The American Flagship project plans to build a series of the world's largest passenger ships in the United States to be operated under the American flag. More than a decade and $60 million has been invested in the development of the now contract-ready prototype ship, America World City. Just one problem: a recent U.S. government move prohibits the use of its Title XI ship financing program, intended to create American jobs, for American-flagged cruise ships.
"Except for small coastwise vessels and riverboats, none of the 200+ ocean-going cruise ships operating in the North American cruise market were built here," says World City President Stephanie Gallagher in an open letter to President Obama reported in Maritime Executive. Gallagher continues, "none hire American officers or crew, and none pay U.S. income tax on their multibillion-dollar annual profits - unlike every other U.S. hospitality organization."
World City's designers seem to have taken the best of the best being offered by today's cruise industry and improved it. Unique features include using fully enclosed, instant boarding 400-person life saving craft, energy efficiencies, waste management, green technologies and advanced security systems.
They have a plan, now they just need to build it.Continue reading American Flagship To Be Largest Ever, If BuiltAmerican Flagship To Be Largest Ever, If Built originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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