Cargo Preference Programs for Government-Financed Ocean Shipments Could Be Improved

Cargo preference laws seek to promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced U.S. merchant marine, to promote U.S. commerce, and to aid in the national defense. The laws require use of U.S. flag vessels for 50 percent to 100 percent of federal government-generated ocean shipments. The Secretary of Commerce is responsible for issuing cargo preference regulations, reviewing the administration of agency cargo preference programs, and reporting on them annually to Congress.

The three major civilian government agencies reporting to the Maritime Administration have generally met the U.S. flag shipping requirements. The Administration had some success in expanding the number of programs with cargo preference requirements but has been hampered by nonspecific legislation and lack of clear-cut authority to determine the applicability of cargo preference legislation to programs. Because of uncertainty about applicability of the legislation to transportation of imports under federal grant programs, some shipments may have been made on foreign-flag vessels which could have been made on U.S. flag vessels. Reports to the Congress on cargo preference shipments have been incomplete, and some agencies have not fully complied with the Administration's reporting regulations. Although the Administration has tried to resolve these problems, improvements are still needed. It is developing a computerized system to improve its cargo preference monitoring and reporting capabilities.

Recommendations

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