Spanish merchant marine expansion

The Spanish merchant marine suffered important damages in the Great War, with the loss of nearly 20% of its fleet to the effects of the German submarine war. Although it has somewhat recovered since then, this recovery has not been as much as one might have hoped. With the government's interest in securing broader Spanish economic prosperity, and reducing payments of foreign currency (which are sometimes spent on foreign merchant shipping), as well as its desires to increase its own shipping revenues (providing foreign currency through international shipping with its own fleet), it is important to expand the Spanish merchant marine. An expansion of it will also increase Spanish prestige, and provide for sailors who can be utilized in the Spanish navy.

Part of the need for this expansion also is linked to strategic issues, as a large merchant marine is needed to support economic prosperity in time of war, even more than in times of peace. Furthermore in providing for overseas expeditionary capability and supplying maritime colonies, naval forces are even more vital, fully indispensable.

The principal way that this expansion will be undertaken is through the expansion of shipbuilding capacity, to produce new ships. Although the consideration of purchasing ships from abroad was discussed at length, ultimately it is better to encourage internal Spanish production, especially by keeping Spanish shipyards that currently exist at full productivity, and expanding them yet further. However, in the event that production quotas are not met, purchases will be done from international companies, principally French ones, although this is very much a last resort - the maximum effort is to go into internal production of ships and the expansion of shipyards. The production types will include oil tankers, cargo ships, ocean liners, fishing boats, and various other miscellaneous vessels.

This has been accompanied by a raft of laws concerning subsidies, protectionist measures against foreign shipping, and in the general government desire to calm social problems internally, improved condition aboard Spanish ships. This will include better social conditions such as in regards to food, discipline, safety, and living quarters, and healthcare, which will help to reduce social dissent and problems in the merchant marine. Better training and accredition of sailors will accompany this.

This objective is to dramatically increase within the period of 2 years the size of the Spanish merchant marine to 1 million tons, as part of an initial round of expansions. It is furthermore envisioned that there will be continuous increases which will hopefully reach a total size of 2.75 million tons by the end of the decade, which will be slightly smaller than the size of the French merchant marine at its estimated size at this point. Doing this will also provide for a dramatic modernization of the Spanish merchant marine by replacing older ships and providing for new ones. But this will take time with continued construction of shipping capacity and the industrial infrastructure required to support it, as well as providing for sailors and port facilities to actually make it work.

Spanish priorities in this regards are also matched by the introduction of some shipbuilding facilities for certain very high speed small ocean liners - well, at least that is what the Spanish government declares them to be, although the suspiciously large cargo holds and the small size, as well as reinforced hulls and positions for various weapons on-board might say another story. So too, shipbuilding capacity improvements will enable the building of larger submarines. National defense through military means will thus see a much needed improvement.

[quote]Program Name: Shipbuilding Improvements and Merchant Marine Expansion
Estimated time of investment or period: 2 years
Size of investment or budget for project: 500.000
Description of the undertaking: See above
[/quote]