News
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From MaritimeTrades.org: Maritime Unions Issue Joint Statement Following Attack on U.S.-Flag Vessel Amid Rising Gulf Tension
Seven major maritime unions (AMO, ARA, MEBA, MFOW, MM&P, SIU, and SUP) released a joint statement addressing the escalating threats to U.S.-flag vessels in the Persian Gulf and Middle East.
The unions are collaborating with the U.S. military, government, and vessel management to protect civilian crews in high-risk zones.
They emphasize that mariners perform missions vital to U.S. economic and security interests, as they have for over 250 years, calling for the strongest possible protections and robust security measures until the safety of American crews can be fully guaranteed. -
From gCaptain.com: MARAD Opens Workforce Centers of Excellence Applications Amid U.S. Shipbuilding Push
MARAD has opened applications for its Centers of Excellence (CoE) program to train the next generation of U.S. maritime workers, addressing a shrinking workforce and declining shipbuilding capacity.
Authorized by the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, the program currently includes 32 institutions, aiming to boost maritime industry’s competitiveness by supporting the training, education, and development of personnel required to maintain national security and economic interests with innovation.
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From gCaptain.com: Trump Unveils White House Maritime Action Plan to Restore U.S. Seapower
The Trump administration’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP) is a 35-page strategy aiming to rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding industry from its current state of less than one percent global output. The plan, presented as a national security issue rather than transportation policy, proposes several key initiatives including fees on foreign vessels to fund a Maritime Security Trust Fund, the creation of Maritime Prosperity Zones for tax-advantaged investment, a “Bridge Strategy” involving allied shipbuilders, and significant tax and regulatory reforms. The success of the MAP, however, hinges on Congressional action to authorize funding mechanisms and overcome challenges like agency staffing and the long timeline required to rebuild industrial capacity.
Delivering on this vision requires more than investment. By coordinating educational and workforce innovation (USCMI), streamlining regulatory processes, strengthening interagency coordination, and providing reliable long-term funding and demand for U.S.-built ships, shipyards, and mariners, America will rebuild maritime strength at the speed and scale required to meet the challenges of today and the future.
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From gCaptain.com: Maritime Unions Push for U.S.-Flag Mandate on Venezuelan Oil to Rebuild American Shipping Fleet
Major U.S. maritime labor unions are urging the Trump administration and Congress to require that any Venezuelan crude oil imported into the United States be transported exclusively on U.S.-flag ships crewed by American mariners.
In a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the unions say sanctions on Venezuela have unintentionally pushed oil exports into foreign-controlled and “shadow fleet” tankers, shutting U.S. operators out of valuable energy cargoes.
They argue this would strengthen national security, improve enforcement of sanctions, and help revive the long-declining U.S. shipping fleet and shipbuilding industry.
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From gCaptain.com: White House Shifts Deepwater Port Licensing to MARAD in Bid to Accelerate Energy Exports
On Monday, January 5, 2026, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a major restructuring of the Deepwater Port Program to accelerate the approval of offshore oil and gas export terminals, shifting primary control from the U.S. Coast Guard to the Maritime Administration (MARAD). The overhaul aims to clear the backlogs of multibillion-dollar projects to support the administration’s “energy dominance” strategy.
MARAD Administrator Steve Carmel stated the agency is prepared to streamline these reviews to better align with the surging demand for U.S. crude oil and natural gas. For official updates on active applications, visit the MARAD Deepwater Port Licensing page.
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From Reuters: US sets new LNG export records in banner year marked by new capacity
In 2025, the United States became the first nation to export over 100 million metric tons (mmt) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a single year, reaching a total of 111 mmt. This volume represents a 24% year-on-year increase and accounted for approximately 25% of global LNG exports.
Key drivers of this record include new facilities and market demand. Europe remained the primary destination, importing 9 mmt in December alone as it continued to pivot away from Russian gas. Production is expected to rise further in 2026.
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From Maritime Executive: Mare Island Dry Dock Closes After Losing USCG Contract
On January 1, 2026, California’s Mare Island Dry Dock (MIDD) announced it would cease all operations immediately due to “unfortunate circumstances beyond our control”. The closure is attributed to several key factors, including financial instability and inability to secure additional financing or new contracts.
Impacts of the Closure include immediate job losses to approximately 80 to 85 full-time union and non-union employees, and economic blow to the City of Vallejo, and a major reduction in regional Ship Repair capacity. The shutdown removes a significant West Coast maritime asset, including two large concrete graving docks and over 1,200 feet of berthing.
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From Wall Street Journal: China’s Push to Master the Arctic Opens an Alarming Shortcut to U.S.
National-security officials say Chinese submarines and icebreakers pose a new military threat from the High North.
China has been actively pursuing its interests in the Arctic, positioning itself as a “near-Arctic state” and seeking to enhance its influence through investments in infrastructure, scientific research, and participation in multilateral treaties.
China’s push to master the Arctic presents a multifaceted challenge for the U.S., encompassing economic, military, and environmental dimensions. As the region’s significance grows, the U.S. must develop a comprehensive strategy to safeguard its interests while engaging with international partners to address the complexities of Arctic governance and security.
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From gCaptain.com: Senate Confirms Stephen Carmel as Maritime Administrator
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Stephen M. Carmel as the Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD). His confirmation follows his nomination by President Trump in May 2025.
Carmel, president of U.S. Marine Management LLC, brings decades of maritime experience to the role. The confirmation was welcomed by major maritime labor organizations, including the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), American Maritime Officers (AMO), International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MM&P), Seafarers International Union (SIU), Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (SUP), and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD).
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From the Wall Street Journal: Big Paychecks Can’t Woo Enough Sailors for America’s Commercial Fleet
The U.S. faces a growing sailor shortage despite maritime jobs offering big pay and significant perks.
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From NYTimes.com: Mariners Wanted: Six-Figure Salaries and Months at Sea
America’s merchant marine is facing a crossroads. With only a small fraction of global commercial shipping sailing under the U.S. flag, the number of American mariners has dwindled — despite the fact that the jobs pay well and often come with months of paid leave. Now, a push from President Trump and a bipartisan group in Congress aims to reverse that decline by revitalizing American shipbuilding and expanding the fleet of U.S.-crewed vessels. The proposal could create thousands of new maritime jobs, especially for officers and engineers, at a time when maritime academies are graduating fewer qualified candidates.
For mariners like Nicole Caputo, who has sailed on ten ships since 2018, the career offers both financial stability and adventure — but also long stretches away from home. Many mariners earn over $100,000, yet the lifestyle can be isolating and demanding, with crews often working 12-hour days for months at sea. Industry leaders say wages, working conditions, and shipboard culture all need continued improvement to attract the next generation, even as companies court students at the nation’s academies and the government debates how to rebuild America’s maritime presence.
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From HStoday.us: National Security at Sea: How the Jones Act and Cabotage Laws Are Advancing Across the Globe
A new report from Seafarers’ Rights International—The Cabotage Laws of the World (2025)—reveals that 105 countries now have cabotage laws protecting their maritime industries and national security. In this HSToday interview, Executive Editor Kristina Tanasichuk speaks with Deirdre Fitzpatrick (SRI), David Heindel (Seafarers International Union), and Jennifer Carpenter (American Maritime Partnership) about how the Jones Act and similar laws worldwide are strengthening sovereignty, supply chain resilience, and defense readiness.
These laws are increasingly viewed globally as essential to strengthen national security, ensure supply chain resilience, and enhance defense readiness at sea.
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From Imarest.org: What different countries are doing to attract and retain seafarers
The global maritime industry, and particularly the seafaring sector, faces a workforce in constant flux, with Filipino seafarers currently dominating the labour market.
“We had Brits at sea, then it moved towards the Commonwealth and Eastern European nations with an underpinning contingent of Filipino ratings who are now becoming the officers of today,” explains Alasdair Wishart, IMarEST’s Technical and Policy Director, when asked about the global makeup of seafarers.
