The $1.3 trillion US government budget just signed into law by President Donald Trump holds some positives for the shipping sector.
Some ports stand to benefit with $340 million more than requested being allocated to the US Army Corps of Engineers for harbour dredging and port maintenance.
This budget also includes funding boosts for the Maritime Administration (MARAD), which promotes the use of waterborne transportation and state maritime training academies, with State University of New York (SUNY) receiving $300 million to build a new National Security Multi Mission Vessel.
President Trump signed the spending bill after some political theatre, first threatening to veto it before actually signing it but then complaining about its contents at length, blaming the US Congress and vowing to never again sign a similar bill.
