U.S. Invests $14 Million to Boost Shipbuilding Skills
The U.S. Labor Department is allocating nearly $14 million to enhance workforce training in the shipbuilding sector, a move aligned with President Donald Trump’s initiative to revitalize American shipbuilding. This funding aims to address the significant gap between U.S. shipbuilding capabilities and those of competitors like China, South Korea, and Japan. The initiative will create advanced training programs in collaboration with international partners to equip American workers with essential skills.
Funding Distribution and Partnerships
Of the total funding, Delaware County Community College will receive $8 million to develop a training program in partnership with Hanwa Philly Shipyard and South Korea. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy will be allocated $5.8 million to collaborate with Finland and Bollinger Shipyards, focusing on advanced shipbuilding skills. These partnerships are designed to establish a specialized, internationally recognized trade curriculum, which aims to increase apprenticeship opportunities across the United States.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the importance of skilled American workers in restoring the nation’s maritime dominance. “These projects will help train our next generation of shipbuilders and ensure the skills critical to revitalizing our shipbuilding industry are developed here at home,” she stated. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance U.S. shipbuilding capabilities, which have significantly lagged behind those of near-peer competitors.
U-M leads in national effort to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding
Addressing Global Shipbuilding Disparities
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. currently accounts for only 0.1% of global shipbuilding, while China dominates with over 50%. South Korea and Japan follow with 29% and 13%, respectively. This disparity poses a threat to U.S. military readiness and economic opportunities, as highlighted in a March report from the Center. The report warns that the erosion of U.S. and allied shipbuilding capabilities contributes to China’s ambitions for global power projection.
In response to these challenges, President Trump has committed to “resurrecting” both commercial and military shipbuilding. His executive order in April aimed to reinvigorate the sector by enhancing financial support through various government programs, including the Defense Production Act and a new Maritime Security Trust Fund. The order also called for the creation of a maritime action plan and a list of recommendations to address China’s competitive practices in the shipbuilding industry.