Maritime companies often follow the most competitive labour markets, and as wages rise in one region, recruitment moves elsewhere. “As [seafarers from a particular nation] they become more exposed and understand their market value, they then start coming up and becoming just as expensive as everyone else,” Wishart says.
Demographics aren’t the only shift the seafaring sector is experiencing. Today, a shortage of skilled seafarers threatens shipping operations worldwide, prompting unions, employers, and governments to seek solutions.
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From BBC.COM: China’s navy is expanding at breakneck speed – and catching up with the US
“Socialism is good…” a pensioner warbles into a portable karaoke mic, slightly off-key and drowned out by her friends’ chatter.
But they join her for the chorus: “The Communist Party guides China on the path to power and wealth!”
It is not the catchiest karaoke number. But it is an apt one to belt out as they look towards a horizon framed by cranes towering over ships of all sizes.
Suoyuwan park in Dalian, which juts out of north-eastern China into the Yellow Sea, has stunning views of one of China’s largest shipyards, and is a place to gather and be merry.
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From World Shipping Council: S&P report on liner shipping’s role in the U.S. economy
A new S&P Global report released today has found liner shipping supports 6.4 million American jobs and contributes $1.1 trillion to the U.S. economy annually. The report, commissioned by the WSC, quantifies the impact liner shipping has on the U.S. economy as the largest contributor to U.S. maritime trade.
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From MarineLink.com: U.S. Shipbuilding Realities and the SL7EXPO
Once again U.S. shipbuilding, or rather the lack thereof, has raised its head. There are those who say that U.S. shipbuilding is a train that has left the station (yes, a purposefully odd but correct metaphor), while others are hoping for a new dawn of U.S. shipbuilding dominance.
I know it can be done, but only if there is steel-eyed realism and an iron will to do it.
I also know that magazine editors hate lists, but I am going to irritate Greg by doing just that: creating a list of realities surrounding the proposed resurgence of U.S. shipbuilding.
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From GCaptain.com: South Carolina Lawmaker Proposes Maritime Academy at The Citadel to Address Critical Mariner Shortage
A South Carolina lawmaker is proposing establishing a South Carolina Maritime Academy at The Citadel Military College, aiming to address critical workforce shortages in the U.S. maritime industry while creating affordable pathways for state residents to enter maritime careers.
“South Carolina is a global maritime leader without a formal training academy to match it,” said South Carolina Representative Thomas F. Hartnett, Jr. “Establishing a maritime academy at The Citadel will give our citizens a direct, affordable pathway to lucrative maritime careers that are currently out of reach for too many.”
Despite hosting one of the nation’s busiest and most strategically significant ports, South Carolina remains the only East Coast state with a Tier 1 port that lacks a state-supported maritime training program. Currently, aspiring mariners from South Carolina must seek licensure out of state at institutions like Texas A&M Maritime Academy or SUNY Maritime College, often at prohibitively high tuition rates.
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From Youtube Channel “What’s Going on in Shipping”: US Awards $6.2 Billion to Run 51 Aged Ships in the Ready Reserve Force for the Department of Defense
In this episode, Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the new 10-year contracts issued by the Maritime Administration to seven companies to operate 51 ships in the Ready Reserve Force. The ships, spread on the East, Gulf, and West coasts are maintained in a five-day reduced operating status and are on average 45 years old.
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Society of Marine Port Engineers Provides Seed Funding for SL7EXPO
The SL7EXPO project, which aims to preserve one of the groundbreaking SL-7 Sea-Land Container ships as a commercial maritime exposition center in support of the SHIPS for America Act, has received seed funding from the Society of Marine Port Engineers.
Originally built by containerization innovator Malcolm McLean as 33 knot container ships, the eight SL-7 class ships were converted into Fast Sealift Ships by the US Government in the early 1980’s. Their conversion into Roll on/Roll off vessels provided the US Government with a massive tactical sea lift capability that was vital in military operations such as Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
All eight in this class are scheduled for scrapping starting in 2026.