User:Nolsterator/Military Sealift Command

Part of the Navy's strategy is forward presence and power projection, and this is done through prepositioning MSC ships and supplies. Prepositioning extends the depth of operations, isolates conflicts away from the United States, allows for swift action to conflict, and reduces time, resources delegated to transporting cargo, and allows for more efficient use of resources and force.

During a time charter MSC takes control of a merchant ship and operates it for the chartered amount of time. During this time the ship is crewed by civilian mariners and MSC pays for all expenses. Time chartered ships are not subject to inspections from foreign governments when in port, and MSC has operational control. Voyage chartered ships are crewed by civilian, and MSC only pays the fee for transporting the cargo. These ships are chartered for the voyage, subject to inspections, and MSC does not have operational control of the ship.

The Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) is a program that allows the DOD to use U.S. flag ships in a time of war. In exchange for access to their ships companies are subsidized in exchange for the higher cost of crewing a U.S. flag ship.