In this episode of What's Going on With Shipping, Sal Mercogliano breaks down a recent Congressional hearing on the future of the U.S. maritime industry. The discussion centers on the FY 2027 budget requests from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), as well as the implementation of the "Maritime Action Plan."

The video examines the opening statements from MARAD Administrator Captain Steve Carmel and FMC Chairperson Laura DiBella, highlighting critical gaps in the current strategy—specifically the controversial and "batshit crazy" process for approving Jones Act waivers.

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00:00 – Introduction: The Congressional Hearing on U.S. Maritime
01:12 – MARAD vs. FMC: Roles and Responsibilities
03:00 – Captain Steve Carmel’s Opening Statement u0026 The Maritime Action Plan
04:30 – The Tanker Security Program u0026 Logistics at Sea
08:12 – The "Cargo Mantra": Why Ships Without Cargo are Useless
10:53 – The Ready Reserve Force (RRF) and the Mariner Shortage
16:42 – Subsea Cables and Strategic Vulnerabilities
17:49 – The Future: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) on Ships
21:43 – FMC Chairperson Laura DiBello's Statement u0026 Enforcement
26:18 – Dark Fleets, Chokepoints, and Container Surges
30:32 – The "Batshit Crazy" Jones Act Waiver Process
39:41 – Sal’s Take: How to Actually Fix the System
41:24 – Wrap-up and a Note on Shirt Sizes!

Maritime Action Plan Takes Center Stage as Congress Reviews MARAD, FMC Budgets
https://gcaptain.com/maritime-action-plan-takes-center-stage-as-congress-reviews-marad-fmc-budgets/

Future of United States Maritime: Review of Fiscal Year 2027 MARAD and FMC Budget Requests
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3PFot0aeG8u0026t=2253s

Maritime Action Plan
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Restoring-Americas-Maritime-Dominance.pdf