Reviving America’s Maritime Strength: A New Course for U.S. Shipbuilding

On March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump addressed a Joint Session of Congress for the first time in his second term, outlining a bold vision for restoring America’s maritime power.

“To boost our defense industrial base, we are going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry—both commercial and military,” Trump declared. “We used to make so many ships. We don’t anymore, but we’re going to make them again—very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact.”

The Administration quickly followed through. In April 2025, the President signed an Executive Order launching a series of shipbuilding initiatives. Days later, the U.S. Trade Representative announced sweeping sanctions on China’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors, and by the end of the month, a bipartisan, bicameral coalition in Congress introduced the SHIPS for America Act, a comprehensive proposal to overhaul U.S. maritime policy.

Together, these moves aim to reverse decades of neglect that hollowed out America’s shipyards and commercial fleet. If sustained, they could turn the U.S. maritime sector into a renewed pillar of national strength.

A Timely Commitment

The timing is symbolic: the U.S. Navy marks its 250th anniversary, reminding Americans that the nation’s power has long depended on the sea. Today, maritime strength means more than a powerful Navy—it also depends on commercial shipping, shipbuilding, and maritime logistics infrastructure.

Ships sailing under the American flag enhance supply chain security and strengthen the merchant mariner reserve system. Shipyards that build tankers, container ships, and LNG carriers deepen industrial capacity, preserve technical expertise, and provide flexibility in crisis.

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Confronting a New Maritime Rival

These initiatives are a direct response to a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. China now presents the most serious challenge to U.S. global leadership since the Cold War—but with a key difference: Beijing’s strategy centers on maritime dominance, both military and commercial.

Chinese shipyards currently deliver three naval vessels for every one produced by their American counterparts. Backed by low-cost labor, vast supply chains, and state subsidies, China captured 75% of global new ship orders in 2024, while South Korea and Japan together held about 20%. Just five years ago, Korea and China were roughly tied.

Reversing this imbalance requires the U.S. to expand and diversify its shipbuilding base, starting with a revival of commercial shipbuilding and partnerships with allies.

Building Alliances and Industrial Momentum

A recent example comes from Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania, where a new training vessel was christened in August 2025. The yard—acquired in 2024 by Hanwha, a leading South Korean shipbuilder—is now undergoing a major expansion and modernization.

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Hanwha’s investment will create hundreds of skilled American jobs, transfer cutting-edge shipbuilding technologies, and position Philly Shipyard to compete for future Navy contracts. Since the work is U.S.-based and owned by Hanwha, both sides are incentivized to ensure success—a model of strategic industrial cooperation.

A Three-Part Strategy for Maritime Renewal

The Administration’s approach, supported by bipartisan leaders in Congress, reflects a three-pronged strategy to restore U.S. maritime strength:

• Leverage Trade Power: Use America’s dominance as the world’s largest importing nation to curb China’s maritime expansion. Restrictions on Chinese-built ships entering U.S. ports have already reduced their global market value, making allied-built ships more attractive worldwide.

  
  

• Rebuild and Modernize Commercial Capacity: Triple the U.S.-flagged international fleet to ensure the nation can meet logistical needs in a Pacific conflict. Require new, state-of-the-art ships in this fleet to be built in American shipyards, ensuring steady demand and incentivizing private investment. This effort anchors the Strategic Commercial Fleet Program, a key element of the SHIPS for America Act, complemented by tariff incentives for shippers who “Ship American.”

• Deepen Allied Cooperation: Strengthen industrial and technological partnerships with allies like South Korea and Japan. Hanwha’s expansion at Philly Shipyard exemplifies how allied expertise can accelerate America’s shipbuilding resurgence—just as U.S. support enhances their energy and defense security.

  
  

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  Charting a New CourseRevitalizing America’s maritime industry will require more than presidential speeches or congressional bills—it will demand years of consistent effort, investment, and coordination. The early signs are promising: executive actions, legislative initiatives, and private-sector partnerships are aligning toward a common goal.

  
  

  If this momentum continues, the United States could once again command the seas—not just with its Navy, but with a thriving commercial fleet and a robust shipbuilding base.

  Because in the end, one truth remains clear: maritime power is national power.