🗞️ DOL Invests $13.8M to Rebuild America's Shipbuilding Workforce
Labor Department awards nearly $14M to train next generation of shipbuilders through partnerships with South Korea and Finland, addressing critical workforce gaps as U.S. shipbuilding capacity lags 230 times behind China.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced $13.8 million in funding to revitalize the American shipbuilding workforce through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. Delaware County Community College received $8 million to partner with Hanwha Philly Shipyard and South Korea, while Massachusetts Maritime Academy received $5.8 million to collaborate with Finland and Bollinger Shipyards.
The initiative supports President Trump's Executive Order on "Restoring America's Maritime Dominance", which aims to address the severe decline in U.S. shipbuilding capacity. Currently, the United States accounts for less than 0.2% of global commercial shipbuilding, while China produces approximately 53% and possesses over 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of the United States.
The programs will develop internationally recognized curricula for shipbuilding trades including welders, electricians, boilermakers, and shipwrights, with emphasis on advanced techniques such as modular construction and icebreaker technology. This training directly supports the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), a trilateral partnership among the U.S., Canada, and Finland to produce Arctic and polar icebreakers for strategic security purposes.
The investment contributes to the administration's goal of reaching 1 million registered apprenticeships nationwide and addresses critical workforce shortages that have contributed to delayed ship deliveries and maintenance backlogs across the U.S. naval and commercial fleet.
Key Points
- Total funding: $13.8 million split between two institutions
- Delaware County Community College: $8 million grant, partnering with South Korea and Hanwha Philly Shipyard
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy: $5.8 million grant, partnering with Finland and Bollinger Shipyards
- Strategic context: China has 230x U.S. shipbuilding capacity and produces 53% of global vessels
- Training focus: Specialized curriculum for boilermakers, electricians, welders, shipwrights, and steamfitters
- Technology emphasis: Modular construction techniques and icebreaker design capabilities
- ICE Pact connection: Supports trilateral Arctic security initiative with Canada and Finland
- National goal: Part of 1 million registered apprenticeships target
- Policy alignment: Implements Trump's Executive Order 14269 on maritime dominance
- Workforce development: Addresses critical skilled labor shortage causing shipyard delays
Primary Source Author: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Primary Source: US Department of Labor Awards $13.8M in Funding to Revitalize, Train Next Generation of America's Shipbuilding Workforce
Primary Source Link: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ilab/ilab20260108
Supplemental Links
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-americas-maritime-dominance/
- https://www.dhs.gov/ice-pact
- https://gcaptain.com/labor-department-invests-13-8m-to-help-rebuild-americas-shipbuilding-workforce/
- https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2025/july/dry-docks-dominance-threat-china-maritime-domain
- https://www.csis.org/analysis/are-us-policies-eroding-chinas-dominance-shipbuilding
- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-services-procurement/services/acquisitions/defence-marine/icebreaker-collaboration-effort-pact.html
- https://www.workforcegps.org/announcements/2025/09/09/17/37/U-S-Department-of-Labor-Announces-8-Million-to-Strengthen-Shipbuilding-Workforce-Training
