SHIPS for America Act of 2025

50115. Anticipated commercial vessel construction survey

(a) Definition. In this section, commercial vessel of the United States means a vessel that is documented under the laws of the United States, not less than 6,000 deadweight tons, and operated in the domestic trade of the United States or foreign commerce, and may include—

(1) a bulk carrier vessel;

(2) a tanker vessel;

(3) a roll-on/roll-off vessel;

(4) a liquefied natural gas tanker vessel;

(5) a container vessel;

(6) a multi-purpose vessel;

(7) a cable vessel (as defined in section 53201);

(8) a heavy-lift vessel; or

(9) any other type of vessel determined appropriate by the Administrator, in consultation with the Maritime Security Board.

(b) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Maritime Administrator shall conduct a survey of owners, agents, or operators of commercial vessels of the United States to identify plans for the construction, maintenance, and modernization of commercial vessels of the United States.

(c) Purpose. The purpose of the survey conducted under this section is to inform the maritime industrial base of the future need for the construction of commercial vessels.

(d) Inclusions. In conducting the survey under this section, the Maritime Administrator shall collect the following information from owners, agents, or operators of commercial vessels of the United States who participate in the survey:

(1) The number of commercial vessels of the United States the participant is looking to construct during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which the participant takes the survey.

(2) The capabilities of the vessels described in paragraph (1) that the participant is seeking in constructing such vessels.

(3) Estimated timelines for when the participant aims to place each such vessel into service.

(4) The number of major repairs of commercial vessels of the United States and overhauls of such commercial vessels the participant is looking to carry out during the 10-year period described in paragraph (1).

(5) The major components that a shipbuilder would need from industrial base suppliers to support the construction, overhaul, or repair of commercial vessels of the United States during such 10-year period.

(6) Estimates for the capital expenditures the participant is planning to make for the construction, overhaul, or repair of commercial vessels of the United States during such 10-year period.

(7) Any additional information the Maritime Administrator determines appropriate.

(e) Participation. The Administrator may not require any owner, agent, or operator of a commercial vessel of the United States to participate in the survey unless that owner, agency, or operator is participating in a financial assistance program established under part C of this subtitle.

(f) Release of findings

(1) Distribution. Each year, the Maritime Administrator may release the findings of the survey with shipyards in the United States and other maritime industrial base stakeholders the results of the survey conducted under this section for such year in such a manner as the Administrator determines appropriate.

(2) Proprietary information. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 552 of title 5, United States Code, at the request of a survey participant, the Maritime Administrator shall withhold proprietary information provided as a part of a survey conducted under this section.

(3) Coordination. To the maximum extent practicable, the Maritime Administrator shall seek to conduct the annual surveys under this section and publish the results of such surveys on a similar timeline as the timeline for the annual naval vessel construction plans under section 231(a)(1) of title 10 and other shipbuilding construction surveys published by other Federal agencies.

50115. Anticipated commercial vessel construction survey.