The United States is facing significant challenges in maintaining its maritime dominance, a development with profound implications for both national security and global commerce. Once a leading manufacturer of commercial ships, the U.S. now produces only a fraction of the world’s fleet tonnage, a sharp decline from its peak in the 1970s. This erosion of maritime capacity has sparked concern among policymakers and defense experts, highlighting an area where American influence is waning amid rising strategic competition.

Historically, maritime power has been closely linked to commercial and military strength. Despite the rise of technology such as drones, more than 80 percent of global trade still moves by sea. However, U.S. commercial shipbuilding and fleet size have dwindled due to policy shifts dating back to the Reagan administration, which reduced support for domestic shipping industries. Concurrently, post-Cold War defense reductions further decreased naval shipbuilding. In contrast, China has extensively prioritized shipbuilding through state-driven initiatives, asserting control over the industry via state-owned enterprises and dramatically expanding its global market share. Since 2006, China has designated shipbuilding as a strategic industry, with continued emphasis leading to a fleet of approximately 5,500 vessels, far surpassing the fewer than 200 ocean-going ships registered in the United States.

This imbalance raises concerns about the United States’ ability to sustain its supply chains, especially during crises or conflict. Commercial fleets are critical for military logistics, and any restriction on access to vessels or shipping lanes—whether due to deliberate actions by China or disruptions triggered by geopolitical tensions—could severely impact U.S. operations. Recent years have seen increasing maritime disruptions in critical passages such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez and Panama Canals, reinforcing the vulnerability of key global shipping routes. This evolving landscape has encouraged countries like China and Russia to explore alternative paths, including the Arctic’s transpolar route, where Russia’s extensive fleet of icebreakers outnumbers the U.S. fleet by twentyfold.

Recognizing these challenges, the U.S. government has begun revitalizing its maritime capabilities. Efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations include a bipartisan push to build more icebreakers in cooperation with Finland and other NATO allies, aiming to secure access and influence in the Arctic. Senators Todd Young and Mark Kelly introduced the SHIPs for America Act in 2025 to boost shipbuilding investment, enhance workforce training, and establish a maritime security trust fund to provide sustained financial support.

Despite occasional policy inconsistencies—such as the Trump administration’s suspension of trade remedies targeting China’s shipbuilding dominance—there is growing consensus that restoring America’s maritime industrial base is a strategic priority. Experts emphasize the need for a diverse fleet that includes not only advanced warships but also more adaptable, dual-use vessels capable of supporting both commercial and military needs.

As geopolitical competition intensifies and global supply chains face increasing risks, the United States must address its diminished shipbuilding capacity to safeguard economic interests and national security. Legislative efforts and industrial policy coordination across party lines offer a pathway to rebuilding America’s maritime edge, a move widely seen as essential in the current international environment.