Download or read book U.S. Marine Salvage Assets and Capabilities in a Maritime Disaster written by Peter Johnson and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 81 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maritime commerce is vital to the nations economic health, with about 15 percent of U.S. gross domestic product flowing through its seaports. Approximately one-third of U.S. imports are carried aboard foreign-flag ships calling at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California (LA/LB), making this major port complex particularly vulnerable to any significant disruption in vessel traffic. Concerns about homeland security have led to serious consideration of the likelihood and consequences of a terrorist attack on one or more major hubs of maritime trade.