Merchant Marines

[KaGee]

Re: Merchant Marines

The silence is deafening! <br />Confucious say:<br />"Too hard talk if foot in mouth".<br /><br />

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Merchant Marines

I know I hate it when I have to take the foot out of my mouth only to change feet. <br /><br />Keep on posting

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Merchant Marines

Originally posted by RPJS:<br /> txs<br /><br />The US has 486 merchant ships (12.5 million tonnes) sailing under the American flag.<br /><br />There are also 680 US owned ships registered in foriegn countries.<br /><br />The US navy has 281 battle force ships.<br /><br />You may not like your countries government, but don't worry, they haven't sold you short when it comes to maritime capabilities.

Does it say how many of them are large? <br /><br />I believe TX got this idea from a post I made in another thread where I commented that very few ships carry the US flag.<br /><br />Everything I see in Houston is Panama, Monrovia, or China.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Merchant Marines

IMHO txswinner would have an anuerysm if he couldn't constantly find something (valid or otherwise) to carp about the USA. Some people are just born with the 'cup is half empty' gene.

 

[OLDSPUD]

Re: Merchant Marines

A little off topic, but my FIL was a WWII merchant marine, he was one tough mother, and from his stories, the real men were merchant marines.<br /><br />Spud

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Merchant Marines

Originally posted by spud21:<br /> A little off topic, but my FIL was a WWII merchant marine, he was one tough mother, and from his stories, the real men were merchant marines.<br /><br />Spud

Yep spud, they had a tough, vital job to do and more often than not they could not fight back.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Merchant Marines

I wonder if txswinner even has a boat?<br />Do ya tx, if so, let's see a picture of you in it somewhere.<br />That would be interesting.

 

[KingsPoint]

Re: Merchant Marines

Hey, I'm a Midshipman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York and just stumbled on this thread. <br /><br />It is true that the U.S. Merchant fleet is comparitively small compared to countries of similar size. There are approximately 420 - 450 U.S. flagged ships at any time, but only 76 of those are 13,000 DWT or more (generally 700 feet or longer). The major reason that there are still U.S flagged ships, is the Jones Act of 1920. This ensured that vessels travelling between two U.S. ports were U.S flagged, crewed by Americans and built in U.S. shipyards. <br /><br />Two key developments in the future hold a strong promise for the survival of our merchant fleet. One is the development of an American LNG fleet. All LNG ships calling at U.S. ports are foreign-flagged, although some companies are looking into the feasability of building and operating one here. In addition, the Maritime Administration is pushing legislation that would allow Midshipmen and Cadets from the Federal and State Academies to train on a foreign-flagged LNG tanker (currently, our sea time is just on U.S. ships). The second revitalization on the table is the development of smaller, faster coastal trade ships that are designed to give the railroads and trucking industry a run for their money. Shipping bulk goods by ship is already the least-expensive mode, based on ton-miles, the speed just isn't there.<br /><br />Sorry to bring back up an old thread, but I saw it and generally not much is known about the merchant marine, so I thought I'd comment.

 

[txswinner]

Re: Merchant Marines

Kings, thanks for info and I stand corrected, but continue to believe our merchant fleet is in adequate. good luck in your pursuits.<br /><br />SBN, Just noticed your comments and not that it matters but I do own a boat or so. presently in my keep is a 19.5 Ranger w 178 hp Johnny, jonboat, 20hp Merc and just purchased a sunk 47 foot Searay to be reworked and am bidding on a 70' salvaged boat. Hope this meets your minimum requirements.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Merchant Marines

We still have a navy don’t we? If we do I imagine we could still get a few tanks on a few ships. <br />We used to have what was called LSD/landing ship drydocks.LST/landing ship tankers I imagine a few of those could be pulled out of dry-dock if needed.

 

[heycods]

Re: Merchant Marines

Originally posted by txswinner:<br /> Kings, thanks for info and I stand corrected, but continue to believe our merchant fleet is in adequate. good luck in your pursuits.<br /><br />SBN, Just noticed your comments and not that it matters but I do own a boat or so. presently in my keep is a 19.5 Ranger w 178 hp Johnny, jonboat, 20hp Merc and just purchased a sunk 47 foot Searay to be reworked and am bidding on a 70' salvaged boat. Hope this meets your minimum requirements.

Whatn He!! would a flatlander do with a 70' boat.<br />You get the 47' fixed up you might sell it to LF.

 

[txswinner]

Re: Merchant Marines

I am told I can cruise the isle of caribe on the 70 and wife and I have talked about doing that for a long time. This may be our chance.<br /><br />Good news the 47 is an '88 and motors new in 2003. Guess what cranked and both run smooth. Windshield cost me $9,500 and minor hull work. Looks like I will be in under 50K, not bad for a 150k + rig.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Merchant Marines

$9500 for a windshield? I think I'll stick with my flatbottom. Must be nice.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Merchant Marines

Heycods, he's got the 70' for the 2nd flood. You know, global warming and all?

 

[heycods]

Re: Merchant Marines

Its Just not fair, Another example of them rich liberals flaunting thier money around, when his neighbors ther in New Orleans are starving and cant get a mesely 250 billion to fix up thier little town, while us poor conservatives cant even buy gas for our little 17'ers. It aint fair I tell you.