The reason our shipping industry can't compete with foreign shipping is that we have higher standards for construction, operation, and maintenance than, say, Liberia.
It is really labor, CB. We build, maintain, and run our ships with some of the "Fattest Cat" Unions in the country in charge. Same thing, of course, with the Dock Workers. But there is no way around that.
I was a Dance Host last year on the "Independence," one of two American Flagged Cruise ships here in the Islands. Since they went "coast wise" only, with no Foreign Port, they had to be. It was a great ride, but the line went bankrupt right after 911. Just too expensive to operate.
We now have a highly successful "Foreign Flag" operation running here, (Norwegian Star) that is adding a second Ship. They have to "touch base" down near the Solomons, (Fanning Island,) each trip to be legal. Turns a 5 day trip into 7 days. |
