USTRANSCOM awards contracts to seven companies to strengthen global sealift

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) awarded the Joint Global Sealift Charter contract to seven commercial shipping companies on Aug. 21, 2026. This contract provides global, short-term dry cargo time and voyage charters using roll-on/roll-off, multi-purpose, or vehicle carrier vessels to support USTRANSCOM’s strategic sealift missions.

This new charter expedites the way USTRANSCOM awards commercial shipping contracts and provides agility to military logisticians and more predictability with shorter dwell times for industry partners. Now, USTRANSCOM can hire participating companies and their vessels as needed under short-term charter contracts awarded through individual task orders rather than full contract solicitations.

To qualify, companies must have at least one roll-on/roll-off, multi-purpose, or vehicle carrier vessel enrolled in the U.S. government’s Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement that has transported Department of War (DoW) cargo within the past two years.

Sealift represents approximately 90% of USTRANSCOM’s total capacity to move military vehicles and equipment, making it an indispensable capability for global power projection.

“The Joint Global Sealift Charter significantly increases our speed of response,” said Gen. Randall Reed, commander, U.S. Transportation Command. “It is one of the many ways we’re working with industry to strengthen relationships and improve processes across the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise.”

As the naval component to USTRANSCOM, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) provides all strategic and maritime logistics for the DoW. The Joint Global Sealift Charter contract provides MSC additional commercial sealift to facilitate USTRANSCOM’s global movement of large-volume combat forces’ rolling stock and associated materiel through short-term worldwide time and voyage charters.

“The Joint Global Sealift Charter strengthens our ability to respond rapidly to the needs of the joint force by giving Military Sealift Command access to ready, reliable commercial sealift capacity when and where it’s needed,” said Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander, Military Sealift Command. “Our partnership with the U.S. maritime industry is essential to maintaining a flexible and resilient sealift capability in peace, crisis, and conflict.”

Companies receiving the contract include American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier LLC in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Farrell Lines Inc. in Norfolk, Virginia; Federated Maritime LLC in Boca Raton, Florida; Liberty Global Logistics LLC in Jericho, New York; Patriot Shipping LLC in New Orleans, Louisiana; Schuyler Line Navigation Company LLC in West Palm Beach, Florida; and Waterman Transport Inc. in Mobile, Alabama.

The contract is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, fixed-price contract with a period of performance from Sept. 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2031. The face value of the program is estimated at $1.2 billion with a cumulative maximum ceiling value of $2.7 billion.

The Joint Global Charter Sealift was among the awards posted to Department of War’s contract announcement website.