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 […]

The Trump Opportunity: Shipbuilders Discuss America’s Maritime Moment

Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Mike Roberts (Left) hosts the discussion at the Institute's DC offices (Credit: American Maritime VOICES).

By VOICES Staff. For the first time in decades, the men and women of American Maritime are in the spotlight, receiving Presidential and Congressional support, attention that industry veterans say was “really unimaginable until really just two or three years ago.” At a recent Hudson Institute panel discussion, leading voices in American shipbuilding came together […]

Constructing a Giant: The Journey of the FREDERICK PAUP

The snapshot of the project team aboard the FREDERICK PAUP. Photo credit: FREDERICK PAUP Project Team

By J.Anthony Tedpahogo. From the first concept on paper to a fully operational machine, Manson Project Manager Jordan Brown reflects on the collective effort it took to bring America’s largest self-propelled trailing suction hopper dredge, the FREDERICK PAUP, to life. The journey spanned over a decade starting with pre-planning by Vice President and Gulf & […]

Long trek to Lone Star State sparked plan for SC maritime academy

The Citadel in Charleston would be home to the nation’s eighth maritime academy under a proposal by state Rep. Tom Hartnett Jr. of Charleston. (Photo by Ed Wray/provided by The Citadel)

by David Wren, SC Daily Gazette, August 8, 2025. With more than 1,100 miles to think while driving from Charleston to Galveston, Texas, three years ago, state Rep. Tom Hartnett Jr. found himself asking the same question again and again. Why doesn’t South Carolina have its own maritime academy? Hartnett was taking his son, Rhett, […]

‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ bolsters Coast Guard shipbuilding programs

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Argus becomes the first Offshore Patrol Cutter to be launched at a christening ceremony Panama City, Florida, Oct. 27, 2023. Petty Officer 1st Class Ronald Hodges, U.S. Coast Guard photo | DVIDS

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 […]

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 […]

Muscular new escort tug supports a resurgent Port of Baltimore

The Jones Act-qualified Isabel McAllister, built in 2025 by Washburn & Doughty, has become a major asset for the recovering Port of Baltimore. (Image Credit: McAllister Towing)

By Casey Conoly, Professional Mariner. McAllister Towing & Transportation’s multiyear fleet renewal gained momentum this spring with the arrival of Isabel McAllister in the Port of Baltimore. The 6,770-hp tug is the fourth delivery in a six-boat series from Washburn & Doughty Associates in East Boothbay, Maine. The shipyard also designed Isabel using its proven […]

U.S. Shipyards Set the Standard for Safety: SCA Honors 14 Facilities for 2024 Excellence

By VOICES Staff.  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) has announced its annual Safety Awards, honoring 14 U.S. shipyards for their outstanding safety performance in 2024. The awards recognize facilities that met rigorous standards in promoting safe work environments across the shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance sector. This industry plays a vital role […]