Once the TSP program comes online, what guarantee is there that OSG will get ANY slots? Has there been confirmation that existing tankers in MSP will automatically transfer to TSP? Even if that is the case, what makes OSG so confident that the Sun Coast will also get one of the (few) remaining slots?
TSP is for 10 ships. Assuming existing MSP tankers transfer over, how many slot remain to be filled? If (for example) there are 5 available slots and 10 ships apply, what makes OSG confident that they will get any of those slots?
Furthermore, will Mykonos and Santorini even be eligible for the TSP? Per text of the bill:
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title46/subtitle5/partC/chapter534&edition=prelim
Section §53402. Establishment of the Tanker Security Fleet
(b) Vessel Eligibility.—A vessel is eligible to be included in the Fleet if the vessel—
(1)…
…
(4) is not more than 10 years of age on the date the vessel is first included in the Fleet;
As Mykonos and Santorini are both 2010 built, I read this to mean they are too old to be enrolled. (Sun Coast [2019] would be ok on this front.) Perhaps existing MSP ships will have this grandfathered up to the max age of 20 years? Any indication that will be the case? Is there something that gives them confidence or are they just assuming at this point?