REMARKS AS PREPARED BY 
MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR REAR ADMIRAL ANN PHILLIPS, U.S. NAVY (Ret.)
National Maritime Day Ceremony Remarks
DOT HQ

Thank you, DMA Tamekia Flack, for that introduction and thank you to everyone for joining us today to honor American Mariners on this 91st National Maritime Day. 

Today, we celebrate the brave, hardworking, and dedicated mariners who have sailed and are sailing the high seas, sometimes in harm’s way - in service of their country. As we look to the future, we are committed to ensuring that safety of our Mariners, and the vessels upon which they sail remains the top priority for the maritime industry.

I’d also like to extend a special thank you to our distinguished speakers and our distinguished guests for your presence today. 

Thank you to Senator Mark Kelly for joining us today, and for your steadfast support of MARAD and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. 

Secretary Carlos Del Toro and General Jacqueline Van Ovost, thank you for your exceptional collaboration and steadfast partnership - that makes us all stronger.

Thank you, SIU President David Heindel, for your ongoing efforts in mariner recruitment, training, and retention.

And dear Sister Okereke, thank you, as always, for your kind words of inspiration. 

I offer a special thank you and welcome to Mr. Allen Johnson and his daughters Judy and Brenda.  Mr. Allen is a World War II Merchant Mariner who honors us all with his presence today.

And I also thank the many staff from MARAD and the Department of Transportation who have worked tirelessly to make today possible.  

Before I go further, allow me to express our condolences, on behalf of the Department of Transportation, to the families of those who lost their lives earlier this year when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed. And to recognize the tremendous teamwork underway by USCG, USACE, FHWA, MDOT, MPA, and so many other interagency partners to reopen the Port of Baltimore.  

As I start out this morning, I’d like to recall a quote from the July 5, 1933, edition of The Washington Herald.  

It appeared in an article titled “Real Naval Parity” - reprinted from “our Navy’s Greatest Need- an Adequate Merchant Marine,” issued by the Middle West Foreign Trade Committee through its chairman [at the time] Malcolm M. Steward of Cincinnati OH.

Quoting Mr. Steward - “…the value of our merchant shipping is not confined to the mere carrying of cargoes and passengers . . .our merchant marine must be maintained, not merely as an instrument for commercial expansion but as a weapon for protection - the protection of American life and property…while a chief mission of our naval power -  is the defense of our merchant marine, just as important a mission of our merchant marine is the strengthening of our naval power. “   

These words are as true now as they were in 1933 - in that they succinctly summarize the critical and interdependent nature of the relationship among the organizations and agencies represented on the stage today.  – and with safety as our north star - to the broader shared value of a strong merchant marine as an essential element of our national defense.  

Our maritime sector is a cornerstone of America’s economy and security, responsible for the safe transport of billions of tons of cargo annually across our U.S. waterways - and carrying our Department of Defense, other government and other commercial cargoes internationally - entrusted to the very capable hands of American mariners. You know this because you - collectively - represent the full spectrum of maritime stakeholders. And as it supports our national defense, so too, our national defense must support it in turn.  It is a synergistic relationship.  

In recent years, we’ve made significant strides in two critical areas: growing the U.S. flag fleet and with that increasing the number of credentialed U.S. mariners.

First, the establishment of the Tanker Security Program (TSP) has been a major achievement. With an initial fleet of 10 tankers and authorization for 10 more, we’re building capacity and with it - building new access to government cargoes while ensuring the long-term need for a skilled workforce. 

We are also continuing with the critical RRF recapitalization plan to further our security interests and support the defining capabilities that make us a maritime nation, through Vessel Acquisition using our innovative VAM process, and, through vessel construction - using our very successful VCM process - as well as focusing on investments in our critical infrastructure, like ports and shipyards which are needed for every deployment or contingency.   Indeed - MARAD builds ships - we have delivered NSMV 1 EMPIRE STATE – and PATRIOT STATE will be delivered in a few short months! And we’ve been tasked by Congress to use the VCM model and design a Sealift Vessel for DOD!

Secondly, MARAD’s 5-year Mariner Workforce Strategic Plan focuses on methods recruiting, training, and retaining credentialed mariners. It aligns objectives across a range of stakeholders to recruit and retain mariners and meet our crewing needs. Our designated 2024 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education are also enhancing our ability to educate and train a skilled domestic maritime workforce.

Lastly, the industry-wide initiative, Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture (EMBARC) standards – now law - which were released in 2021, have been operational on many vessels for over 2 years now. Those standards include a set of policies, programs, procedures, and practices to help strengthen a culture of SASH prevention and support appropriate responses to incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment and other forms of bullying and misconduct.   

Midshipmen I have spoken to have told me that EMBARC is having the intended effect of positively changing the maritime industry culture and making it safer for all mariners at sea. We know there is more to be done, but we are heartened to hear of positive outcomes on this journey. 

We are also deeply engaged in building our Congressionally mandated National Maritime Strategy  - and as we  navigate towards  the possibilities and opportunities for our maritime  future, it is keenly important to maintain strong relationships with our commercial industry partners and those within the Department of Defense – U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) – and the joint, multi-national security forces that ensure the free and unrestricted navigation of international waters to maintain the safety of our mariners and vessels.

Our collective efforts have been steadfast in planning for heightened protection against threats to our mariners – enhancing our coordination and communication with U.S. vessels operating on the high seas.

Looking forward, it’s clear that the maritime industry must remain assertive, dynamic and innovative. We here at MARAD commit to fostering professional growth and ensuring that American mariners have access to the latest technology, training, and education – for without them – we have no industry.

Our united efforts are pivotal to America’s prosperity and the safety of all U.S. flagged vessels and their cargoes. By working together, we continue to safeguard and advance our national and economic interests and build upon the proud legacy that the brave mariners of our past have left for us.

Thank you to everyone here today for your longstanding dedication and commitment to the maritime industry, and to our vital mariner workforce. Your efforts strengthen not only our maritime capabilities, but also our nation. 

Now if you would please turn your attention to the screen, I would like to share recorded remarks from Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Secretary Buttigieg very much wanted to be here today but could not and he asked that we share his sentiments.