The Maritime Administration’s top official warns of “a bleed-off of talent” in the merchant fleet because there are fewer ships for each year’s maritime academy graduates to serve on and even fewer chances of a long career.
The American merchant marine is at least 1,800 officers short of what’s needed to meet sustained wartime needs of more than four-to-six weeks of operations in a contested environment, said retired Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, speaking at the Navy League’s Special Topic Breakfast on Wednesday, repeating a stat he’s quoted during testimony [and stated in public forums.
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Buzby: Declining Ship Numbers, Opportunities Causing Merchant Marine Talent Loss