On Friday (February 13), the Trump administration officially released the “America’s Maritime Action Plan” (MAP), a nearly 40-page strategic blueprint aimed at reviving the long-declined shipbuilding and maritime industries in the United States through billions of dollars in new investments. The goal is to lead the United States into a “golden age of the sea.”
According to the latest plan, the United States will establish a “Maritime Security Trust Fund” to revitalize American shipyards.
As for funding sources, fees under the “301 clause” will be levied on Chinese cargo ships entering U.S. ports to enrich the revitalization fund. Despite an agreement reached between the U.S. and China to temporarily suspend such fees for 12 months, this mechanism is still seen as an indispensable financial pillar within the overall plan.
President Trump stated in the document: “We will soon revitalize our once-great shipyards through billions of dollars in new investments, as well as talent from around the world to build ships in America. We want ships to be made in America.”
Information provided by the White House indicates that the U.S. shipbuilding capacity has severely declined over the past few decades, with the U.S. currently accounting for less than 1% of newly built merchant ships globally.
Although there are currently 66 shipyards across the U.S., only 8 of them have the capability to build large vessels exceeding 400 feet in length.
To reverse this situation, MAP has outlined four core pillars: rebuilding shipbuilding capacity, reforming labor education and training, protecting Maritime Industrial Bases (MIB), and enhancing national and economic security resilience.
One highlight of this plan is the establishment of 100 “Maritime Prosperity Zones” in coastal and riverfront communities based on Trump’s 2017 initiative of “Opportunity Zones.” These zones will attract private capital investment in the maritime supply chain through tax incentives.
Furthermore, the government will significantly streamline bureaucratic processes and outdated regulations.
MAP mentions that the current regulatory framework is overly rigid and outdated, increasing the burden on domestic operators. Future reforms will focus on simplifying permit applications, inspection procedures, and promoting legal frameworks for automation and unmanned vessel technology.
The plan also aims to modernize the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) through federal investments, expand training pipelines, establish a qualified talent pool to support fleet expansion and national security needs. It will provide financial incentives and utilize digital simulation technologies to streamline licensing processes and enhance the employment attractiveness of the maritime industry.
After the White House officially announced the plan on Friday, shipyard owners, investors, and lawmakers behind the bipartisan “SHIPS for America Act” welcomed the maritime plan.
Republican Senator Todd Young emphasized that the executive branch’s vision requires legislative authorization and resource support from the legislature.
Todd Young stated: “Today’s announcement should serve as a wake-up call to Congress to swiftly take action through accompanying legislation to provide the necessary legal authorization and resource to make this plan a reality. It’s time to build ‘American ships’ again.”
The maritime plan also covers the Arctic shipping route security strategy. With melting ice making the passage easier, the U.S. plans to increase its icebreaking capacity in the region and collaborate with allies to ensure commercial security and freedom of navigation in the Arctic waters.
In terms of technological innovation, the U.S. will prioritize the development of robotic and automation systems (RAS), believing that these systems will play a crucial role in future conflicts and logistical supply.
The document jointly formulated by various departments of the White House emphasizes that the United States can no longer rely on foreign-built or foreign-flagged vessels to carry its international trade and must restore self-sufficiency in the shipbuilding industry to ensure supply chains and national security.