Defense Logistics: The Department of Defense's Report on Strategic Seaports Addressed All Congressionally Directed Elements.

摘要

Sealift is the primary means of deploying and sustaining the combat power required in major ground operations, typically accounting for upwards of 90 percent of all military cargo, and U.S. strategic seaports play an important role in ensuring that the U.S. military is able to quickly and efficiently deploy to address the country s overseas interests. The strategic seaport program administered jointly by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) facilitates the movement of deploying military forces through the 17 commercial and 5 military seaports designated as strategic seaports. These ports serve as significant transportation hubs and are important to DOD s readiness and cargo handling capacity. Over the past several years Congress has directed that a number of studies be conducted to ensure the readiness of the strategic seaports. Most recently, in the conference report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Congress directed DOD to provide an updated report on strategic seaport facilities used for military purposes, specifying that DOD must include (1) an assessment of the structural integrity and deficiencies of the port facilities and determination of the infrastructure improvements needed to directly or indirectly meet national security and readiness requirements; (2) an assessment of the impact on operational readiness if the improvements are not undertaken; (3) an identification of potential funding sources for the needed improvements from existing authorities; and (4) an opinion as to whether DOD has the necessary authority to support section 50302 of Title 46 of the United States Code.1 DOD issued that report in January 2013.