Window on Washington: Sailing Close to the Wind

This article originally appeared in the Third Quarter 2023 Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin. Reprinted with permission. Any opinions in this article are not those of Winston & Strawn or its clients. The opinions in this article are the author’s opinions only.

The United States is facing a shortage of qualified mariners. This presents a national and economic security crisis that must be addressed by Washington policymakers to put America’s power projection capability and supply chain security on an even keel. With a small internationally-trading merchant fleet and a dwindling supply of seafarers, the nation is beholden to foreign interests for international trade and faces uncertain challenges manning and sustaining national defense sealift capability to faraway theaters such as the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).

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