Zero Point Four

About the Book:
Dive into ZERO POINT FOUR, a groundbreaking narrative developed by six maritime, ocean, and security experts, and spearheaded by retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral James Watson. The book explores how the U.S. - a maritime nation - finds itself on a precipice. After World War II over half the world’s ocean-going commercial ships flew the U.S. flag. Today, it is less than 0.4% (ZERO POINT FOUR).
This meticulously researched work scrutinizes the U.S. maritime industry’s significance to America through five ‘Principles’: National, Economic, Energy and Food, Climate, and Workforce Security. From shortages in military support vessels to threats against U.S. dollar-denominated trade, and from insufficient numbers of U.S. mariners for food and energy security to the urgent need for climate-resilient maritime operations, the book breaks each issue down to its root causes. The authors don’t just identify problems but present a visionary 57-Point Action Plan to revolutionize the U.S. maritime sector and transform America to be a leader in the Blue Economy.
As the world grapples with uncertainty - pandemics, conflicts, and climate crises - America’s reliance on a robust maritime sector has never been more crucial. ZERO POINT FOUR isn’t just a call to action; it is a roadmap to a more secure, preeminent, and viable United States.
About the Speakers:
Carleen Lyden Walker is a marketing and communications professional in the commercial maritime industry with over 40 years of experience. She is founder and CEO of Morgan Marketing & Communications, the Co-Founder and CEO of NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association), Chief Evolution Officer of SHIPPINGInsight- the fleet optimization and innovation platform for shipping and the Founder of the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage. She is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MAR (Maritime Accelerator for Resilience) and Co-Author of “ZERO POINT FOUR-How US Leadership in maritime will Secure America’s Future”.
In 2015, Ms. Walker was appointed a Goodwill Maritime Ambassador by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). She is a member of the Connecticut Maritime Association, the Marine Society of the City of New York, WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) WIMAC (Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean), and is a Past-President of the Propeller Club Chapter of the Port of NY/NJ. She is also a member of the Pathways Advisory Committee at the Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, is a trustee of the US Friends of the World Maritime University and is consistently listed among the top 100 women in maritime globally. In 2010, she was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the United States Coast Guard and in 2014 a Public Service Commendation for her work on World Maritime Day and AMVER, respectively. In March of 2023, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the Coast Guard for her work with both NAMEPA and SHIPPINGInsight. Ms. Walker graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science and History (minor in Economics) and studied Accounting at Cornell School of Business Administration. She is a trained facilitator and media trainer and held a USCG Captain’s license.
RADM James Watson (Ret) is currently and independent consultant providing business development services to maritime clients. He is also a co-author of Zero Point Four and a founding member of Maritime Accelerator for Resilience (MAR). He previously held the position of Senior Vice President of American Bureau of Shipping Global Government Services, where he was responsible for the government market sector across the four ABS divisions and technology.
Prior to joining ABS, Watson served as Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement at the US Department of Interior. In this role he provided regulatory oversight for energy exploration and production on the US Outer Continental Shelf. Before becoming BSEE Director, Watson served as the US Coast Guard’s Director of Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, where his responsibilities included commercial vessel safety and security, ports and cargo safety and security and maritime investigations. He was also designated as the Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the government-wide response to the Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Watson earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Marine Engineering from USCGA in 1978. He received his Master of Science in Naval Architecture and his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985. Watson earned an additional Master of Science in Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in 2001.
**Learn more about IWP graduate programs: www.iwp.edu/ac...
***Make a gift to IWP: interland3.don...