United States: The USVI is participating in a plan to develop a US international ship registry within its borders, according to the governor.
Support from Trump Administration
Sources close to the administration told Reuters last week that the Trump White House is reviewing the proposal in an effort to increase the number of American-flagged merchant ships, as reported by Reuters.
Strategic Advantage of USVI’s Proposal
According to Eric Dawicki, head of the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics, the USVI could best help “strengthen American maritime posture” because it allows vessels to use a U.S. flag without incurring the added costs and regulations tied to standard U.S. flag registration.
US Virgin Islands involved in US international ship registry proposal, governor says https://t.co/9dYg9jgagg
— The Straits Times (@straits_times) May 12, 2025
Governor Bryan Highlights Innovation
“We have been working with Eric R. Dawicki on this project for a while now. This is an innovative solution to strengthen American shipping,” USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said in a LinkedIn post on Saturday.
On Monday, Bryan’s office took no immediate action in response to a request for comment.
The Trump administration values a larger U.S.-flagged fleet because it would boost the commercial fleet’s support for the military in wars and decrease dependence on international shippers, as reported by Reuters.