When it comes to navigating our way around (and out of) this world of ours, much of the focus rightly goes to the latest and greatest advanced technologies. Robotaxis, hypersonic trains, self-driving automobiles, manned missions to Mars, celebrities flying to the edge of space, SpaceX rockets…all these exciting, futuristic conveyances inspire modern explorers and ignite the imagination.
But what about the high seas? The world’s oceans and rivers seem to have gotten lost in the midst of technological innovation. Whether it’s the wreckage of the Titanic or the latest installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, our naval gazing seems to be stuck in the past.
That may soon change, though, if a group of bipartisan legislators get their way. While divided on so many topics, parties from both sides of the aisle are joining forces to craft new legislation driven by the need to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
In an article published on The War Zone website, author Geoff Ziezulewicz calls the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act (“the Act”) an “ambitious bill [that] seeks to overhaul and restore America’s military and civilian maritime capacity and capabilities.”
According to Ziezulewicz, America’s shipbuilding industry has “increasingly fallen behind over the decades, and concerns have grown urgent as China’s shipbuilding capacity continues to dwarf America’s in many respects.” For example, “[i]n terms of shipbuilding…China has 46.59 percent of the global market and is the largest builder, with South Korea second at 29.24 percent, and Japan third with 17.25 percent. The United States has a relative insignificant capacity at 0.13 percent.”
These concerns are echoed by one of the bills co-sponsors. In an opinion piece published in the Daily Journal, Senator Todd Young (R—Ind.) explains that “for too long, we have ignored the importance of ships to our economic and national security. Today, the American shipbuilding sector has eroded, our shipyards are few and far between, and the vessels built in the U.S. are often ill-equipped to cross oceans.”
According to Young, “[t]he result is Chinese dominance of the world’s sea lanes. China now possesses the world’s largest commercial fleet — 5,500 vessels strong, with over a thousand more built annually. And the United States? Our fleet currently numbers 80 with, at most, five ships added a year.”
Anyone familiar with the skills gap issue that plagues manufacturing and other industries across the country will immediately spot a major obstacle to reviving the ailing U.S. shipbuilding industry: finding enough skilled workers to fill the thousands of open positions revitalized ports will require.
Young notes that the Act “would help train a pipeline of new workers, encourage domestic and foreign investment in maritime infrastructure, and provide the permitting reform and deregulation that is essential for timely construction of new shipyards.”
Expanding upon the workforce development aspect of the Act in greater detail, a Holland & Knight article notes that “the Act establishes Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. These centers would train and educate workers launching careers in the maritime industry and play a vital role in preparing the next generation of maritime professionals. The Act also creates and tasks the Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee with identifying new training opportunities for maritime workers to equip the workforce with the skills most needed by the maritime industry.”
As individuals and organizations seek to establish a pipeline of new maritime talent, it will be necessary to seek out training partners that understand the foundational skills maritime workers will need to be successful. For example, DAC Worldwide has worked extensively in the past with the U.S. Navy to provide training tools in a wide variety of disciplines, from basic electrical to advanced pumps, compressors, and valves. Be sure to check out DAC Worldwide’s variety of hands-on training systems and tools, like cutaways, dissectibles, and models, that feature the real-world components workers will encounter in the field!
