A leadership shift at the Federal Maritime Commission can change how every container moves and how every consumer pays. We sit down with Chair Laura DeBella for a candid, fast-paced tour of her path from real estate and rural economic development to port director, harbor pilot advocate during the cruise shutdown, Florida’s Secretary of Commerce, and now head of the nation’s ocean shipping competition authority.

Laura shares how a people-first, business-informed mindset shapes her approach to fair and reliable ocean transportation. We dig into what small ports can do that mega-terminals can’t, why Marine Highway services still matter, and how pilots kept ships moving when cruise revenues vanished. She breaks down the unglamorous but vital side of leadership—supporting staff, running an agency, and keeping investigations and rulemakings sharp—while outlining a global posture that recognizes geopolitics, chokepoints, and alliance behavior ripple straight into U.S. shipper costs and delivery times.

We also explore how the FMC’s existing authorities—agreements oversight, service contract monitoring, detention and demurrage enforcement, and tools like the Foreign Shipping Practices Act—can protect shippers without waiting for new laws. Expect clear talk on chassis, congestion in the heartland after winter storms, cruise market dynamics, and the simple truth that maritime is not a niche: it is the backbone of trade. If you care about competition, transparency, and getting goods where they need to go at a fair price, this conversation delivers context you can use.

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⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast

A 41-page Maritime Action Plan just reframed the future of U.S. shipping, and we dove in the moment it dropped. Lauren welcomes shipbuilding specialist Caitlin Hardy to unpack what’s real, what’s next, and where the biggest leverage points are—from yard financing and mariner pipelines to cargo policy, OEM localization, and Arctic ambitions.

We start with the four pillars and why incentives may finally align shipyards, operators, and suppliers. Expect a frank look at capital: expanding grants and financing beyond “small yard” scale, a proposed maritime incentives coalition to unify state and federal tools, and prosperity zones that pull investment inland. We debate the universal one‑cent fee on foreign‑built vessels calling U.S. ports—how it could seed a Maritime Security Trust Fund without spiking prices—and the “bridge strategy” with allies like Korea and Japan to build early hulls abroad while standing up U.S. capacity at home.

People remain the constraint, so we get specific on workforce reforms: faster, digital credentialing; high‑fidelity simulators that count toward seatime; Military‑to‑Mariner upgrades that honor Navy and Coast Guard experience; and tax relief for income earned on U.S.‑flag ships in international trade. We tackle procurement friction head‑on—multi‑hull orders, vessel construction managers, and repeatable commercial designs—and the sensitive balance between accelerating standardization and protecting intellectual property. Then we zoom into the industrial base: cutting sole‑source dependencies for shafts, propellers, steels, and electronics, and creating durable demand signals so OEMs onshore for good.

Finally, we head north. The plan’s Arctic chapter is far more muscular than expected, spotlighting Alaska infrastructure, ice‑capable tonnage, fisheries, and maritime domain awareness, plus tightly scoped seabed resource partnerships with allies. Threaded through is a strategic commercial fleet concept to ensure U.S.‑controlled cargo capacity that can surge in crisis, reinforcing programs like MSP and TSP. Whether you’re in ports, policy, shipyards, or on the bridge, this breakdown gives you the context to act, not just react.

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Rates may be easing, but the real story is reliability. We open with a change at the Port of New York and New Jersey, where a long-running absenteeism problem finally meets stricter rules—small news on the surface, big implications for crane productivity, truck turns, and vessel planning. Predictable people make predictable ports, and that consistency is the backbone of schedule integrity shippers depend on.

From there, we widen the lens to India’s plan for a state-backed container carrier and what that triggers in U.S. oversight. The Federal Maritime Commission’s controlled carrier rules exist to keep state-supported pricing aligned with commercial reality, protecting fair competition while allowing new capacity to enter the market. We explain how those guardrails work, why rate-change notice periods matter, and what shippers should expect if India’s line touches U.S. trades.

We also track the capacity story: Gemini’s tighter network is lifting reliability while newbuilds arrive and services start threading the Suez again. Shorter voyages free vessel days and effectively add space—classic conditions for rate pressure. That’s good for budgets, but we caution against celebrating unsustainably low prices. Carriers face higher operating costs than a decade ago, and history shows that fragile balance sheets lead to fragile schedules. Reliability beats cheap when your inventory strategy is on the line.

Finally, we break down Panama’s Supreme Court decision voiding long-standing port concessions, the geopolitical backlash, and APM Terminals stepping in to stabilize operations. Against the backdrop of the FMC’s Maritime Chokepoints Investigation, we connect how canal policies, flags of convenience, and corrective authorities can shape access and costs for U.S.-bound cargo. The throughline is simple: labor, law, and lanes are converging to reset the risk map for global ocean shipping.

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🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs.

⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast

Leadership, enforcement, investment, data, and training all hit the throttle this week—and the supply chain is going to feel it. We kick off with Commissioner Dabella’s rapid move to FMC chair and why that shift matters: the chair sets priorities, drives enforcement tempo, and shapes the agency’s posture on competition and fairness. Pair that with an expanded ALJ bench and shippers, truckers, and carriers can expect faster case movement and clearer guidance that reduces uncertainty in contracts and operations.

We then unpack the FMC’s targeted investigation into chassis choice. After a landmark ruling against exclusive chassis designations in key markets, the commission is probing whether similar restrictions have crept into private service contracts. If you operate in LA–Long Beach, Savannah, Chicago, or Memphis—or if you’re a BCO, trucker, or chassis provider affected by split moves and availability—this is your moment to weigh in with specifics before the March 27 deadline. Real-world detail will shape real-world rules.

Data takes center stage as DOT’s FLOW initiative names a new executive board spanning ports, ocean carriers, retailers, and logistics pros. FLOW’s edge is early signal detection: anonymized purchase order visibility that helps stakeholders spot congestion and rebalance capacity before the pain shows up at the gate. On the infrastructure front, CMA CGM and Stonepeak launch United Ports LLC, a $2.4B joint venture that injects capital into ten terminals, including LA’s Phoenix Marine Services and Port Liberty terminals in New York and New Jersey—translating boardroom commitments into yard upgrades, better rail, and more predictable turns.

We also celebrate grit and readiness. The Coast Guard cutter Polar Star marked 50 years by breaking ice to free a luxury ship near Antarctica, underscoring the urgent need to recapitalize America’s icebreaking capability. Mariners get a long-overdue win with the NMC’s ASAP portal, bringing digital submissions and status tracking to credentialing. And talent takes a leap forward as Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s NEXIES program builds a training pipeline with Finland’s leaders in modular shipbuilding and robotics—knowledge that will flow straight into U.S. yards.

To cap it off, Michigan reveals a thoughtful, actionable maritime strategy that treats the Great Lakes as a modern marine highway. Intermodal investments, clean-energy ferries, workforce growth, innovation zones, and a smart balance with recreation form a roadmap other states can adapt. If momentum had a sound, it’s this week’s episode. If it had a purpose, it’s making the system fairer, faster, and future-proof. Enjoyed the breakdown? Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more maritime pros find the show.

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📚 Want to go deeper? Check out our live webinars, on-demand e-courses, and our Just-in-Time Learning™ sessions -- short, plain-language lessons (30 minutes or less) built for supply chain pros who need quick clarity.

🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs.

⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast

Cargo shouldn’t pick ports based on loopholes. We unpack why a long-ignored gap in the harbor maintenance fee has pushed high-value containers toward Canada and Mexico, and how a renewed push from the Federal Maritime Commission is putting Section 6 of last year’s executive order back on the table. You’ll hear a clear breakdown of what the proposal aims to do—require foreign-origin cargo that first hits North America by vessel to pay applicable duties and fees even when it crosses the U.S. border by land, plus a 10% service fee—and why that could realign incentives back to U.S. gateways.

We also celebrate a milestone that puts maritime education front and center. The Patriot State, a new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel, is making its first Panama Canal transit, giving cadets a rare, hands-on training experience while showcasing the promise of the vessel construction management model. By leveraging commercial best practices and a single construction manager, the NSMV program is delivering ships faster and closer to budget, with each sister ship improving on the last. That matters for readiness, disaster response capability, and the pipeline of skilled mariners who keep the supply chain moving.

Rounding it out, we break down a fresh court ruling upholding the Jones Act against a port preference challenge. The decision underscores that cabotage rules apply uniformly and support national security, workforce preservation, and commercial resilience. Taken together, these moves signal a shift from policy talk to action: leadership is in place, stakeholder engagement is ramping up, and legislative follow-through could lock in lasting change. If the loophole closes and SHIPS Act elements advance, expect meaningful impacts on port calls, jobs, and inland networks.

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🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs.

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Headlines move cargo now. The FMC has reopened its probe into Spain’s reported port access denials and just raised MSC’s civil penalties to $22.6M, calling months of reefer overcharges a “practice,” not a glitch. We break down what this data‑driven era means for ocean carriers, BCOs, and anyone auditing detention and demurrage, then shift to the Pacific Northwest’s shipbuilding playbook, where serial production, robotics, and grid upgrades could reset costs and timelines—if financing and talent keep pace.

Then we sit down with Manifest founder and conference chair Pam Simon for a ground‑level look at how an end‑to‑end supply chain summit can actually move the needle. Pam shares why maritime sits at the center this year—ports from Miami to Singapore, DCSA, alliances, and BCOs on stage to tackle standards, transparency, cold chain performance, and intermodal handoffs. Expect real talk on compliance, carbon reporting, and safety rules that are becoming board‑level priorities. It’s not theory; it’s where pilots turn into contracts, demos turn into deployments, and LinkedIn connections turn into partnerships.

