The Future Of The Merchant Marine :: essays research papers fc

From the very beginnings of the united States, its waterways hurl provided a way for Americans to increase their standard of living. Ports like Boston, virgin York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore all were consequential during colonial times and are still important today. US ports and waterways systems are truly a landal resource. US ports and waterways have historically performed a role as the critical lifeline for our nations inter content and domestic trade since the birth of our country. Like whatever separate national resource, it mustiness be cared for and cultivated to meet the ontogenesis needs of its white plaguers, which include not only the direct users, but likewise each and every citizen. This cultivation must include consideration of forthcoming needs such as projected growth in mobile commerce and characteristics and technology developments associated with its direct users (carriers, shippers, importers and exporters).The national transference system was c omprise of relatively discrete units of rail, road and water transportation sub-systems, which interfaced by sine qua non rather than by form. Today, due to increasing cargo volumes and competition from other national port systems, the cornerstone of our national port and waterways system must be the recognition that intermodalism maximizes the efficiency of our system and provides the well marked pathways to proximo planning and development efforts. Intermodalism requires a seamless transportation system, which provides smooth changeover of cargo from one transportation mode to the other. It also requires the recognition that the waterborne and land based infrastructure must develop with the needs of the users in mind. These developments must include developing technology in the areas of ship design and onboard equipment, vessels traffic systems, aids, and port approach shot programs that efficiently link marine transportation systems to their rail and road links.We as a natio n benefited initially from the water access to our trade and we benefit now. There was no need for both national debate on the subject ports needed to be deeper and convey needing to be kept clear. Using public funds by means of the use of the US Army Corp of Engineers solved much of the problem. Port access is important to understanding the change. A limitation in depth became a problem at many of the countrys ports. The corp. also used private contractors, which were funded through the Corps of Engineers budget. Maintaining the waterways was important for the nation commercially, nationally, the funds were used to accomplish the national objective. The Navy was always around various ports and that continues today.