The Military Sealift Command is the sole transportation provider for the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense (DOD). It was created in July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service was given exclusive responsibility for the ocean transportation needs of the DOD; it was given its current name in 1970. MSC is comprised of a fleet of ships, most owned by the Navy and some under long-term charter. Vessels owned by the Navy and those being chartered are differentiated by their hull numbers, as well as the colors they carry.
Military Sealift Command employs civilian U.S. government employees or contract crews to man the ships when they are sent on a particular mission. The MSC is made up of four main programs:
Sealift:
The Sealift Program is tasked with the responsibility to serve as the
sole provider of ocean transportation for the DOD. It provides cost effective
sealift assets for the DOD in times of peace, contingency, and war. The
benefit of having this one program directly connected to the needs of
the DOD is that it is centrally managed. There are three subprograms within
the Sealift Program including the following: Tanker Project, Dry Cargo
Project, and Surge Project.
Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force:
This portion of the MSC most directly supports the Navy, manning naval
fleets with civilians to reduce costs. There are several types of ships
involved with the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force including Rescue / Salvage,
Ammunition, Dry Cargo, Hospital, Fast Combat, Fleet Replenishment, and
Combat Stores.
Special Mission:
As the name suggests, this is the most specialized part of Military Sealift
Command. The Special Missions Program maintains control of 24 vessels
that supplement U.S. Military and government missions at sea. Providing
platforms and services, the Special Missions Program is involved in unique
operations such as oceanographic surveys, submarine surveillance, missile
flight data tracking, acoustic research, and support for submarine vessels.
Prepositioning:
The Prepositioning Program of Military Sealift Command provides support
for military departments before a need arises. The vessels are deployed
in key ocean areas, carrying military equipment supplies to the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Military Sealift Command provides injury insurance and compensation for employees who are injured in an accident on the job. As civilian employees, seamen working for the MSC have the same rights as any other maritime employees. If you or a loved one was working as a civil service mariner (CIVMAR) with the Military Sealift Command when he or she was injured, contact Arnold & Itkin to learn how we can help.
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.
