Page 34: of Marine News Magazine (January 2026)

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Feature

U.S. Shipbuilding Deals

Seaside LNG

U.S. SHIPBUILDING:

FIT FOR REFIT

The U.S. commercial shipbuilding industry is due for a re? t, a refurbishment, or maybe a rebuild- depending on who, and when, you ask.

By Barry Parker ate 2024 saw the introduction of a potential promised Maritime Action Plan, Brent Sadler, in a Heri- groundbreaker, the Ships for America Act, in tage Foundation commentary, wrote (in September 2025), the waning days of the 118th Congress. The bill, “Like a sailboat stuck in a ? at calm, the nation’s maritime with the objective of revitalizing U.S. construc- revival is adrift, needing a breeze to regain momentum.” tion of ocean going commercial vessels, was re- Numerous pathways to achieving this industry-reviving

L introduced into the 119th Congress as S1541, and has seen objective have been proposed, with U.S. – based industry bi-partisan support. Around the same time, and shortly af- experts, naval leaders, think-tanks (from across the politi- ter taking of? ce in early 2025, the Trump administration cal spectrum- with the Heritage Foundation being decid- issued an Executive Order, dubbed “Restoring America’s edly right-leaning) and academics all weighing in on what

Maritime Dominance”, which had a renewal of U.S. ship- the correct strategy might be. The successes of Asian yards, building, both military and commercial, as one key tenet. in recent decades, and the continued presence of European

As industry participants were awaiting the Administration’s stalwarts in vessel construction, are well known. Coopera- 34 | MN January 2026