Ready Reserve Force Contingency Crewing Requirements Study

Ships from the Government owned Ready Reserve Force (RRF), Fast Sealift fleet and future Large Medium Speed RO/ROs, are the main source of quick response shipping to deploy military forces in a national emergency. Their crews are drawn from the civilian mariner pool that crew the U.S. Flag Fleet which has been steadily decreasing in size. The projected dwindling supply of active mariners creates uncertainty about the assured ability to crew the government ships in an emergency Several study conclusions were: continue program of having partial crews on ships categorized as in Reduced Operation Status, establish inter-union agreements to cross-level mariners when required, negotiate agreements that ensures all U.S. flag shipping will make their personnel on leave available to crew ships without prejudicing their current positions or seniority (Re-employment Rights), reduce RRF' crew sizes and establishment of a future crewing program to ensure availability of qualified crews. Program options analyzed were drawing personnel from: the Naval Reserve, Military Sealift Command Civilian Mariner pool, and Maritime Administration Civilian Merchant Marine Mobilization Program.