When I think of the DOT in regards to maritime issues I think of 5 things:
- The DOT Maritime Administration or MARAD.
- US flagged ships in regards to national defense.
- The Jones Act in regards to cabotage laws & protectiveness.
- The Jones Act in regards to US ship building.
- Maritime Training.
If the new administration & DOT secretary can nominate a MARAD director within 1 yr & get them on the job within 18 months then they already did better than their predecessors.
Activate the Ready Reserve Fleet in 1st 2 yrs to get a base line of where we need to focus. Then modernize the fleet with DoD funds since it seems they have an unlimited amount money.
Increase the MSC support of the us navy fleets & carrier groups.
Better working conditions for MSC to help it NOT be the weakest link in our otherwise modern navy.
Go on a public relationship campaign for the US Merchant Mariners, civmar & private to help increase recruiting & awareness.
I know the USCG icebreaker program is under the Department of Homeland Security but not the shipyards. So DOT/MARAD should do something, or a bunch of somethings to help those idiots build some icebreakers before all the ice melts.
Find a way to improve the numbers of academy grads going to sea. Find a percentage & aim for it. 65%, 75% or any reasonable goal.
Instead of sending so much free money overseas, work on diverting some of it back to US Shipyards. If we’re going to give away tens or hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe give it away in the form of US built ships. We’d be in compliance of IMF by not subsidizing, we’d be paying our shipyards money to give away a product instead of giving away money. Don’t give the poor fish, give fishing boats built by Americans in American shipyards.
And finally, name John Konrad as MARAD Director.
MARAD About us.
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/about-us