‘Why do we need a national shipping line?’

I refer to the letter from an aspirant contender stating ‘Yes, we need a national shipping line.’ (Ftw October 29, 2004) If we do need a national shipping line and/or a national airline for that matter, or if we do not need them, surely there must be a ‘why’ in the statement? The ‘aspirant contender’ states ‘yes, we need a national shipping line’, but without motivating why this is so. What is the motive? In what way do we benefit - either way? Phill Doran, Freight Training.