The number of ships flying the US-flag stabilised after steep declines in recent years, but uncertainty remains.
For US-flag shipowners with non-Jones Act tonnage, including industry titans AP Moller-Maersk and APL, there are several key baskets of revenue that help offset the higher cost of the flag while trading in international markets.
A key programme is the Maritime Security Program (MSP), which provides stipends for 60 ships that in turn are made available to the government at times of military need or other crises.
