Independent Study in Support of a National Maritime Strategy: Summary Report

This congressionally mandated study for the Maritime Administration (MARAD) in the Department of Transportation (DOT) is meant to inform development of a national maritime strategy—its ends, ways, means, strategic problems, and priorities. This study focuses on the national security aspects of shipping, merchant mariners, and commercial shipbuilding. The study team consulted with other U.S. Government stakeholders, including key elements of the Coast Guard and Department of War (DOW), via repeated engagements and wargames.

For this study, the CNA study team provided analytically derived estimates, ideas, and options to inform strategy development. These estimates are sensitive to assumptions that we make explicit in the analysis. The validity of these assumptions may vary depending on the U.S. or global economy, U.S. or allied defense planning, and other factors subject to change. The analysis is illustrative and provides a sense of scale, as well as ranges and alternatives. The intent is not to define or validate requirements. This effort arose out of congressional interest in the ability of the United States to sustain a war of significant duration and maintain vital seaborne trade in such a conflict.

For questions about this report, contact the study director, Jerry Meyerle, at meyerlg@cna.org.