Prepared Remarks
of Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator and Chief Counsel
Julie A. Nelson
National Maritime Day Observance
U.S. Department of Transportation
May 22, 2006

Thank you, Kevin.  Today is Kevin’s last day with the Maritime Administration.  He’s served us very well, and we’re pleased he’s Master of Ceremonies on this important occasion.

Secretary Mineta, Mr. Lowder, Captain Atkin; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.  This is an exciting time to be part of the maritime industry. 

Just this past weekend I had the honor of attending the christening for the Pride of Hawaii, a new U.S.-flag ship for the burgeoning Hawai’i cruise trade.  It is heartening to see how that trade has come back in the last two years, and to know that thousands more new jobs will be created in the cruise industry with the service of this new ship.

It is also an exciting time to be at the Maritime Administration. 

We are launching our new web-based Mariner Outreach System (MOS).  The system will improve MARAD’s ability to contact mariners during a national sealift emergency.   Merchant mariners provide crucial sealift to U.S. Armed Forces for overseas missions, and recently provided vital support for hurricane recovery efforts.  The MOS, which will be operated by MARAD as a service to mariners, will also improve MARAD’s ability to communicate with them and to solicit feedback through questionnaires and surveys. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the Mariner Outreach System, we have brochures on the welcome table in the back. 

I have further good news.  Last week the Deputy Secretary of Defense stated that the United States Merchant Marine Academy should be included in state funeral processions in a status equal to that of U.S. Service Academies. I believe that all of you here agree with me that it is only right and fitting. 

Merchant mariners work hard—you will hear that many of the mariners receiving medals today have also served supporting the troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Our ships work hard, too: the maritime academy training ships are already either back out to sea on training voyages or are preparing to set sail. 

 It is also an inspiring time to be here at the Department of Transportation on Maritime Day, as we honor members of the U.S. Merchant Marine for their unstinting service in helping the Gulf Coast recover from the devastation wrought by hurricane season 2005. 

 The entire sequence of events that brought us to this day, from Secretary Mineta taking unprecedented bold steps to activate our ships, the resourcefulness of the mariners and the ship management companies in dealing with a new kind of mission and an overwhelming situation, and the long hours put in by MARAD people, some of whom lost their own homes, is one of the best examples of service to our country that I have ever had the honor to be associated with, and I thank you, each and every one, for your part in it.

 We made a DVD which highlights the work of the merchant mariners in the hurricane recovery efforts and copies are available at the hospitality table.

 Maritime Day is a day to honor all of the maritime industry, and, as many of you know, we have expanded our horizons, and hope in the next few years to raise the visibility of the maritime industry, to raise it up in the eyes of the American people, for whom the maritime industry does so much.  I look forward to working with all of you in that process.  Thank you.