The past year’s renewed focus on bolstering American shipbuilding capacity inspired a slew of shipping deals and investments. Interestingly, the most active players came from outside of the U.S., looking to U.S. taxpayers to foot the shipbuilding bill.  

Marine Money Week 2025 was, as always, the singular occasion in shipping to reconnect with global friends in the industry and synthesize perspectives on shipping’s next big area of opportunity–U.S. shipping stood out this year.

Stating the obvious: the U.S. wants more American-built ships. Less obvious: how many ships can America’s biggest shipyards build? 

Savvy shipowners could participate in both the SHIPS for America Act and Title XI to bring the effective cost of building ships in the U.S. down considerably.

On April 30, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) and Congressmen Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) and John Garamendi (D-CA-8) reintroduced the SHIPS for America Act, potentially reshaping U.S. maritime policy, backed by US taxpayer dollars.