Federal policy funds US-built port equipment, shipyards, short-line rail and autonomous vessels. Each program on this page is verified and mapped to the roadmap phase that uses it.
The executive order sets direction, the action plan assigns agencies, the tariff moves prices, and the bill funds ships and yards once it passes.
Puts the Maritime Action Plan under the National Security Advisor and the OMB Director. Directs the US Trade Representative to consider tariffs on PRC-linked ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment. Tasks OMB with a legislative proposal for a Maritime Security Trust Fund. Calls for shipbuilding financial incentives: grants, loans and loan guarantees for vessels and yards, with Defense Production Act Title III named as an investment tool.
Proposes a universal fee on foreign-built commercial ships calling at US ports, a 0.125 % fee on the value of foreign goods entering by land, larger Title XI ship financing, wider Capital Construction Funds, a Strategic Commercial Fleet and the Trust Fund. Port equipment splits three ways: the Maritime Administration leads cranes, container handling, terminal and rail connectivity and pier utilities; the US Trade Representative holds the tariff lever; the Coast Guard leads autonomous-vessel rules and test areas in the EEZ and the Great Lakes.
A 100 % tariff on certain ship-to-shore cranes and cargo-handling equipment, with up to 150 % proposed on more equipment such as rubber-tired gantry cranes. It prices non-PRC cranes and yard machines into US terminals.
A 33 % vessel investment credit, 40.5 % with US-headquartered insurance and classification, and a 25 % shipyard facility credit. Marine terminal operators may open Capital Construction Funds to replace cargo-handling equipment, with PRC-made equipment barred. The House FY27 defense authorization carries a maritime package: a Maritime Security Trust Fund capped at $20B, a Maritime Security Advisor, a Ship America Office in the Maritime Administration, shipbuilding grants and 100 % government cargo preference.
Port grants reach IC through a port authority. Rail grants reach IC directly once it owns a short line. The shipbuilding office sits in OMB.
Grants to port authorities and other public applicants, who apply jointly with private partners, including terminal owners and operators. Eligible items include marine terminal equipment, freight intelligent transportation systems and digital infrastructure. IC enters as a port authority’s named technology partner. The Maritime Administrator, confirmed Dec 19, 2025, leads the agency.
Rail grants for which Class II and Class III railroads, the short lines, and their holding companies apply directly. Once IC owns a short line, it applies in its own name.
Announced in Mar 2025 inside the National Security Council; moved to the Office of Management and Budget in Jul 2025. The OMB Director leads White House shipbuilding in public. If the FY27 package becomes law, a statutory Maritime Security Advisor in the Executive Office of the President becomes the lasting contact.
The Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit buy uncrewed surface vessels now. This is the early branch of Phase 7: defense contracts fund it before any terminal is built.
A Secretary of the Navy order of Sep 2025 moved unmanned programs out of the small-combatants program office into a new robotics and autonomy office. On Mar 26, 2026 that office cancelled the MASC program and opened a recurring marketplace for medium USVs: $10K on selection, $15M after on-water testing, first production delivery in FY27. The 2025 reconciliation act gave about $5B to Navy unmanned systems, $2.1B of it to medium USVs.
Commercial-first buys under a Director in office since Mar 2026. ARV-S (Jun 2026): uncrewed vessels carrying at least two 20 ft containers over a 1,600 nm round trip in sea state 4–6, in quantities of dozens or more. SWAP-USV (Jul 2026): $100M in prizes plus $200M follow-on for production-ready armed USVs. ALPV (Mar 2026): an autonomous low-profile vessel for contested resupply, with the Marine Corps.
The order in which IC builds each relationship follows the ladder. The first is the office that touches the Brain and the terminal.
Port grants and terminal technology. Owns cranes, container handling and terminal connectivity in the Maritime Action Plan.
Lead applicants on port grants. IC is named as their technology partner.
Medium USV marketplace.
Commercial-first autonomous vessel buys.
Autonomous-vessel rules and test areas in the EEZ and the Great Lakes.
Section 301 duties on PRC cranes and cargo-handling equipment.
White House shipbuilding and the yard.
Rail grants, once IC owns a short line.