From Sealift to Strategic Advantage: Mobilizing America’s Maritime Strength in a Contested World
Speaker:
Captain Steve Carmel, Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
Summary
Captain Steve Carmel argued that wartime maritime capacity depends on maintaining a viable commercial maritime industry during peacetime. He described a Western Pacific conflict scenario to illustrate how shipping disruptions, insurance markets, industrial capacity, mariner availability, and logistics resilience are interconnected. He emphasized that the United States must strengthen its merchant marine, shipbuilding and repair base, cargo preference policies, and maritime standards while investing in future technologies such as small modular reactor-powered vessels.
Why It Matters
Sea lift, commercial shipping, ports, shipyards, and logistics networks form a single ecosystem that underpins national security. Carmel stressed that resilient peacetime maritime commerce is essential for sustained military operations.
Key Takeaways
- Wartime capacity depends on peacetime viability.
- Maritime power is an ecosystem, not simply a fleet.
- Logistics resilience outweighs efficiency during conflict.
- Commercial shipping, insurance, finance, and industrial capacity are strategically linked.
- Tanker Security Program provides immediate value but requires stronger commercial support.
- Small modular reactors could transform maritime transportation.
Discussion Highlights
The keynote explored Indo-Pacific contingency planning, supply-chain resilience, maritime industrial policy, cargo preference, tanker readiness, standards-based competition, nuclear propulsion, ship repair, Jones Act issues, and commercial incentives for U.S.-flag shipping.
Operational Insights
Carmel emphasized early-warning indicators for supply-chain disruption, resilience engineering, strengthening domestic maritime commerce, modernizing financing and permitting, and improving cargo preference enforcement.
Looking Ahead
Future priorities include implementing the Maritime Action Plan, strengthening U.S.-flag commerce, improving maritime financing, expanding resilience planning, and developing commercially viable SMR-powered ships.