With the threat of war with Iraq looming, shippers and carriers have been wondering if the government will invoke the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). Under VISA, the government can commandeer commercial vessels. But it looks like they can rest a little easier with the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration has instead activated 36 of its Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships.

The RRF fleet includes72 militarily useful ships that the government keeps in reserve status. They are managed by commercial companies and crewed by civilian merchant mariners. The fleet augments the Military Sealift Command's 125-ship cargo fleet, and is used for rapid, massive movement of military supplies and troops.

The 36 ships that are currently active have all been brought into service for Operation Enduring Freedom. A complete list of active RRF ships can be found at www.marad.dot.gov.