[20200604]IN11416_海事局预备储备海运船队.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Maritime Administrations Ready Reserve Sealift Fleet June 4, 2020 Congress currently faces decisions about how best to restore the readiness of a fleet of government-owned ships kept on standby to support Department of Defense (DOD) surge sealift requirements. The Ready Reserve Force (RRF)a subset of the statutorily required National Defense Reserve Fleetcomprises 46 vessels managed by the Department of Transportations Maritime Administration (MARAD). RRF vessels are located strategically at ports throughout the United States. MARAD contracts with several private-sector companies to keep these ships maintained and ready to sail within five days notice. These companies typically employ a skeleton crew of about 10 per ship who both live onboard and perform regular maintenance. MARAD contractors must also assemble the additional crew that would be needed for operating the ship if activated to support DOD. According to contract activity entered into the Federal Procurement Data System for FY2018 and FY2019, three of MARADs leading RRF contractors are also major container ship carriers in the U.S. domestic tra