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DOT 131-04
Contact: Robyn Boerstling
Tel: 202-441-3280
Friday, August 13, 2004
U.S. Transportation Secretary Meets Hawaii’s New Maritime Workforce During
Cruise Ship Visit
KAHALUI (Maui), Hawaii – U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today
visited the Pride of Aloha cruise ship during its port call to the island of
Maui for a tour and unique opportunity to address employees aboard the ship. The
Secretary highlighted the importance of the 3,500 seafaring jobs created by the
introduction of the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship into the inter-island Hawaii
cruise trade.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration played a
critical role in bringing the Pride of Aloha into service by overseeing the
implementation of the U.S. registration effort, enabling the ship to meet
requirements established by Congress.
“This ship symbolizes the beginning of a rebirth in the domestic cruise industry
in the United States. The Pride of Aloha employs approximately 800 U.S. citizens
during one cruise – 60 percent of them residents of Hawaii,” Secretary Mineta
noted. “As Hawaii renews its focus on its maritime heritage, the Pride of Aloha
has helped advance the effort led by the state and its business leaders.”
The crew operates on a rotating schedule, quadrupling the total number of
employment opportunities throughout the year aboard the ship. The Pride of Aloha
is the only modern, state-of-the-art U.S.-registered cruise ship in the world
and is the only cruise ship in the world where U.S. citizens constitute the
entire crew.
“Transportation is the backbone of a revitalized economy here in Hawaii, and
across America,” Secretary Mineta said “You are on the front lines of a growing
economy and you make up the foundation of a travel and tourism industry that has
come roaring back to life,” he told employees assembled to meet with the
Secretary.
The 2,000-passenger Pride of Aloha started flying the U.S. flag on June 7 when
it began the voyage to Hawaii to embark on seven-day inter-island cruises.
Norwegian also plans to register two more ships as U.S. ships, the Pride of
America and another cruise ship yet to be named.
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