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EDITOR'S NOTE T oday's "I need everything yesterday" business climate calls to mind The Patience Prayer: "God grant me patience... and I want it right now! y 'jH H i 1 •Fjf JO K 15 The urgency with .which maritime executives require information on today's and tomorrow's industry trends is a driving force in creating the edi- torial content of each ishte ^/Maritime Reporter. This edition embodies that goal, with significant\coverage of the cruise ship, offshore and naval industries. Associate Editor Bridget JVfkrphy has, in effect, adopted the cruise ship market/as her own, and has regularly sat with the industry's top powers to discuss the business. Her cove/age of this glamour market — which includes MR/EN s annual annointing of Outstanding Cruise Ships — starts on page 33. The revival of offshore business is b\ond its infancy, and indicators p/>int to a strong run through the end of the decade. A recent marked report from Arthur Andersen regarding the U.S. oil & gas industry found that 70 percent of companies plan to increase domestic exploration and development spending in 1997. Coverage of this expanding market, whicly includes a new deepwater drillship design from Hitec, begins on page 72. Finally, navy spending has been making news of late, And several significant contracts and pro- posals promise to infuse dollars and life intk an otherwise dormant market segment. As Jim McCaul says in his report entitled U.S. Nav\ Ship Construction Continues To Provide An Enviable Business Base, U.S. shipyards have mabe than an $18 billion construction backlog, a fig- ure exceeding the backlog of any other shipbuadingmation — including japan & Korea (Read this story on page 63). i