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We Read 41 Pages Quickly So You Can Start Here - Immediate Impressions of the Maritime Action Plan
Episode 17
Friday, 13 February, 2026
A 41-page Maritime Action Plan just reframed the future of U.S. shipping, and we dove in the moment it dropped. Lauren welcomes shipbuilding specialist Caitlin Hardy to unpack what’s real, what’s next, and where the biggest leverage points are—from yard financing and mariner pipelines to cargo policy, OEM localization, and Arctic ambitions.We start with the four pillars and why incentives may finally align shipyards, operators, and suppliers. Expect a frank look at capital: expanding grants and financing beyond “small yard” scale, a proposed maritime incentives coalition to unify state and federal tools, and prosperity zones that pull investment inland. We debate the universal one‑cent fee on foreign‑built vessels calling U.S. ports—how it could seed a Maritime Security Trust Fund without spiking prices—and the “bridge strategy” with allies like Korea and Japan to build early hulls abroad while standing up U.S. capacity at home.People remain the constraint, so we get specific on workforce reforms: faster, digital credentialing; high‑fidelity simulators that count toward seatime; Military‑to‑Mariner upgrades that honor Navy and Coast Guard experience; and tax relief for income earned on U.S.‑flag ships in international trade. We tackle procurement friction head‑on—multi‑hull orders, vessel construction managers, and repeatable commercial designs—and the sensitive balance between accelerating standardization and protecting intellectual property. Then we zoom into the industrial base: cutting sole‑source dependencies for shafts, propellers, steels, and electronics, and creating durable demand signals so OEMs onshore for good.Finally, we head north. The plan’s Arctic chapter is far more muscular than expected, spotlighting Alaska infrastructure, ice‑capable tonnage, fisheries, and maritime domain awareness, plus tightly scoped seabed resource partnerships with allies. Threaded through is a strategic commercial fleet concept to ensure U.S.‑controlled cargo capacity that can surge in crisis, reinforcing programs like MSP and TSP. Whether you’re in ports, policy, shipyards, or on the bridge, this breakdown gives you the context to act, not just react.If this helped you make sense of a complex, fast‑moving moment, follow the show, subscribe, and leave a review. Share this with a colleague and tell us: which lever should be funded first?Send a textSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to By Land and By Sea powered by The Maritime Professor®! If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe ⭐ and leave a review 📝 - it really helps others find the show. 📚 Want to go deeper? Check out our live webinars, on-demand e-courses, and our Just-in-Time Learning™ sessions -- short, plain-language lessons (30 minutes or less) built for supply chain pros who need quick clarity. 🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs. ⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast









