THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 27, 1994 TAG: 9412230032
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
I read with interest your reprint from the Journal of Commerce and staff writer Christopher Dinsmore's articles on the expanding commercial work at Newport News Shipbuilding and the significant growth of container traffic through the port of Hampton Roads.
Most readers likely did not recognize that the containers shown in photos were foreign steamship containers, specifically from Evergreen Steamship Corp.
Evergreen is a Taiwanese company that was incorporated about 18 years ago in Taiwan with the intention of forcing United States Lines into bankruptcy. United States Lines, former proud owner and operator of a fleet of U.S. flag ships, including the America and the United States, had significantly increased its debt load by attempting to modernize the fleet by building 12 new large containerships.
Taiwan, essentially a government-run corporation that does not have to concern itself with antitrust laws, the environment, safety and the myriad rules and regulations with which our ship operators must abide, was presented an opportunity to make money without trying. Taiwan built a fleet of similar vessels, put them on the same route, and within three years United States Lines was bankrupt.
The reason is simple. If I paid truck drivers 50 cents an hour to drive containers to the port and the shipfitter and machinist at Newport News $1.25 per hour, I would drive all competition out of business. Another factor is government acquiescence to the shipper who uses a foreign ship to bloat his profits even more. No other nation in the universe displays such disregard for its sealift capability, and we are an island nation.
The question of safety arises especially for Americans taking a cruise on a foreign-flag ship. If you return to port without having a collision, grounding, fire, intestinal virus or worse, just count yourself lucky.
I have been going to sea since 1948 and each year become increasingly discouraged by the lack of professionalism and seamanship demonstrated by crews flying the flag of Third World countries. Just this past month two large, foreign-flag passenger ships sank at sea with more than 1,000 passengers onboard. Only the grace of God prevented greater fatalities.
I urge your fine papers' staff writers to report the long-term implications for our great republic. Where would our sea lift come from in the event of a conflict involving Israel? Do you honestly believe any of our ``friends'' would cut their petroleum throat in order to live up to a pledge made to the United States?
ROBERT P. LUCAS
U.S. Navy (ret.)
Virginia Beach, Dec. 16, 1994 by CNB