MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel argues that the current push to rebuild American maritime is structurally different from the revivals that preceded it. “I think everyone alive has been through at least two, if not more, maritime revivals,” Carmel said, describing earlier efforts that “last until the next appropriation cycle and die.” He credits the difference to geopolitical competition, bipartisan support and a willingness to fund the work.

Carmel’s central argument is that rebuilding American maritime cannot mean building only Navy ships. “Our job in the Maritime Administration is to rebuild a civilian commercial shipbuilding enterprise,” he said. He contends that letting the commercial base erode also damaged military shipbuilding, because the supplier depth, volume and innovation that accompany a commercial market disappeared with it. MARAD is working to streamline its Title XI financing program, which Carmel notes covers smaller vessels and not just oceangoing ships, and to target shipyard grants at investments that measurably increase capacity.

His definition of American maritime strength reaches well beyond the deep-sea coastal ports that dominate Washington’s attention. Calling the inland waterways “the absolute arteries of American commerce,” Carmel said their condition remains unacceptable: “It does no good at all to build out this robust seacoast stuff if we’ve let the interior of the country fall apart.”

Select the link to learn more.