ABSTRACT
The future for the American merchant seaman appears bleak. Whereas most of the world's maritime fleets benefit from U.S. trade, the United States does not participate in the trade of foreign nations to any significant degree. Add to this the continual shrinkage of the percentage of American commerce being carried on U.S. flagsh ips (see Appendix B). At this time there are only 300-plus American flagships actively engaged in trade, and approximately 230 tankers. More bad news for the American seaman is the mood of government to decrease subsidies in all areas of the economy. If one wishes to look for a positive sign in the increased size of individual ships, they can find some relief because the total tonnage of the American flag fleet has increased in recent years (see Appendix C).
