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Sal Mercogliano

Salvatore R. Mercogliano is an associate professor of History at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina and teaches courses in World Maritime History and Maritime Security. He is also an adjunct professor with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and offers a graduate level course in Maritime Industry Policy. A former merchant mariner, he sailed and worked ashore for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. His book, Fourth Arm of Defense: Sealift and Maritime Logistics in the Vietnam War, available through the Naval History and Heritage Command.


Monday, December 2, 2024
USNS Big Horn arrives in Duqm, Oman, under tow.
Defense

For Want of an Oiler: The Fragile State of America’s Afloat Logistics Fleet

Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – The Navy oiler – a tanker designed to refuel other ships while at sea – shuddered from the hit. Almost immediately,

29 mins ago
Total Views: 124

Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III addresses service members assigned Naval Support Activity, Bahrain after participating in the Virtual Red Sea Security Summit, Dec 19, 2023. Austin convened the virtual ministerial with Ministers, Chiefs of Defense, and senior representatives from 43 countries, as well as the European Union and NATO, to discuss the increased threat to maritime security in the Red Sea. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)
Shipping

Operation Prosperity Guardian: Whose Prosperity is Being Guarded?

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. (Opinion) – Maersk Gibraltar is not a remarkable containership for 2023.  She pales at 10,100 TEUs (twenty-foot

December 27, 2023
Total Views: 14476

Monday, July 10, 2023
Opinion: What Two Fires In 2020 Should Have Warned Us About in Port of Newark
Accidents

Opinion: What Two Fires In 2020 Should Have Warned Us About in Port of Newark

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D.  The loss of Newark firefighters Augusto Acabou (45) and Wayne Brooks Jr., (49) on board the Grimaldi Lines

July 10, 2023
Total Views: 5735

Monday, February 27, 2023
War on the Black Sea Enters its Second Year
Shipping

War on the Black Sea Enters its Second Year

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – When Russia invaded Ukraine early on February 24, 2022, many predicted a short conflict. Russia drove on the

February 27, 2023
Total Views: 1985

Friday, November 11, 2022
American Flag Ship
Blog

Veteran’s Day – Merchant Marine In Peace And War

by Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. (gCaptain) This Veteran’s Day we remember the thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen

November 11, 2022
Total Views: 1557

Friday, May 27, 2022
Black Sea Convoys…Odesa, We Have a Problem!
Shipping

Black Sea Convoys…Odesa, We Have a Problem!

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D.  The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 had a profound impact on shipping in the Black Sea. To prevent

May 27, 2022
Total Views: 5366

Wednesday, March 23, 2022
ever given satellite photo
Accidents

From Ever Given to Ever Forward

Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D.  A year ago, MV Ever Given rammed its bow into Asia, ran its stern onto Africa, and her midships straddled the Suez Canal for

March 23, 2022
Total Views: 8702

Monday, January 31, 2022
NORFOLK (Sept. 21, 2019) Military Sealift Command large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) vessel USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306), departs Lamberts Point Shipyard alongside USNS Mendonca (T-AKR 303) for Turbo Activation 2019. U.S. Navy photo/Released
Defense

How a Ukraine-Russia Conflict Impacts Shipping

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. The escalation in tension between Ukraine and Russia has many wondering what impact such a potential conflict could have on

January 31, 2022
Total Views: 3286

Monday, November 22, 2021
Container ships wait off the coast of the congested Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in Long Beach, California
Ports

Is The U.S. Moving Cargo And Filling The Shelves?

by Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – Last week the White House released their second statement on the current supply-chain crisis.  The initial blog

November 22, 2021
Total Views: 4996

Friday, September 17, 2021
golden ray capsized
Accidents

The Missing Question from the NTSB Report on MV Golden Ray: WHY? 

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. Two years after MV Golden Ray capsized while departing the port of Brunswick, Georgia early in the hours of September 8,

September 17, 2021
Total Views: 5310

Tuesday, September 7, 2021
NORFOLK (Sept. 21, 2019) Military Sealift Command large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) vessel USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306), departs Lamberts Point Shipyard alongside USNS Mendonca (T-AKR 303) for Turbo Activation 2019. U.S. Navy photo/Released
Defense

Turbo Activation: Ready, Set…SEALIFT!

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – Two years ago, the United States Transportation Command, in conjunction with the Navy’s Military Sealift

September 7, 2021
Total Views: 6365

Monday, May 10, 2021
crowley jones act tanker
News

Colonial Pipeline – To Waive Or Not To Waive The Jones Act

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. (gCaptain) The cyberattack upon the Colonial Pipeline on Friday, May 7, 2021 has resulted in the shutdown of a major

May 10, 2021
Total Views: 6823

Monday, February 15, 2021
Opinion: The Love Boat, American Style!
Cruise Ships

Opinion: The Love Boat, American Style!

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – The recent announcement by the Canadian government to suspend all cruise ship visits until February 2022 due to

February 15, 2021
Total Views: 5545

Friday, June 5, 2020
jones act container ship
Shipping News

100 Years of the Jones Act – Here is to Another 100 Years!

Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D.  – June 5, 2020 marks the centennial of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly referred to as the Jones Act. 

June 5, 2020
Total Views: 1543

Friday, May 8, 2020
Merchant Mariners, the Second Battle of the Atlantic, and the 75th Anniversary of VE Day
Shipping News

Merchant Mariners, the Second Battle of the Atlantic, and the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – In his autobiography, The Second World War, Winston Churchill said of the Battle of the Atlantic, “The only thing

May 8, 2020
Total Views: 295

Tuesday, April 14, 2020
This is Mutiny… Mutiny, I Say! The Maritime Lore Behind President Trump’s ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ Tweet
News

This is Mutiny… Mutiny, I Say! The Maritime Lore Behind President Trump’s ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ Tweet

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – In the annals of maritime history and popular culture, the Mutiny on the Bounty holds a lofty place and remains

April 14, 2020
Total Views: 233

Thursday, April 9, 2020
A New Day for the American Merchant Marine: The Philly Shipyard and National Security Multi-Mission Vessels
News

A New Day for the American Merchant Marine: The Philly Shipyard and National Security Multi-Mission Vessels

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – National Maritime Day (May 22) came a month earlier than usual with the announcement by the Maritime

April 9, 2020
Total Views: 957

Friday, March 20, 2020
The Cruise Industry’s War Against COVID-19
News

The Cruise Industry’s War Against COVID-19

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced that their ocean-going cruise

March 20, 2020
Total Views: 112

Friday, March 6, 2020
Merchant Mariners for the Gold
News

Merchant Mariners for the Gold

Update March 13, 2020 – President Trump today signed into law the “Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020,” a bill to

March 6, 2020
Total Views: 408

Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Bouchard Ordeal Evokes 19th Century Supreme Court Decision
Interesting

Bouchard Ordeal Evokes 19th Century Supreme Court Decision

By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. On July 7, 1895, the barque Arago arrived in San Francisco with four of its crewmembers in irons.  The deckhands had

February 19, 2020
Total Views: 501
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