American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) will christen the ARC Resolve, ARC Integrity and the ARC Independence, welcoming three of the most versatile and militarily-useful ships to the U.S.-flag commercial fleet, on Friday in the Port of Baltimore.
ARC’s three, new vessels will be enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program, and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA).
Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby will deliver the keynote address at the ship naming ceremony. He will be joined by several other distinguished speakers: Major General Michael C. Wehr, director of Strategic Plans, Policy, and Logistics (J5/J4) at U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Seafarer’s International Union of North America, AFL-CIO President Michael Sacco, and Maryland Port Administration (MPA) executive director James J. White.
M/V ARC Resolve (formerly M/V Otello) is 199m long with a beam of 32.26m. She has a 14.15m wide and 7.04m high stern opening, with a stern ramp rated for cargo weighing up to 240 MT.
M/V ARC Integrity (formerly M/V Fedora) and M/V ARC Independence (formerly M/V Faust) are sister ships – each is 237m long, has a beam of 32.26m, a 14.15m (w) and 7.04m (h) stern opening, and stern ramp rated for cargo up to 240MT.
These three, new vessels all have a main deck that can accommodate cargoes up to 6.5 meters in height (21.32 ft), which will make them among the most capable vessels in the U.S.-flag commercial fleet for government and project cargoes.
ARC is the largest U.S.-flag roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) carrier, and the second largest U.S.-flag carrier operating in international trade.