Analysis / Ben FrankelCollapse of U.S.-flag merchant shipping fleet poses security risk
Whatever one thinks of the merit of arguments presented by both sides in the heated debate over the DP World port management deal, that debate was helpful in at least one way: Critics of the deal helped highlight the issue of maritime transportation and port security, while supporters of the deal correctly pointed out that maritime and port security is an issue which is much broader — much, much broader — than the question of who operates the terminals at a given port.
There is one aspect to maritime transportation security which neither side in the DP World debate touched on: Foreign flag ships and crews now dominate U.S. trade routes. The United States is pursuing its global war on terror and places heavy emphasis on homeland security and protection of U.S. ports and intermodal infrastructure, but there is one chink — gaping chink — in the maritime security armor: The almost complete collapse of a U.S. flag merchant shipping fleet since the Second World War and the overwhelming, dominant presence of foreign flag ships and crews in U.S. ports. The question must be asked whether this fact presents a clear and present threat to U.S. security, especially where sensitive cargoes such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) are concerned.
As alarming is the fact that with only a skeletal U.S. flag fleet left, the U.S. military has been forced to ship sensitive mission-essential cargo aboard foreign-flagged vessels with foreign crews from countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, where there is support for al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is not pleased with this situation, concluding a recent report by saying that “There may be an increased risk of the equipment being tampered with, seized or destroyed by individuals or groups whose interests run counter to those of the United States, and an increased chance that those weapons or equipment might be used against military or civilian targets.”
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