Summary: In the event of a major conventional war, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is responsible for insuring that sufficient merchant ships are available to satisfy the shipping needs of the Department of Defense and the civilian sector. Therefore, MARAD must have a comprehensive emergency plan detailing procedures for obtaining, deploying, and operating merchant ships.
MARAD developed an Emergency Planning Program and, in 1979, published its Operations Plan which consolidates many of the procedures and objectives outlined in the original Emergency Planning Program. The plan is a well structured document which describes general procedures to be followed, and it states the responsibilities of various MARAD offices during the periods of emergency. It is designed to insure a quick and orderly transition from a peacetime environment to an emergency situation. However, the document does not include detailed implementation and operating plans and procedures that would be required at the office working level. The need for detailed specific plans and procedures at this level is vital for the success of the overall plan.
