NAWE urges support for maritime trust fund

Following the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries hearing “Sea Change: Reviving Commercial Shipbuilding,” the National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) is calling on committee leadership to support the establishment of a Maritime Security Trust Fund in the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act of 2025.

NAWE underscores the critical importance of dedicated, sustainable investment in the U.S. maritime industrial base. The proposed Maritime Security Trust Fund—outlined in the Administration’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP)—would provide a stable source of funding to rebuild America’s shipbuilding capacity, modernize port infrastructure, and strengthen domestic manufacturing of cargo handling equipment.

“Revitalizing America’s maritime industrial base requires a holistic approach—one that includes shipbuilding, port operations, and the manufacturing of essential cargo handling equipment,” said Carl Bentzel, President of NAWE. “A Maritime Security Trust Fund will help ensure that U.S. ports and terminals remain safe, efficient, and globally competitive.”

NAWE’s also recommends modeling the maritime trust fund after the Highway Trust Fund, off-budget and funded by maritime-generated revenues such as tariffs, penalties, and fees related to international maritime trade.