U.S. Maritime Policy (Part 1)

Overview

This article comprehensively analyzes the historical development and contemporary issues of U.S. maritime policy (Part 1). ## Main Points ### 1. Historical Foundation of U.S. Maritime Policy - 1817 Cabotage Act: Monopoly of coastal shipping by domestic vessels - 1916 Shipping Act: Institutionalization of wartime shipping capacity - 1920 Merchant Marine Act (Jones Act): Construction and crew requirements - Protectionist tradition: Continuing for over 200 years ### 2. Current Status of U.S. Merchant Fleet - Ocean-going merchant ships: 182 vessels (22nd in the world, 0.4% share) - Domestic vessels: 40,000 vessels (subject to Jones Act) - Crew numbers: 7,000 ocean-going, 65,000 domestic - Shipbuilding capacity: Near zero for large commercial ships ### 3. Economic Impact of the Jones Act - Transportation costs: 2-3 times that of foreign vessels - Hawaii/Alaska: 15-20% increase in living costs - Shipbuilding costs: 4 times that of South Korea/China - Economic losses: $9.8 billion annually (various estimates) ### 4. Security Logic - Emergency transportation capacity: Military use of civilian vessels - Maintaining shipbuilding base: Preserving warship construction capability - Ensuring crew: Reserve of military transport personnel - China threat theory: Countering maritime dominance ### 5. Reform Discussions and Political Dynamics - Abolition theory: Economic efficiency advocates, free trade promotion - Maintenance theory: Solid alliance of maritime industry, shipbuilding industry, unions - Partial reform proposals: Relax construction requirements, maintain crew requirements - Congressional situation: Bipartisan protectionism difficult to reform The article depicts the contradictions in U.S. maritime policy swaying between economic rationality and security, suggesting the limitations of protectionism in the era of globalization (Part 2 to follow).