The White Home has launched the Trump Administration’s much-anticipated Maritime Motion Plan (MAP), a sweeping federal blueprint geared toward reversing the lengthy‑time period decline of U.S. shipbuilding, strengthening the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) and restoring U.S. maritime competitiveness. Issued on February 16, 2026, pursuant to the chief order on “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance” (April 9, 2025), the MAP outlines coordinated coverage actions, funding proposals and legislative priorities that may materially have an effect on industrial shipbuilding, maritime labor markets, federal procurement and commerce.

For stakeholders in shipbuilding, transport, ports, infrastructure, logistics, protection, vitality, know-how and finance, the MAP indicators a big shift in federal maritime coverage with significant industrial, compliance and funding implications.

Government Abstract

The MAP is organized round 4 strategic pillars:

  1. Rebuilding U.S. Shipbuilding Capability and Capabilities
  2. Reforming Workforce Training and Coaching
  3. Defending the Maritime Industrial Base
  4. Supporting Nationwide Safety, Financial Safety and Industrial Resilience

Throughout these pillars, the Trump Administration proposes to 1) develop home shipbuilding capability, 2) incentivize funding in maritime infrastructure and U.S. shipyards, 3) modernize procurement practices, 4) develop the U.S.‑flag fleet and maritime workforce, and 5) set up new funding mechanisms, together with charges on international‑constructed vessels and imported merchandises delivered by land. If carried out, these initiatives would instantly have an effect on shipyard funding choices, vessel financing, port improvement and compliance obligations underneath U.S. commerce and procurement regimes.

Why the MAP Issues

The MAP was developed underneath a stark actuality: Lower than 1 p.c of recent industrial vessels are constructed within the U.S., and solely a tiny variety of home shipyards have massive‑scale development and restore functionality. The Trump Administration frames the established order as unacceptable – each an financial vulnerability and a nationwide‑safety threat, particularly in occasions of disaster or battle.

Accordingly, the MAP is each industrial coverage and safety technique that seeks to revive U.S. skill to construct, crew, restore and function industrial and auxiliary vessels at scale, in addition to scale back reliance on international shipyards and provide chains.

Pillar I: Rebuilding U.S. Shipbuilding Capability and Capabilities

The MAP locations shipbuilding on the heart of maritime revitalization. Key initiatives embody:

  • Shipyard Modernization. Federal help for upgrading dry docks, heavy‑raise infrastructure, digital shipyard applied sciences and port‑to‑yard connectivity.
  • Steady Demand Indicators. Expanded use of multiyear and multivessel procurement to cut back manufacturing volatility and help lengthy‑time period capital funding.
  • Industrial and Authorities Vessels. Alignment of naval, auxiliary and industrial development to maintain a resilient, surge‑succesful industrial base.
  • Restore and Upkeep Capability. Recognition that home restore functionality is crucial to fleet readiness and operational resilience.

Financing and Incentives

The MAP emphasizes expanded use of present financing instruments, together with Title XI mortgage ensures, Capital Development Funds, Protection Manufacturing Act authorities and Small Shipyard Grants. Notably, it proposes new shipyard‑particular capital enchancment financing, permitting shipyards to reinvest earnings on a tax‑deferred foundation – doubtlessly reshaping how yard modernization is funded.

Proposed Common Charges on Overseas‑Constructed Vessels

One of many MAP’s most consequential proposals is a common payment on international‑constructed industrial vessels getting into U.S. ports, assessed on imported tonnage and relevant no matter flag or nation of construct. The Trump Administration estimates that such a payment may generate tens of billions of {dollars} over a decade, with proceeds directed towards maritime safety and industrial revitalization.

Although the MAP doesn’t outline payment charges (a doable vary of 1 cent to 25 cents per kilo is talked about for waterborne cargo), tonnage methodology, exemptions or assortment mechanics, the proposal indicators a willingness to make use of origin‑impartial, demand‑aspect price measures to bolster home shipbuilding and fund lengthy‑time period maritime applications. If enacted, the payment will have an effect on transport economics, constitution constructions and commerce compliance and can be a flash-point of legislative debate and industrial scrutiny within the U.S. and overseas.

