New U.S.-flag ro/ro vessel enters MSP fleet
A new U.S.-flag roll-on/roll-off vessel officially entered service in Baltimore Thursday and will participate in the federal government’s Maritime Security Program.
The 'Alliance New York' is operated by Alliance New York LLC, a strategic alliance between Liberty Global Logistics and Hoegh Autoliners AS. The alliance was established in the summer of 2005.
The U.S.-flag ro/ro ship is the newest vessel in the MSP program. The vessel was built by Daewoo in Korea and delivered in April.
The 2003 Maritime Security Act authorized the creation of a new MSP program to ensure the U.S. military has immediate access to a fleet of 60 militarily useful commercial U.S.-flag vessels during times of war or national security.
The military’s Transportation Command has expressed an increased interest in ro/ro and heavy-lift ships for transport of equipment. “This is a perfect vessel for the military,” said James E. Butcher, president of Hoegh Autoliners, in an interview.
Liberty Global Logistics, which is registered as a section 2 U.S. citizen, operates the “Alliance New York.” The vessel is under technical management of New York-based Liberty Maritime Corp., an operator of seven U.S.-flag bulk ships.
Alliance, an affiliate of Oslo-based Hoegh, is the owner of the “Alliance New York.” The vessel will operate on existing Hoegh trade routes, using the company’s global infrastructure and network. Hoegh’s overall fleet comprises 50 ro/ros and pure car and truck carriers. The carrier has another 20 vessels planned for construction.
The “Alliance New York” will trade in a round-the-world service and is scheduled to complete four to five voyages a year. After departing Baltimore, the ship will proceed to New York and Wilmington, Del., then eastward through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal, and on to ports in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan, before returning to the United States.
Liberty Global Logistics may trade on any route within Hoegh’s network, and can serve multiple destinations to accommodate additional or alternative cargoes.
Butcher said the formation of Alliance was a good move for both Liberty Maritime and Hoegh.
“We believe it’s a good thing to be involved in many different aspects of ocean transport,” Butcher said. “Although the markets are strong now, we’re better off with a diversified business.”
Butcher also said Alliance has plans to expand its participation in MSP, especially as operators withdraw from the program. With the government’s permission, a U.S.-flag vessel can be substituted for another in the program. “We’ll keep our options open,” Butcher said.