R.G. Edmonson | Oct 08, 2010 5:04PM EDT
The Maritime Administration this week hired consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers to gather for the first time critical data to provide the government and the industry a better picture of the cost differential between operating U.S. and foreign flag vessels.
“The Maritime Administration has never done one of these before,” Matsuda said. “This is something the Maritime Administration has never been provided funds to do.”
Matsuda was testifying Sept. 30 before the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Coast Guard and maritime transportation, he said he was just as surprised as Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md.
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By The Numbers: U.S. Trade.
He said that Marad hoped the research would answer some of the committee’s frequent questions in a months-long inquiry into the status of the U.S. fleet.
The rule of thumb in the industry is that U.S.-flag ships are three times more costly to operate, but there has been no data to support the statement. According to Marad, the study will compare the current state of U.S. and foreign fleets, identify factors that influence the operations and recommend improvement to U.S. policies.
The agency expects the study to be complete by the summer of 2011.
-- Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.