Page 44: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2025)

The Final Word: US Shipbuilding “all water” routes along the U.S. Coasts. and industrial push backs from the ma- the voyage. A truly successful shipping

MarAd’s Marine Highway program has jor gas suppliers. Strictly for build and model. And the start of module con- been poorly funded and unsuccessful to operating costs and competitive issues. struction in both existing yards looking solve this issue for decades. The con- Understanding how the foreign ship to get back into new construction and tainer feeder is a second vessel type that building investments and freight mar- green? eld yards looking to the future. may be considered for the legislation kets operate, the owners & investors Building can begin NOW.

program. No different than the tankers, analyze supply & demand, negotiate Can the cargo model be repeated? We the vessels will not have coastwise priv- ? nance, calculate equity value and take rebuild Gaza and Syria with discussions ilege and would have a greater value un- advantage of the cyclical nature of the with Saudi and Qatar. The opportunity der US ? ag with the availability to trade markets. There are times to build and provides many “deal making” opportu- the coasts if they did. The competitive times to sell. The single most important nities for the world to see that America analysis with this vessel type? If the part of the investment is Cargo. This is great again on a global basis all led by business model does not work, the only alone de? nes commercial viability. At American Shipping and shipbuilding. It available trade the vessels could enter this point in time, the geopolitical issues is not “Sneakers & T-shirts” and we do without becoming a “stranded asset” is have not produced the cargo demand. not have to complete with China during

Hawaii, Puerto Rico & Alaska. Need- Are there cargo requirements and the growth.

less to say, and fully understanding the business models that would work? The model goes beyond investment restrictions of this legislation, that is not Consider how that foreign shipping capability. It brings American Security going to happen unless we continue to model is built. With White House dis- with our ? ag ? ying on the stern. As for- amend the Act with waivers and further cussions in Ukraine, the country will mer and future mariners we understand restrictions that speci? cally block trade have massive requirements to rebuild and provided the fourth line of defense. to the noncontiguous locations. the nation. As the Administration looks Develop the program that lets us play

Beyond the technical discussions, to rebuild US manufacturing, consider our part and your Navy decisions and the Maritime Trust Fund is provided to how many Anderson windows, Cater- budget will have a path to follow to sup- fund this legislation with taxes and tar- pillar bulldozers, John Deere tractors, port us in the effort. iffs collected from those Chinese built U.S. Steel, cement, aluminum and pipe If we do not work together as an in- or operated Post Panamax container- could be provided to support that re- dustry in both commercial and Naval ships. Question how many “private in- build with American Security. Next shipbuilding, the ship type decision will vestment” funds or companies believe imagine if the White house negotiated become simple. this trust fund could raise the billions of all of that product to be carried on U.S. It is Noah’s Ark. dollars required to revitalize shipyards ? ag built and crewed vessels. Then building Bluewater tonnage. or for that understand that the majority of that matter if the targeted funds will be trad- United States cargo can be carried on

The Author ed away in future China negotiations dry bulk carriers with the addition of with the White House. container ? ttings and cargo cranes, also

The issues continue beyond the two military useful. A past shipbuilding de- sample immediate ship types provided sign called “Con Bulkers”. Add the fact and the legislation works to coral new that this design and vessel type is one technology under similar competitive of the easiest vessels to be built when comparisons or political restrictions. considering rebuilding your shipyard

How do we address carbon capture and base. Look at the historical beginnings the emerging LCO2 vessel technology of Japan, Korea and China – they all along the U.S. Coasts? If a vessel re- started with bulk carriers. Add to your ceives coastwise privileges, does it deny U.S. shipping model that the rare earth foreign built tonnage entering the new commodities the President is negotiat-

Kunkel

Robert Kunkel, president of Alternative “trade”. Where does LNG and the gas ing also needs to be brough home by

Marine Technologies and First Harvest trade stand with a proposed 1% cargo bulk carrier and the fact that this vessel

Navigation, served as the Federal Chair- set aside for LNG export? Those ship type also supports Ukraine and grain & man of the Short Sea Shipping Coopera- tive Program under the DOT’s MARAD types alone already have both Admin- agriculture. Our ? eet will never be in from 2003 until 2008.

istration push backs on climate change ballast – we haul cargo on both ends of 44 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • June 2025

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