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1/Colonial Pipeline, key source of fuel for the eastern seaboard, closed due to cyberattack
What is the alternative to the Colonial Pipeline, which opened in 1962?
The pipeline was built for expanding demand & to supplement shipping. https://www.freightwaves.com/?p=337861
What is the alternative to the Colonial Pipeline, which opened in 1962?
The pipeline was built for expanding demand & to supplement shipping. https://www.freightwaves.com/?p=337861
2/Under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 - known as the #JonesAct - only US flagged, built, crewed, and operated ships can operate in US coastal waters.
There are 57 tankers that meet this requirement per @DOTMARAD March 15, 2021 inventory.
How many of them are available?
There are 57 tankers that meet this requirement per @DOTMARAD March 15, 2021 inventory.
How many of them are available?
3/The four tankers of @AlaskaTankerCo, five of Polar Tankers @conocophillips, two @CrowleyMaritime, and Houston of USS Chartering are on the West Coast and traffic crude oil out of Alaska. Two chemical tankers are in a specific trade and not available.
4/The four tankers of @Chevron are split between the East and West Coasts of the US.
https://intelligence.marinelink.com/companies/company/chevron-shipping-company-llc-201245
https://intelligence.marinelink.com/companies/company/chevron-shipping-company-llc-201245
5/Seabulk Tankers operates five tankers and they are employed along the Gulf and Atlantic coast.
https://seabulkgroup.com/
https://seabulkgroup.com/
6/The second largest US commercial fleet is that held by Overseas Shipping Group (OSG). Several of their vessels - Overseas Key West, Long Beach, Nikiski, Tampa, Texas City & Anacortes - are available to be reactivated in Texas and Norfolk.
https://www.osg.com/corporate-profile/default.aspx
https://www.osg.com/corporate-profile/default.aspx
7/The largest US commercial tanker firm - @CrowleyMaritime - also has tankers in service, along with several in lay-up: Garden State, Lone Star State and Pelican State. This does not include their large tug & barge fleet for coastwise operations. https://www.crowley.com/shipping/deep-sea/tankers/
8/In sum, the US #JonesAct tanker fleet, due to the reduction in necessary coast-transport of oil, has surge capacity in its fleet, perfectly placed to answer the call with the Colonial Pipeline out of commission. However, the total capacity may not be sufficient.
9/In WW2, Axis submarines attacked the US & severely disrupted coastal trade, particularly tankers (43 lost off US East Coast in 1942 - 28 were US). Pipelines & the Intercoastal system were created to offset these attacks.
10/ @USNavy used US tankers to support its drive across the Pacific in WWII; today, rely exclusively on @MSCSealift oilers to transport & replenish - largely removing commercial tankers from the equation. Meaning MSC oilers have to do double the work - shuttle + station ship.
11/Efforts to increase the number of American tankers have been identified in numerous studies - such as @CSBA_. This requirement was the reason for the Voluntary Tanker Agreement, which aimed to increase the tanker fleet. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/01/2019-23908/renewal-of-the-voluntary-tanker-agreement-program-agreement-development-proposal
12/ @DeptofDefense should examine the required balance between oilers (T-AO) for the fleet, and transport tankers (T-AOTs).
In 1949, MSTS had 55 tankers, today 2!
The closing of the Colonial Pipeline highlights the national security need for a US flagged merchant marine.
In 1949, MSTS had 55 tankers, today 2!
The closing of the Colonial Pipeline highlights the national security need for a US flagged merchant marine.
Compile @threader_app
