Capt. Phillips: Budget cuts will take toll on merchant mariners

2 57260 1381752363

(WASHINGTON) — Capt. Richard Phillips, whose kidnapping by Somali pirates is depicted in a new movie starring Tom Hanks, warned Thursday that budget cuts could eliminate one-third of the U.S. ships used to transport military cargo, Scripps Howard InfoZine reported. Maersk Alabama, the containership shown in the film, is among 60 U.S. ships that are in danger of losing funding due to $12 million that will be cut from the Maritime Security Program. About 2,700 crewmembers and 5,000 shore-related jobs are attached to the program.

Click here to read the story.

By Professional Mariner Staff