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Fueling the Frontier: M/T Acadia Trader’s Critical Resupply Mission to Antarctica

  • January 28, 2024
  • 2 mins read
  • News
Antarctica

The, a joint military mission to resupply the nation’s Antarctic station in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the lead agency for the U.S. Antarctic Program. 

On January 28th, 2024, M/T Acadia Trader arrived at McMurdo Station in Antarctica to deliver over 7 million gallons of a special blend of diesel fuel mixed specifically for Antarctica called AN8.  Also delivered were 1.5 million gallons of aviation fuel and 155 thousand gallons of gasoline, which make up 100 percent of the fuel needed for two years at the remote outpost.  To navigate to McMurdo Station, the USCGC Polar Star, one of only two active U.S. heavy ice breakers, cut a channel through approximately 17 miles of first year ice up to 5 to 6 feet thick to allow fuel and supply ships to reach McMurdo Station, the U.S. Antarctic Program’s logistics hub and largest station.  In addition to supplying fuel to McMurdo Station, M/T Acadia Trader refueled the Polar Star with approximately 300,000 gallons of JP5 via a ship-to-ship transfer during the mission.

Constructed and certificated as an Ice Class Tanker, M/T Acadia Trader has made nine annual missions to McMurdo Station, Antarctica delivering critical fuel supply to sustain winter missions.  The requirement to travel to Polar Regions required that the Acadia Trader’s crew be specially screened and trained in polar operations and have undergone Military Sealift Command (MSC) required training beyond what their Merchant Mariner Credentials and licenses required.  Ship travel to austere Polar Regions requires the highest level of planning, preparation, and management than most voyages.  Logistics and voyage planning (complicated by severe weather systems and ice-covered channels) becomes much tougher than in normal shipping lanes, and solutions often require innovative thought and a willingness to commit resources to unique solutions. 

The M/T Acadia Trader is crewed in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers (AMO) and unlicensed positions by Seafarers International Union (SIU).

Operation Deep Freeze is literally, “a cool mission” and USMMI is proud our ship and crew were well positioned to participate in this vitally important mission of scientific and national importance.

M/T Shenandoah Trader Joins the U.S. Flag Registry and Enters the Tanker Security Program

  • December 15, 2023
  • 1 min read
  • Press Release

An eight-year-old oil/product tanker, (ex Pyxis Epsilon) was purchased by U.S. Marine Management and flagged into the United States registry as M/T Shenandoah Trader on December 15th, 2023.  M/T Shenandoah Trader is participating in the newly formed Tanker Security Program by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).

M/T Shenandoah Trader Joins the U.S. Flag Registry and Enters the Tanker Security Program

The Tanker Security Program, or TSP, provides the Department of Defense (DoD) with access to a fleet of U.S. flagged oil/product tankers for use during times of armed conflict or national emergency.  The current TSP supports a fleet of ten commercial oil/product tankers operating internationally, capable of loading, transporting, and storing on-station bulk petroleum refined products to support national economic security and DoD contingency requirements.

The M/T Shenandoah Trader is currently supporting Military Sealift Command (MSC) in the Mediterranean Sea.

M/T Shenandoah Trader is crewed in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers (AMO) and in unlicensed positions by Seafarers International Union (SIU).

Maritime Partners, LLC Acquires A.P. Moller-Maersk’s U.S. Government Charter Fleet

  • September 20, 2023
  • 3 mins read
  • Press Release
Maritime Partners

Early in 2023, A.P. Moller-Maersk decided to divest itself of U.S. Marine Management, Inc. (USMMI).  USMMI, the U.S. government contractor and tanker owner/operator no longer “fit” with the new APMM/Maersk Group portfolio of business as the Group becomes the “Global Integrator of Container Logistics.”  The Maersk Group hired an investment banking firm to solicit bids from potential buyers and Maritime Partners, LLC emerged as the successful bidder. 

On September 20th, 2023, U.S. Marine Management, Inc. (USMMI) was acquired by Maritime Partners, LLC of Metairie, Louisiana.  USMMI, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), is now a U.S. owned, Jones Act qualified ship operating company based in Norfolk, Virginia with a fleet consisting of five oil/product tankers on charter to Military Sealift Command (MSC).  Maritime Partners, LLC is a U.S. company specializing in maritime financing solutions with a fleet of over 1,900 vessels. 

“We are excited to add USMMI to our portfolio,” said Bick Brooks, co-founder and CEO of Maritime Partners. “USMMI’s long-term contracts with a strong customer base will nicely complement our existing portfolio of assets by providing diversification across counterparties, assets and end markets.”  Maritime Partners said the deal is a “significant opportunity for portfolio diversification through the addition of a new vessel class with new capabilities, a new maritime market to serve and a new counterparty to its portfolio.”

USMMI’s management team remained fully intact throughout the recent ownership transition.  As a result, there is valued continuity of existing personnel with the same standards of excellence and commitment in place that have served USMMI’s primary customers, MSC and the U.S. Army with distinction for more than 40 years, while operating a broad range of vessels efficiently and cost-effectively.  U.S. Marine Management now qualifies as a Small Business concern.

USMMI will continue to grow existing business lines and create additional business lines that fit within the scope of USMMI’s ship ownership and management operations.  USMMI will also seek growth in new markets that will result in growth in U.S. Flag shipping fleet and create more employment positions for U.S. Mariners.

“We are excited to add USMMI to our portfolio,” said Bick Brooks, co-founder and CEO of Maritime Partners. “USMMI’s long-term contracts with a strong customer base will nicely complement our existing portfolio of assets by providing diversification across counterparties, assets and end markets.”

—CEO of Maritime Partners