- Duckworth warns that US capacity has been shrinking since 2003.
- Pentagon requests $47B as Trump pushes revival of shipyards.
- China dominates with 53% of global shipbuilding output.
American lawmakers are heading to South Korea and Japan to see how the U.S. can benefit from their shipbuilding know-how, especially as China’s influence continues to rise. Senators Tammy Duckworth from Illinois and Andy Kim from New Jersey are set to meet with top shipbuilders to talk about potential partnerships for building and repairing noncombatant vessels for the U.S. Navy, as well as attracting investments to American shipyards, reports AP News.
Declining US Capacity
“We already have fewer capacity now than we did during Operation Iraqi Freedom” in 2003, Duckworth told The Associated Press. “We have to rebuild the capacity. At the same time, what capacity we have is ageing and breaking down and taking longer and more expensive to fix.”
The Pentagon is asking for $47 billion to boost shipbuilding efforts, as President Donald Trump aims to revitalise U.S. shipyards and collaborate with international partners.
China’s Advantage
The U.S. is significantly trailing behind China in naval shipbuilding, which raises alarms about the shifting balance of maritime power. Senator Duckworth is optimistic that this trip will lead to joint ventures for constructing auxiliary Navy vessels and smaller Army boats, while also increasing repair operations overseas.
“If we have to bring ships all the way back to the United States … to wait two years to be fixed, that doesn’t help the situation,” she said.
Auxiliary Fleet
Our auxiliary ships, like those used for fueling and cargo, are getting old, and there just aren’t enough of them. In 2024, U.S. commercial shipbuilding made up a mere 0.1% of the global capacity, while China dominated with a whopping 53%. South Korea and Japan followed behind, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Growing Cooperation.
South Korea is stepping up to help meet U.S. needs. Hanwha Ocean recently completed a major overhaul of a 41,000-ton Navy cargo ship, marking their first project after landing a repair deal with the U.S. Navy.
Additionally, Hanwha Group has taken over Philly Shipyard, and Seoul has proposed a massive $150 billion investment in U.S. shipbuilding, all part of Trump’s “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative. Duckworth mentioned she had earlier discussions with Hyundai Heavy Industries about the possibility of them investing in U.S. shipyards right here on American soil.
China Consolidating Its Power
China has just merged two state-owned companies to create the world’s largest shipbuilder, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. This powerhouse builds everything from aircraft carriers to submarines and now holds a significant 21.5% share of the global market.
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Source: AP News
