U.S.-FLAG VESSEL INDUSTRY WANTS CARGO PREFERENCE UPHELD IN IRAQI WAR

U.S.-FLAG VESSEL INDUSTRY WANTS CARGO PREFERENCE UPHELD IN IRAQI WAR    An ad-hoc coalition of U.S.-flag vessel and labor interests asked lawmakers on Capitol Hill to uphold the country’s cargo preference laws in future appropriation legislation pertaining to Iraq.
   “We respectfully urge that all U.S. cargo preference requirements be re-emphasized in legislation for the president’s supplemental and future legislation concerning Iraq specific acknowledgement of the applicability of these laws to shipments for operations, aid and reconstruction,” said the coalition in a March 28 letter to Sens. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., ranking committee member.
   “These laws are an investment in our nation’s defense,” the coalition added. “The U.S. Merchant Marine provides immense cost savings to the Defense Department, state-of-the-art worldwide intermodal cargo capabilities, and trained personnel for our armed forces’ sealift.”
   The coalition members include the American Maritime Congress; American Maritime Officers; American Maritime Officers Service; International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, Marine Firemen’s Union, Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development; Maritime Trades Department (AFL-CIO); Sailors’ Union of the Pacific; Seafarers International Union of North America; Transportation Institute; and Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO).