Struggling U.S. Merchant Fleet, Critical To National Security, Needs More Federal Support (From Forbes)

The U.S.-flag merchant marine is a miniscule player in global trade. With over 40,000 commercial vessels plying the world’s oceans, less than 200 are registered in America. The entire tonnage of the U.S.-flag fleet amounts to about 13% of the tonnage that the global fleet added in one year during the pandemic. There is reason to suspect that in a prolonged war, the small size of the U.S. fleet could be the Achilles heel in America’s defense posture. Washington needs to do more to grow the fleet and its workforce. Expanded cargo-preference policies could be the easiest path to follow. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.