Maritime Security Fleet: Many Factors Determine Impact of Potential Limits on Food Aid Shipments;Report to the Congress

摘要

Food aid cargo must generally be carried on U.S.-flag ships under requirements set by the cargo preference program. Two groups of carriers compete of this cargo: (1) those that participate Maritime Security Program and receive an annual government subsidy-generally liners operating on scheduled routes and (2) those that do not-generally carriers operating on a charter basis. Congress directed GAO to study (1) how the cargo preference and Maritime Security programs are designed and who participates$ (2) the nature and extent of MSF and non-MSF carrier participation and competition in the food aid program$ and (3) how a tonnage limitation on bagged preference cargo for MSF vessels could MSF$ other U.S.-flag ships, the cargo preference food aid program, and the ports servicing these ships.