The U.S. government has released America’s Maritime Action Plan, a sweeping strategy to revitalize the U.S. merchant marine, shipbuilding industry, and the broader maritime sector.
Announced on February 13, 2026, this plan responds to long-standing concerns about declining U.S.-flagged fleets, crew shortages, and shrinking industrial capacity. It sets workforce development at the center of national maritime policy, and charts a clear path to stronger competitiveness and more American maritime jobs.
America’s maritime industry has lagged behind global competitors. Less than 1% of new commercial vessels are built in the United States, and only a handful of shipyards can build large vessels. The new action plan seeks to reverse these trends with a unified government strategy and industry participation.
What America’s Maritime Action Plan Aims to Achieve
America’s Maritime Action Plan is the result of an executive order signed in April 2025 called Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance. It brings together multiple federal agencies to deliver long-term maritime revitalization.
The plan frames the U.S. maritime challenge as both a national security and economic issue along with Jones Act complience. Foreign-built and flagged ships dominate global trade, leaving the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage and reducing the domestic workforce of skilled mariners and shipbuilders. The plan sets goals and recommended actions in several key categories.
At its core, the plan has four major pillars: rebuilding shipbuilding capacity, reforming workforce education and training, protecting the maritime industrial base, and supporting national security and resilience.
This structured approach aims to bring back American leadership in shipbuilding and maritime operations while fostering good jobs and strong supply chains.
Key Strategies and Bullet Points of the Plan
The plan outlines many recommended actions. Below are the main bullet points that illustrate its focus and ambition.
Rebuild U.S. Shipbuilding Capacity
• Expand domestic shipyard capacity and modernize facilities.
• Incentivize private investment with tax credits, grants, and loans.
• Establish Maritime Prosperity Zones to attract waterfront investment.
• Streamline regulations that slow shipbuilding and raise costs.
• Support domestic vendors for steel, engines, and key components.
Reform Workforce Education and Training
• Expand mariner training programs at maritime academies and state schools.
• Modernize the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and other training facilities.
• Provide financial incentives for maritime education and credentialing.
• Improve credentialing systems to reduce delays and barriers.
• Create recruitment and retention programs for mariners and shipbuilders.
Protect the Maritime Industrial Base
• Strengthen the network of suppliers and repair yards.
• Support advanced manufacturing and robotics integration.
• Enhance domestic production of marine infrastructure materials.
• Encourage onshore supply chain resilience and redundancy.
Support National Security and Resilience
• Boost the U.S.-flagged fleet to support military and emergency needs.
• Tie maritime strategy to defense logistics and sealift capabilities.
• Ensure rapid surge capacity for crises and national emergencies.
• Promote partnerships with allied nations to broaden industrial support.
Funding and Economic Tools
• Propose a Universal Fee on Foreign-Built Vessels to finance infrastructure and workforce programs.
• Establish a Maritime Security Trust Fund for long-term investments.
• Consider cargo preference requirements to keep trade on U.S. vessels.
• Incentivize U.S. job creation through tax and financing reforms.
These strategies reflect a practical mix of regulatory reform, economic incentives, education improvements, and industrial policy to help rebuild America’s maritime sector.
Why Workforce Development Is Central
Workforce development takes center stage in this plan. The report highlights the need for trained and credentialed mariners, technicians, and shipbuilders to support fleet expansion and competitiveness.
The U.S. maritime workforce has shrunk as shipbuilding declined. With few shipyards constructing new vessels and a small active merchant fleet, fewer opportunities exist for mariners, reducing the pool of skilled professionals available to crew ships. The action plan directly addresses this by expanding education, training, credential reform, and retention programs.
Part of the workforce focus includes modernizing credentialing systems and enhancing coordination between federal agencies, industry, and training institutions. This can attract new entrants, support mid-career transitions, and link industry needs to education pipelines.
Training investments also extend to state maritime academies and facilities that can produce more qualified graduates. This investment ensures a steady pipeline of U.S.-citizen crew and builders ready to support both commercial and defense goals.
U.S. Maritime Competitiveness and National Security
The revitalization effort also ties into national security. A strong U.S. fleet and maritime workforce ensure reliable transport for trade and military logistics. Dependence on foreign vessels creates vulnerabilities during crises, which the plan aims to reduce.
By strengthening the maritime industrial base and workforce, the United States enhances its ability to project power, support allied logistics, and safeguard supply chains.
Summary and What You Can Do Next
America’s Maritime Action Plan lays out a comprehensive strategy to revive U.S. shipbuilding, strengthen the merchant marine, and build a skilled workforce for the future. It combines economic incentives, workforce development, industrial policy, and national security initiatives to create a cohesive framework for long-term growth.
If you want to stay informed or participate in this transformation, explore training opportunities, industry partnerships, and federal programs tied to MAP goals. Stay engaged with maritime policy developments and consider how workforce and business opportunities can benefit from this strategy.
