U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration's recent purchase of two cargo vessels will help the administration's Ready Reserve Force keep its place in national security, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a March 25 news release.
The acquisition of the two ships, HONOR and FREEDOM, marks the first time in more than 30 years MARAD announced such a purchase, according to the release. The purchase is part of efforts to continuously modernize the Ready Reserve Force.
“The Ready Reserve Force is an essential element of U.S. national security," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "We are proud to use this innovative method to more quickly acquire two additional vessels and ensure America's Ready Reserve Fleet is always ready to answer the call."
The ships were purchased using a vessel acquisition manager, which is an integrated program office that allows the Departments of Defense and Transportation to effectively replace aging sea vessels to meet national security requirements.
The two ships are scheduled to be updated and made sea-ready this fall before joining the U.S. flag fleet at Cape Arundel in Kennebunkport, Maine, and Cape Cortes in Los Angeles. The two ships will replace two of the fleet's older vessels, which are due to be retired.
MARAD's Ready Reserve Force is a subset of vessels in the administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet, according to the force's page on MARAD's website. The fleet is maintained in readiness for rapid worldwide deployment of the nation's military forces with the Ready Reserve Force being a key part of the Defense Departmen's strategic sealift. The Ready Reserve Force stands ready to transport Army and Marine Corps unit equipment and combat support equipment.
MARAD is in its 76th year of maintaining the country's reserve of sealift ships.
