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Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Invests $35.1 Million into Small Shipyards to Restore America’s Maritime Dominance

Thursday, August 13, 2026
"Maritime Dominance Delivered by President Trump and Secretary Duffy"

Program received a 300% boost thanks to President Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is delivering $35.1 million to invest in critical infrastructure and workforce development at 45 shipyards across 24 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order to Restore America’s Maritime Dominance, the program received a historic 300% increase in funding in 2026.

Projects examples include:

  • $1,007,678 to Gulf Marine Repair Corporation in Tampa, Florida, for training center equipment, wheel loaders and upgrades to three berths in its south slip.
  • $1,000,000 to Robert E. Derecktor, Inc. in Mamaroneck, New York, for an offshore marine crane.
  • $991,565 to Carlisle & Bray Hebron Shipyard in Hebron, Kentucky, for a floating drydock.
  • $387,745 to Signet Maritime Corporation in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for equipment including a plasma cutting table, welding tractors, a crane, and a vertical tilt-frame bandsaw.
  • $321,474.38 to Safe Boats International LLC in Bremerton Washington, for 17 welding machines to be used in their aluminum welding/fabrication training program.

“Small shipyards across America were once the backbone of our nation’s maritime industry. President Trump is reviving this critical sector so America can finally rekindle its proud history of building the vessels that keep America’s economy moving. The 300% increase in this program will fund cutting-edge equipment, major facility upgrades, and new training programs for the next generation of maritime workers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

“America’s small shipyards drive our maritime economy and strengthen our national readiness,” said MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “Across the Nation, shipyard workers bring the skill, innovation, and technical expertise that build, repair, and launch the vessels America depends on. These investments support the Maritime Action Plan and will strengthen America’s maritime future for years to come.”

Reminder:

Secretary Duffy has an overseen historic overhaul into America’s ports, shipyards, inland waterways, and the Merchant Marine Academy to advance the President’s maritime dominance agenda:

  • Delivering nearly $1 billion in funding to upgrade America’s ports and marine highways to strengthen our supply chain.
  • Cutting red tape to streamline environmental red tape for deepwater ports to expand American energy production.
  • Announcing a $2 billion investment to build two new military ships.
  • Accelerating the modernization of the United States Merchant Marine Academy campus.
  • Unleashing innovation into small modular nuclear reactors to create next-generation ship technology.