FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICY MANUAL

. Ship Acquisition.
The ship acquisition program provides new DOD sealift vessels via
new construction or conversion of existing ships.
COMNAVSEASYSCOM is responsible for procurement of new DOD
sealift vessels. National Defense features for the military enhancement
of civilian vessels will be contracted by either Military Sealift
Command (MSC) or the Maritime Administration (MARAD) of the
Department of Transportation, as appropriate.
c. DOD Mobilization Assets.
(1) Ships operated through the NDSF fall into the following
categories:
(a) Surge Sealift. The Fast Sealift Ships (FSS) and the Large
Medium Speed Roll On/Roll Off (LMSR) ships provide the
initial surge sealift capacity for transporting lead combat forces
from the continental U.S. to a given area of operations and to
satisfy time critical war fighting requirements. MSC operates
these ships.
(b) Aviation Maintenance. The Aviation Support Ships (T-
AVB) provide the initial intermediate level aviation
maintenance capability to support U.S. Marine Corps war
fighting operations and operations other than war. MSC
operates these ships.
(c) Hospital Ships. Two hospital ships (T-AH) provide the
critical initial surge field hospital capability to support war
fighting, humanitarian assistance, and operations other than
war. MSC operates these ships.
(d) Prepositioning. Afloat and Maritime Prepositioning sealift
vessels support and are sponsored by the Army, Air Force,
Defense Logistics Agency, and Navy. These vessels are a
combination of DOD-owned assets (e.g., LMSR) and those
under charter. MSC operates these ships.
(e) NDRF/Ready Reserve Force (RRF). The mission of the
NDRF/RRF is to maintain ships ready to activate in time to
deliver cargo to a given area of operations and satisfy time
critical war fighting requirements. MARAD owns these ships
and administers this program.
(2) Sealift vessels are maintained in several categories of operating
status. Ships in Reduced Operating Status (ROS) are maintained
in a preserved condition and can be activated within prescribed
timeframes. Ships fully capable of performing their mission are in
Full Operating Status (FOS).
Financial Management Policy
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