Pillar II: Reforming Workforce Training and Coaching

The MAP identifies expert labor shortages as a binding constraint on shipbuilding growth. Proposed reforms embody expanded mariner and shipyard coaching applications, streamlined U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) credentialing, elevated use of simulators and enhanced navy‑to‑mariner pathways. The plan additionally requires pressing modernization and main funding within the U.S. Service provider Marine Academy – together with a 20 p.c improve in cadet enrollment and 30 p.c improve in school – and continued oversight of state maritime academies.

Pillar III: Defending the Maritime Industrial Base

Pillar III goals to guard and revitalize the MIB by aligning commerce coverage, federal procurement and market incentives with nationwide safety wants. It addresses points from fragmented acquisitions and foreign-dominated transport by reinforcing U.S.-flag and U.S.-built vessel necessities, reforming procurement to cut back prices and delays, and enhancing demand predictability for home shipyards. Key actions embody multiyear contracting, streamlined administration, elevated use of economic designs and tackling unfair international practices, significantly by China, together with assessing a payment of 0.125 p.c on the worth of international merchandise getting into the U.S. by land. These steps are meant to stabilize the business, retain expert labor and strengthen nationwide protection readiness.

Pillar IV: Supporting Nationwide Safety, Financial Safety and Industrial Resilience

Pillar IV connects maritime coverage to nationwide and financial safety by specializing in fleet readiness, provide chain resilience and strategic capability. With present U.S.-flagged fleets falling brief, it emphasizes rebuilding shipbuilding functionality, increasing the fleet and adopting superior applied sciences resembling automation and digital engineering. Initiatives embody diversifying provide chains, lowering international reliance and establishing a privately owned Strategic Industrial Fleet and Maritime Safety Belief Fund for sustained funding and workforce improvement, and elevated funding for the Maritime Safety Program. Early investments in areas resembling autonomous techniques and Arctic operations purpose to safe long-term benefits and make sure the maritime sector can help commerce and protection.

