America’s Shipyards Are Working — and Winning
By VOICES Staff. Across the United States, the shipbuilding industry is booming. According to WorkBoat’s 2024 Construction Survey, more than 925 vessels were either delivered, under construction, or on order in the past year alone. That includes everything from tugboats and training ships to advanced subsea installation vessels and LNG-ready containerships. Recent milestones in Pennsylvania […]
‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ bolsters Coast Guard shipbuilding programs
By Steve Wilson. (The Center Square) — Passage of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” this summer has provided a jolt to the U.S. Coast Guard’s shipbuilding program as it seeks to replace most of its aging fleet. The service’s most important shipbuilding program, the Heritage class Offshore Patrol Cutter, is years behind schedule and its cost […]
Scholarships expand opportunities for prospective mariners
By Patricia McCarthy, Professional Mariner. Offering scholarships to students interested in maritime careers has become a major component of workforce development efforts by industry organizations, private companies and others trying to address the maritime workforce shortage. The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) — a coalition that represents the U.S. domestic maritime industry, including shipping companies, mariners, […]
The Impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on the Jones Act and U.S. Maritime Growth
By VOICES Staff. On July 4th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB), a massive reconciliation package that includes significant provisions for the maritime industry. The bill delivers critical funding to enhance U.S. maritime security, shipbuilding, and defense capabilities, while fostering economic growth and job creation in maritime-related sectors. The […]
USACE Navigation mission critical to Armed Forces’ strategic readiness
By Kathryne Gest. WASHINGTON – When the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) needs to move over 1,000 trucks, trailers, and tons of equipment for a large training exercise, they rely on the cost-effectiveness and convenience of the nation’s waterways. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains an extensive network of inland and intracoastal […]
For the first time since the Key Bridge collapse, oysters are being planted nearby
by Christine Condon, Maryland Matters. Ben Carver, a boat captain for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, assumed the worst. When Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed — killing six construction workers and sending thousands of tons of concrete and steel hurtling into the Patapsco River — Carver feared that the foundation’s nearby oyster reef would be […]
A ‘Blue Highway’ Is Cruising to Hunts Point
This story was originally published by THE CITY. Sign up to get the latest New York City news delivered to you each morning By Jonathan Custodio, THE CITY. A new marine freight barge at the country’s largest wholesale fish market could reduce congestion and air pollution. The Economic Development Corporation and Con Agg Global, a Bronx-based urban logistics and […]
How USVs Are Transforming U.S. Maritime Safety and Efficiency
By VOICES Staff. Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) are already rapidly transforming the defense sector, assisting in everything from offshore inspections to port security and beyond. However, as USVs become more prevalent in American waters, the question remains: how do we integrate this technology while upholding the principles of the Jones Act, ensuring that American mariners […]
Texas A&M Maritime Academy Features New Mate Of Towing Vessels Endorsement
By Taylor Bounds, Division of Marketing & Communications. At the end of the spring semester, the very first cohort of Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets will complete the requirements for their Mate of Towing Vessels Endorsement. This valuable qualification is for those interested in working on towing vessels and expands the career pathways cadets can […]
Wave of Support Voiced for Jones Act
By Seafarers International Union. America’s freight cabotage law – a crucial part of national, economic and homeland security for more than a century – recently received strong backing from several prominent sources. During a March 5 hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Randall Reed, USAF, commander of the United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), […]