MARAD Chief Demands Complete Overhaul of U.S. Maritime Infrastructure

Key Details Maritime Administration chief Stephen Carmel is calling for a fundamental rebuild of America's shipping and shipbuilding industries. Speaking at the Association of American Port Authorities summit, Carmel highlighted stark statistics: the U.S. produces less than 1% of global commercial ships and hasn't built export vessels since 1960. Why It Matters U.S.-flag vessels carry less than 2% of the nation's international commerce, and foreign companies completely dominate energy trade logistics. This structural weakness extends beyond shipyards - it's a systemic management problem requiring ecosystem-wide solutions, not isolated fixes. The Maritime Action Plan The Trump administration's new U.S. Maritime Action Plan (MAP) addresses this challenge through four integrated pillars designed to reinforce each other. Carmel emphasized that cargo flows from logistics networks, and shipbuilding follows cargo, making coordinated infrastructure development essential. Historical Context Carmel traced America's maritime dominance back to 1818, when the Black Ball Line pioneered scheduled sailings regardless of capacity. That innovation made the U.S. a global maritime power within a year. Today's challenge is modernizing that same system for the 21st century economy, placing ports, Great Lakes, and inland waterways at the ecosystem's center.