It was a cold November night, and a warm fire burned brightly in our wood stove as my wife and I watched the Christmas special for one of our favorite British mystery series. After finding out who did it at the end of the show, we decided to watch the “bonus feature” on the DVD, which included interviews with the cast and writer. Since it was a holiday- themed tale, each person was asked what their personal Christmas wish was. Aside from the lead actress, who said she’d like future specials to be filmed in Italy or some other warm place, they all answered “world peace.” Hearing that, my wife turned to me and asked, “Have you ever thought about the merchant marine’s role in achieving the goal of world peace, Kelly?”
Many people know that the U.S. military is charged with keeping the peace, usually by an armed response to threats directed at our country or allies worldwide. Few, however, are familiar with the importance our merchant marine has in peacekeeping. Particularly, the vital role that thousands of United States Coast Guard (USCG) documented civilian mariners play during crises and disaster relief, working on ships that make up the United States Ready Reserve Force (RRF).
The RRF was established in 1976 through a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of Defense (DOD) and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) chosen to oversee its implementation and operation. In 1977, the first seven RRF vessels joined the program. Today, there are 48, including 42 roll-on/roll-off vessels, four auxiliary craneships and two aviation-repair vessels.
Until they are needed, most of the 48 RRF ships are anchored in various “outports” throughout the United States, including San Francisco, Charleston, S.C., and Baltimore. While awaiting activation, these ships are in what is known as Reduced Operating Status (ROS), carrying a small complement of around 10 mariners who make repairs, perform regular maintenance, and help ensure that the vessel is “ready to go.” If MarAd decides that a ship needs to get underway for any reason, it is fully crewed in accordance with its Certificate of Inspection, and the vessel is expected to be ready to sail within five to 10 days of being activated. Since the inception of the RRF, there have been over 700 ship activations supporting humanitarian, disaster relief and military operations throughout the world.
Some notable instances of Ready Reserve Force ships providing assistance have included supporting peacekeeping missions in the Balkan region and delivering food, medical supplies and temporary shelter to Central American countries in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, five RRF ships were among those assisting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) efforts in the U.S. Gulf Coast – which provided 270,000 meals and 80,000 sleeping accommodations for refinery workers, longshore personnel and response teams. After “Superstorm Sandy,” which killed hundreds of people and destroyed coastal cities all along the U.S. East Coast, RRF vessels played a similar role by supplying 44,000 berths and 77,000 meals to FEMA employees and other recovery workers. RRF ships have also carried supplies to West Africa to help combat the spread of the Ebola virus.
RRF ships have fostered goodwill time and time again worldwide, but with 17 of the 48 vessels in the fleet over 50 years old, there are very real concerns about their continued functionality. In 2019, a “test run” of 28 RRF ships was conducted by MarAd and the Military Sealift Command to determine if they could meet the five-to-10-day activation schedule and get underway on time. Only 40 percent were able to do so, largely because of mechanical failures and the inability to source qualified mariners on short notice.
Since then, there has been some movement toward dealing with the problems of an aging RRF fleet. In 2023, the first of five new national security multi-mission vessels (NSMV), TS Empire State VII, was delivered from Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard to the State University of New York Maritime College. A second NSMV, Patriot State II, was delivered to Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2024, with the remaining three expected to be completed by 2026. The ships will be used to train cadets at the state maritime academies under normal circumstances, but if needed to provide emergency assistance, they are also equipped with modern hospital facilities, a helicopter landing pad, and berthing for 1,000 people. I think that is a good first step, but five NSMVs cannot “take up the slack” for the 17 RRF vessels that will soon no longer be viable. The funds to build four to five new RRF ships annually in U.S. shipyards should be allocated until a full complement of new replacements exists, or even better, when the total number of RRF vessels equals the historical high of 102 ships the Force had in 1994.
During a disaster relief emergency or military crisis, being able to source U.S. commercial mariners on short notice is essential. To encourage seafarers to be available, MarAd should contractually offer a yearly stipend and guarantee that those who sail on an activated ROS vessel are paid at least as much as they would make on their regular job for the time they’re on board. The agency could also work with the USCG to waive the costs they incur to obtain and/or renew their credentials. If MarAd wants to help make sure that the RRF fleet can meet the challenges it will face, it needs to provide the maritime professionals crewing those ships with the necessary compensation for their work.
It’s time to stop dreaming of world peace, and to make more strides toward obtaining it. From my perspective, that means guaranteeing the United States has the capability to extend a helping hand to our citizens and to our world neighbors when needed. Revitalizing the Ready Reserve Force would be a good first step toward the merchant marine playing a larger role in achieving that aim.
Till next time, I wish you all smooth sailin.,’ •
Capt. Kelly Sweeney holds the license of master (oceans, any gross tons) and has held a master of towing vessels (oceans) license, as well. He has sailed on more than 40 commercial vessels and lives on an island near Seattle. He can be contacted by email at captsweeney@outlook.com