value
Replicating the vessel capacity MSP provides would cost the government an estimated $13 billion, and replicating the global intermodal systems behind it another $52 billion. The program delivers that capability for a fraction of the cost.
The Mariner Base
Keeping these vessels sailing internationally in peacetime sustains the job base of the merchant marine, ensuring our nation's defense efforts have access to highly qualified U.S. citizen officers and crews.
Support Full Funding for the MSP!
Full funding for the Maritime Security Program keeps a fleet of militarily useful U.S.-flag vessels and their American crews available to the Department of Defense. Since 2002, 98 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan cargoes moved on U.S.-flag or government vessels crewed by American merchant mariners.
Replicating the capacity MSP provides would cost an estimated $13 billion for the vessels alone and another $52 billion for the global intermodal networks behind them. Full funding is a bargain by comparison.