Key Takeaways for Purchasers

  • Better Federal Involvement: The MAP envisions an enhanced, sustained federal function in shipbuilding, transport and maritime labor markets.
  • Funding with Circumstances: Expanded incentives could unlock capital, usually tied to home‑content material, workforce or operational necessities.
  • Price and Commerce Implications: Proposed charges on international‑constructed vessels and expanded cargo choice will materially have an effect on transport economics.
  • Regulatory Change Forward: Deregulatory efforts will coexist with new compliance regimes, significantly round autonomy and workforce applications.
  • Early Engagement Issues: Stakeholder enter will form program design, exemptions and implementation timelines.
  • Complete-of-Authorities Method to Implementation: The MAP requires coordination between the chief and legislative branches to perform its objective of restoring American maritime dominance. Listed here are some key gamers in implementing the reforms:
    • U.S. Commerce Consultant (USTR). USTR possible will play a central function in designing and implementing the port charges system outlined within the MAP. The proposed payment system intently parallels the port charges the Trump Administration imposed in 2025 primarily based on USTR’s Part 301 investigation of China’s maritime insurance policies. For extra data on the Part 301 charges – which have been paused for now – see Holland & Knight’s earlier consumer alerts from November 2025, October 2025, June 2025 and March 2025. Over the approaching weeks and months, USTR is anticipated to help in designing the port charges system described within the MAP. The company will look to stakeholders for steerage on how one can greatest construction the charges to satisfy the Trump Administration’s objectives whereas minimizing disruptions for U.S. firms. Stakeholders ought to take into account outreach to USTR to offer suggestions and help to the company because it undertakes its work on these crucial points. 
    • Maritime Administration (MARAD). The MAP positions MARAD because the federal authorities’s main execution arm for maritime coverage inside the U.S. Division of Transportation (DOT). Constructing on its statutory mission, MARAD would function the central hub for shipbuilding and fleet growth, coordinating funding, cargo choice, workforce initiatives and nationwide safety readiness. The plan would develop funding for present MARAD applications – significantly these supporting shipyard funding – and broaden eligibility for the Federal Ship Financing Program (Title XI). As operator of the U.S. Service provider Marine Academy and administrator of federal and state maritime coaching applications, MARAD can be positioned to play a pivotal function in growing the workforce wanted to maintain lengthy‑time period maritime revitalization.
    • Federal Maritime Fee (FMC). The FMC is the unbiased company liable for regulating the U.S. worldwide ocean transportation system pursuant to the U.S. Delivery Act of 1984, as amended. The FMC performs a crucial function in oversight of economic competitors amongst ocean widespread carriers, marine terminal operators and ocean transportation intermediaries. Recognizing the significance of the FMC’s mandate, the U.S. Home of Representatives lately handed the FMC Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will increase the FMC’s finances by fiscal yr 2027. The Reauthorization Act is at the moment into account by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce. The Trump Administration’s forthcoming legislative proposals may make the most of the FMC’s elevated finances by increasing the FMC’s present authority to offer for elevated oversight of the worldwide industrial fleet and ocean-linked provide chains as America seeks to reemphasize its place within the transport business.
    • U.S. Division of Warfare (DOW). DOW performs a coordinating function throughout a number of strategic initiatives of the MAP. DOW is tasked with collaborating on mariner coaching and workforce improvement – together with leveraging the DOW Manufacturing Know-how (ManTech) Program and increasing grants tied to shipbuilding contracts – to deal with labor shortages within the shipbuilding business. DOW is additional directed to work alongside DHS and USCG to safe Arctic waterways by continued coaching workout routines, enhancements to satellite tv for pc communications through industrial and navy partnerships, and investments in icebreaker fleets and high-latitude operational infrastructure. Moreover, DOW should accomplice with DOT to make sure correct finances forecasting and prioritize funding for upkeep, modernization and recapitalization of the inactive reserve fleet – together with finalization of design necessities for the Vessel Development Supervisor program – whereas additionally funding the Maritime Safety Program and Tanker Safety Program to approved ranges to ensure entry to assured sealift capability.

Congressional Motion

Although lots of the deregulatory and company actions outlined in President Donald Trump’s proposal can happen with out congressional motion, Congress should enact laws to effectuate a lot of the MAP blueprint. The Trump Administration acknowledges this and factors to 2 payments which have already been launched within the 119th Congress: 

  • The Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Safety for America Act (SHIPS) (S.1541). This complete invoice focuses on all facets of the federal authorities because it pertains to the maritime business, workforce and ports, and reforms and initiatives wanted to propel maritime revitalization within the U.S. The invoice was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.
  • Constructing Ships in America Act of 2025 (S.1536). This extra slender invoice focuses on tax coverage to help the U.S. maritime business. The invoice was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

Each of those payments get pleasure from substantial bipartisan help, as many in Congress notice the numerous nationwide safety issues with the present state of U.S. shipbuilding. The truth is, the SHIPS Act has seven Democrats as cosponsors of the laws, signaling that this invoice has sufficient help to cross the Senate if dropped at the ground for a vote. Although the Home stays underneath a slim Republican majority, given the bipartisan help for this laws, it also needs to swiftly cross in that chamber if introduced for a ground vote.

Nonetheless, President Trump signaled in his MAP proposal that his administration is compiling a brand new legislative bundle for consideration that shall be launched in his fiscal yr 2027 president’s finances request that’s anticipated in early March 2026. As soon as the brand new legislative proposal is launched, Holland & Knight will evaluate this to the prevailing legislative proposals for adjustments and supply extra evaluation.

Conclusion

America’s MAP represents essentially the most bold U.S. maritime coverage initiative since President Franklin Roosevelt’s Liberty Ship and Victory Ship initiatives. Although many parts stay topic to congressional motion and federal regulatory company improvement, the Trump Administration’s path is obvious: An extended‑time period effort to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure and capability is a pillar of American financial and nationwide safety coverage.

Purchasers ought to start assessing their very own publicity, alternatives and engagement methods, each short- and long-term, as MAP strikes ahead in Congress and all through the Trump Administration.

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