Vessel operation statistics indicate steady growth in vessel traffic over the past few decades (Mazzuca
2001). There has been an increase both in the number of vessels and in the tonnage of goods shipped. For
example, a 30 percent increase has occurred in the volume of goods shipped by the U.S. fleet (by flag and
ownership) over the past 20 years (U.S. Maritime Administration, 2003). Oceanic shipping is an efficient
means of transporting large quantities of goods and materials globally. The globalization of economic
infrastructure means that more raw materials, as well as finished goods, require long-distance transport.
The economic incentives for oceanic shipping are strong, and in the near term, there is no viable alternative
for transporting large-tonnage materials to distant global locations.