Trends – Professional Mariner

MarAd takes lead on deepwater ports as federal oversight shifts

esponsibility for licensing and overseeing U.S. deepwater ports is shifting from the U.S. Coast Guard to the Maritime Administration (MarAd), a change that could reshape how offshore energy and cargo projects are reviewed and approved. Under a move announced in early January, MarAd will take over deepwater port licensing from the U.S. Coast Guard, overseeing projects such as LNG terminals…

New leadership takes helm at MarAd, Coast Guard and FMC

After months of uncertainty surrounding leadership at the U.S. Maritime Administration, Stephen Carmel was confirmed as the agency’s 21st administrator by the U.S. Senate in December 2025 by a 53–43 vote. A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1979, Carmel sailed as a licensed deep-sea master and tanker captain before coming ashore to serve in senior operational and…

Stop-work orders and grant reneges create uncertainty in US offshore wind industry

An air of uncertainty hangs over the U.S. offshore wind industry after the Trump Administration halted numerous projects at various stages of completion, canceled federal funding for ports meant to support wind farms and had numerous federal agencies, which typically don’t engage in energy policy, weigh in against offshore wind. On Aug. 22, the Trump administration issued a stop-work order…

Survey targets mental health, well-being of mariners

The University of Washington invites mariners from the U.S. maritime industry to take 10 to 15 minutes to anonymously complete the “2025 Mariner Mental Health & Well-being Survey” by scanning a QR code at the end of this aricle. Who is eligible to participate? We want to hear from sailing, credentialed mariners who work on U.S.-flagged vessels — including licensed…

Federal maritime safety committees disbanded

As part of its efforts to reduce the scope and scale of the federal government, the Trump administration dismissed U.S. Coast Guard-credentialed mariners on nine federal advisory committees consulting on a variety of maritime issues, particularly on matters of safety. In a Jan. 20 memo, then-acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Benjamine C. Huffman said, “I am directing the…

Emerging AI technology can create safer, more efficient maritime operations

What exactly can artificial intelligence (AI) do for mariners? Well, potentially a lot. Like the emergence of electronics more than a century ago, it may not always be the answer, but in general AI can enhance many existing aspects of maritime practices and potentially revolutionize others. For starters, the capabilities of AI can serve as a critical backstop for crew,…

Navy Secretary urges investment in U.S. shipbuilding

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has met with two top South Korean shipbuilding industry executives in the Republic of Korea (ROK) for talks aimed at attracting Korean investment in “integrated commercial and naval shipbuilding facilities” in the U.S. Del Toro first visited Seoul, where he met with Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim and HD Hyundai Vice…

National Maritime Day

Every year on May 22, National Maritime Day recognizes the launch of the maritime industry in the United States. The celebration also honors America’s merchant mariners for their contributions and sacrifices for our country. Special acknowledgment is given to ships and seafarers that have held a prominent place in our nation’s history. As a fundamental industry, its time-honored traditions comprise…

Concerns grow over Chinese cranes at U.S. ports

Cyber security and the perceived vulnerability of the nation’s supply chain has turned a spotlight on the ship-to-shore (STS) container cranes manufactured by China’s Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC) that are installed at a number of U.S. ports. Currently, nearly 80 percent of the cranes at U.S. ports were built by ZPMC, one of the largest manufacturers in the…

Training mariners for a safe and efficient career at sea

Despite the downsides of a maritime career, a professional life at sea can provide high pay and good benefits, interesting and meaningful work, and exciting experiences that stretch to the horizon and beyond. A variety of mariner jobs beckon with learning the right way to do things in the wheelhouse, on deck and below, playing a critical role in developing…