United States: Marine/ Shipping

Industry leaders discuss the critical relationship between shipyard capacity and market demand, examining how recent Jones Act waivers have created uncertainty in vessel construction investment. The conversation reveals how policy decisions ripple through the maritime supply chain, affecting workforce development and national security interests.

The Trump administration has released a comprehensive 165-page legislative proposal aimed at revitalizing America's maritime industry through new funding mechanisms, tax incentives, and cargo-preference requirements.

The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published an interim final rule revising the entire regulations that govern its Vessel and Shipyard Financing Program, commonly known as the Title XI program. According to MARAD, the changes are intended to modernize the program, streamline requirements, and align the regulations with current federal financing practices.

The EU's Mediterranean naval taskforce IRINI has intensified its enforcement activities against sanctioned vessels, conducting multiple flag verification boardings of oil tankers operating in contested regulatory waters. Recent operations have focused on vessels with uncertain flag status and previous sanctions designations, raising questions about the effectiveness of current maritime compliance mechanisms.

On July 22, 2026, the House narrowly approved the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800) by a vote of 216 to 212, sending the measure to the Senate. Tucked inside the massive defense policy bill are two amendments that, together, amount to the broadest rewrite of federal maritime law in a generation.

The Federal Maritime Commission's Fact Finding Investigation No. 30 examined the cruise industry's unprecedented shutdown during COVID-19, revealing critical regulatory gaps and informing sweeping reforms to passenger protection frameworks. From emergency capital relief for operators to mandatory refund timelines and enhanced financial responsibility requirements, the investigation's findings shaped policies that helped stabilize an industry supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs while strengthening consu

Moore & Van Allen attorneys Gary English and Samuel Person analyze the cascading effects of maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, exploring how delays and detention risks at this critical chokepoint are creating widespread impacts on global supply chains and industrial production. The article examines the legal and operational challenges facing shipping companies and downstream businesses navigating these uncertain transit conditions.

A unanimous Supreme Court ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, 608 U.S. ___ (May 14, 2026) just changed what every business that ships goods needs to know about who is responsible when something...

The Strait of Hormuz has evolved from a shipping chokepoint into a direct threat to manufacturing operations worldwide. As vessels face mounting delays and unpredictable transit times, companies built on just-in-time precision are discovering that their contracts, insurance policies, and risk frameworks were never designed for this type of prolonged disruption.