United States: Marine/ Shipping

The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has published an interim final rule revising the entire regulations that govern its Vessel and Shipyard Financing Program, commonly known as the Title XI program. According to MARAD, the changes are intended to modernize the program, streamline requirements, and align the regulations with current federal financing practices.

A federal court applies the century-old Robins Dry Dock rule to dismiss and narrow claims arising from the Baltimore bridge collapse, reinforcing limitations on recovering purely economic losses in maritime law. The decision examines which parties can seek damages when infrastructure failures disrupt commerce and cause financial harm without direct physical injury to property.

Trade associations offer far more than networking opportunities—they can serve as strategic extensions of your business team. Will Fediw of the Virginia Maritime Association explains how membership connects maritime supply chain professionals across ocean carriers, terminals, trucking, rail, warehousing, and trade services while navigating tariffs, regulatory changes, and cargo flow disruptions.

The Federal Maritime Commission's Fact Finding Investigation No. 30 examined the cruise industry's unprecedented shutdown during COVID-19, revealing critical regulatory gaps and informing sweeping reforms to passenger protection frameworks. From emergency capital relief for operators to mandatory refund timelines and enhanced financial responsibility requirements, the investigation's findings shaped policies that helped stabilize an industry supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs while strengthening consu

Two small federal offices within the FMC and Surface Transportation Board quietly demonstrate how responsive government can resolve commercial disputes and assist transportation stakeholders. These programs help parties navigate regulatory questions and resolve disagreements before they escalate into costly litigation, serving as valuable resources for shippers, carriers, and consumers in the freight transportation network.

As the Federal Maritime Commission's adjudicatory workload has quadrupled since 2020, its Office of Administrative Law Judges operates with minimal permanent staff and no dedicated law clerks. With demurrage and detention litigation surging and new enforcement matters on the horizon, the question emerges whether current judicial resources can sustain fair and efficient resolution of increasingly complex shipping disputes.

The Strait of Hormuz has evolved from a shipping chokepoint into a direct threat to manufacturing operations worldwide. As vessels face mounting delays and unpredictable transit times, companies built on just-in-time precision are discovering that their contracts, insurance policies, and risk frameworks were never designed for this type of prolonged disruption.

Last October, our team highlighted the tension between the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (the “Act”), and state-based negligence hiring claims against transportation brokers.

On April 3, 2026, the White House released its budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, proposing a historic $1.5 trillion in total defense spending.