The authors examine the readiness of the strategic sealift fleet and its management. They determine that many factors can be improved to increase readiness and make recommendations toward that end.

The GAO has reviewed the National Defense Reserve Fleet's viability as a national sealift asset and evaluated several aspects of the Maritime Administration's management of the fleet. This report addresses the changing character of this fleet and its contribution in deploying and sustaining U.S. troops during the recent Persian Gulf crisis. Also addressed are the revenue implications of the domestic and foreign scrapping of Reserve Fleet ships and the administration's maintenance and management practices with respect to the fleet's older, less-ready portion. We present matters for congressional consideration and recommendations whose aim is to ensure that the Reserve Fleet continues to be a viable sealift asset.