Importance of U.S. crews on LNG tankers subject of webcast

Importance of U.S. crews on LNG tankers subject of webcast    Maritime TV, a worldwide Internet channel, will host a webcast at 1 p.m. EST today to discuss the lack of U.S. crews on liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers, a program spurred by a recent white paper on the issue and the controversial debate over a Dubai-backed terminal operator's plan to operate terminals in the United States.
   The webcast, available at https://www.maritimetv.com , will be archived on the Web site for a year.
   “In parlance of campaign messages, the feedback we’ve received from the industry during the port security debate was that ‘It’s the ships, stupid ' and we’ve got to let the public know,’ and that’s a big driver behind the webcast,” said Dave Gardy, chief executive officer of the network, said in a statement. “This controversial issue is now being looked at in a whole new light of homeland security and defense vulnerability, which many say may lead to a renewed legislative effort to rebuild a presence for the U.S. merchant marine officers and crew.”
   Maritime TV news reports have highlighted government findings that foreign-flag ships and crews dominate U.S. trade routes. The reports have found that as the U.S. pursues its war on terror with heavy emphasis on homeland security and protection of its ports and intermodal infrastructure, the almost complete collapse of a U.S.-flag merchant shipping fleet since World War II and the overwhelming presence of foreign flag ships and crews in U.S. ports present a clear and present threat, especially where sensitive cargoes such as LNG and LPG are concerned.
   “Thousands of foreign-controlled ships manned by many tens of thousands of foreign personnel visit our many ports and navigable waterways — many of which are registered under “flags of convenience” with owners, operators, and multinational crews that have no national relationship to the country where the ship is registered,” said Capt. Dan Fuller, U.S. Merchant Marine Shipmaster and maritime consultant, in a statement released by Maritime TV. “More American ships carrying a larger proportion of our foreign trade give the U.S. greater control over our trade, as well as significantly increased security for our ports, waterways, and adjacent communities.”