Maritime Administration: Defining Its Mission, Aligning Its Programs, and Meeting Its Objectives
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A Report by a Panel of the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION for the Maritime Administration Maritime Administration: Defining its Mission, Aligning its Programs, and Meeting its Objectives November 2017 ABOUT THE ACADEMY ABOUT THE ACADEMY The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization established in 1967 and chartered by Congress in 1984. It provides expert advice to government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent organizations. To carry out this mission, the Academy draws on the knowledge and experience of its over 850 Fellows—including former cabinet officers, Members of Congress, governors, mayors, and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, and public administrators. The Academy helps public institutions address their most critical governance and management challenges through in-depth studies and analyses, advisory services and technical assistance, congressional testimony, forums and conferences, and online stakeholder engagement. Learn more about the Academy and its work at www.NAPAwash.org. A Report by a Panel of the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION November 8, 2017 Maritime Administration: Defining its Mission, Aligning its Programs, and Meeting its Objectives PANEL OF FELLOWS Lewis Crenshaw* Chair Mortimer Downey, III* Beverly Godwin* William Kenwell Marvin Phaup* *Academy Fellow Officers of the Academy Reginald Robinson, Chair of the Board Sallyanne Harper, Vice Chair Teresa W. Gerton, President and Chief Executive Officer B. J. Reed, Secretary Jonathan Fiechter, Treasurer Study Team Joseph P. Mitchell, III, Director of Academy Programs Roger Kodat, Project Director Joseph Tasker, Senior Advisor Emily Fay, Research Associate Hailey Ellsworth, Research Associate Michaela Halásová, Intern The views expressed in this report are those of the Panel. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Academy as an institution. National Academy of Public Administration 1600 K Street, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006 www.napawash.org November 8, 2017 Printed in the United States of America Academy Project Number: 2216 Foreword The United States is an island nation with geographical connections to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Our economy depends on the effective use of coastal resources and a functional system of inland waterways, while our security depends on a strong maritime industry to move troops and materiel for military purposes. The Maritime Administration (MARAD)—an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation— supports the U.S. commercial maritime industry and assists the U.S. Department of Defense with strategic sealift. Over the years, MARAD has had a significant impact on the daily lives of the American people, and the combined force of our country’s maritime industry and military sea power has produced economic and security benefits both here and abroad. MARAD asked the National Academy of Public Administration (the Academy) to conduct an independent review of its core functions, including an assessment of both its role within the Department of Transportation and its contribution to the nation. This report, prepared by a five-person Panel consisting of four Academy Fellows and an individual with extensive maritime transportation knowledge and experience, confirms the Agency’s important role and offers a total of 27 recommendations for improvement. In preparing this report, the Academy’s professional study team, working under the Panel’s leadership, interviewed more than 100 people representing more than 40 organizations. In addition, the study team reviewed reports, articles, and other documents in conducting its research. The Academy is a congressionally chartered non-partisan and non-profit organization with over 850 distinguished Fellows which has a unique ability to bring subject matter experts together to assist agencies in addressing their most pressing challenges. I am deeply appreciative of the work of the Academy’s Panel of Fellows and study team who provided their valuable insights and expertise throughout the project. I am also thankful for the constructive engagement of internal and external stakeholders who provided important context and insights that informed the Panel’s deliberations on its findings and recommendations. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to conduct this independent review. I expect that the Academy Panel’s report will contribute to strengthening the Maritime Administration’s ability to achieve both its commercial and its national security missions. Teresa W. Gerton President and Chief Executive Officer National Academy of Public Administration i THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. ii CONTENTS Foreword ...................................................................................................................................................................................... i Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................ vi Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Project Background and Overview ............................................................................................................ 8 1.1 Origin of the Study ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Background on MARAD ................................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Methodology and Report Organization ........................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: MARAD Programs and Operations ......................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Agency Programs ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 National Security/Strategic Sealift .................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Mariner Training ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 2.4 Environment, Safety and Security ..................................................................................................................... 26 2.4.1 Office of the Environment: META Program ............................................................................................ 26 2.5 Port Infrastructure and Intermodal Development ..................................................................................... 28 2.5.2 Port Conveyance Program .............................................................................................................................. 29 2.5.3 Short Sea Shipping (America’s Marine Highway Program) .............................................................. 30 2.5.5 StrongPorts Program ........................................................................................................................................ 33 2.6 Shipbuilding and Finance...................................................................................................................................... 34 2.6.1 Capital Construction Fund (CCF) ................................................................................................................. 34 2.6.4 War Risk Insurance ........................................................................................................................................... 35 2.7 Support for the U.S. as a Maritime International Trading Nation ........................................................ 36 2.8 MARAD’s Role in Jones Act Enforcement ....................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 3: Overarching Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 40 3.1 Mission Clarity ........................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2 Aligning Business Processes to the Mission .................................................................................................. 42 3.3 Transparency ............................................................................................................................................................. 44 3.4 Completing a National Maritime Transportation Strategy ..................................................................... 46 3.5 Collaboration .............................................................................................................................................................. 47 3.6 Operating the USMMA ............................................................................................................................................ 47 3.7 MARAD’s Fit in DOT ...............................................................................................................................................