We also explore the looming workforce cliff and a simple idea with outsized potential: a maritime industry merit badge through Scouting America to build awareness and a talent pipeline from curiosity to credential. With leadership seats filling at the FMC and MARAD, and environmental policies tightening in the EU and beyond, coordination between policy, capital, and technology has never mattered more.

Heading to Vegas? Treat Manifest like a business development sprint: set targets, book meetings in the app, show up early to sessions, and get hands‑on with the tech. Not attending? Follow the headlines—deals and announcements from the floor will shape procurement, network design, and emissions strategies across 2026. If this conversation helped you see the moving pieces more clearly, subscribe, share with a colleague who lives in spreadsheets and vessel schedules, and leave a review so others can find the show.

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🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to By Land and By Sea powered by The Maritime Professor®! If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe ⭐ and leave a review 📝 - it really helps others find the show.

📚 Want to go deeper? Check out our live webinars, on-demand e-courses, and our Just-in-Time Learning™ sessions -- short, plain-language lessons (30 minutes or less) built for supply chain pros who need quick clarity.

🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs.

⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast

Ocean shipping conversations often blur the line between alliances and consolidation. This episode breaks down how carrier alliances function in practice, why vessel sharing can improve routing and efficiency, and how ownership changes raise very different competition concerns. Using the ongoing discussion around ZIM as context, we connect market structure, port leadership transitions, and regulatory timing to real-world supply-chain resilience.

Expanded Summary

Ocean shipping conversations often lump alliances and consolidation together—but doing so misses how the market actually functions.

In this episode of By Land and By Sea, we take a closer look at ocean carrier alliances and make a clear distinction between cooperation and ownership. Using a plain-language aviation analogy, we explain how vessel sharing can increase routing options, enable more direct services, and improve equipment utilization—sometimes benefiting shippers through better network design and operational efficiency. Alliances, when properly structured, allow carriers to share assets while still competing for cargo.

We then use the ongoing discussion around ZIM as a case study—not as breaking news, but as a lens into how ownership changes differ from alliances and why acquisitions raise fundamentally different competition concerns. Consolidation permanently reduces the number of independent decision-makers in the market, which is why these conversations draw sustained attention from regulators, ports, labor, and governments.

From there, the episode widens the aperture to leadership and governance shaping the supply chain this week:
⚓ The official announcement of Dr. Noel Hacegaba as the next CEO of the Port of Long Beach
⚓ A reflection on last week’s personal conversation with outgoing CEO Mario Cordero, and why leadership stories matter
⚓ A brief update on Senate procedural movement affecting pending FMC and MARAD nominations, and why we’re “oh so close”

Taken together, this episode is about structure—how alliances, ownership, leadership, and regulatory timing interact to shape competition and resilience across global supply chains.

🎧 Episode: A Positive Case for Ocean Alliances
👉 Listen: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast

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🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to By Land and By Sea powered by The Maritime Professor®! If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe ⭐ and leave a review 📝 - it really helps others find the show.

📚 Want to go deeper? Check out our live webinars, on-demand e-courses, and our Just-in-Time Learning™ sessions -- short, plain-language lessons (30 minutes or less) built for supply chain pros who need quick clarity.

🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs.

⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast

🚢 A special By Land and By Sea Podcast episode — and a bittersweet moment in maritime leadership

This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with MARIO CORDERO, who will be retiring this month after leading the Port of Long Beach through some of the most consequential years in supply chain history.

And just this week, the Port announced that Dr. Noel Hacegaba will step in as the next CEO — marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another for one of America’s most important gateways.

This interview is unique because it wasn’t just a formal conversation — it was a personal one.

Mario and I worked together more than 10 years ago at the Federal Maritime Commission, and it is genuinely bittersweet to see him step away from this role. Not because he hasn’t earned a well-deserved breather — he has — but because this moment represents the closing of a major arc in his long, impactful career.

Mario has never been someone who “just sits around,” and I have no doubt he will continue contributing to the industry in new and meaningful ways. After a bit of travel, as he told me with a smile.

We talked about his earliest days, his years at the FMC, his role shaping the 2015 congestion report, global regulatory conversations, and what it was really like to lead Long Beach through the surge years.

It was thoughtful, candid, and truly special.

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⚓ JUST-IN-TIME LEARNING™ SPOTLIGHT

Curious about how FMC and MARAD divide responsibilities?

Or how their authorities connect to the issues Mario discusses in this episode?

Check out our Just-in-Time Learning™ micro-course:

👉 “FMC vs. MARAD: Who Does What in U.S. Maritime Policy?”

https://www.themaritimeprofessor.com/challenge-page/maritime-fmc-marad?programId=97f199ca-340b-4517-b03b-90d93a3aafcf

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The Maritime Professor® is thrilled to partner with Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics, Feb 9–11, 2026, at The Venetian, Las Vegas.

Join 7,000+ supply chain leaders, innovators, investors, and global operators shaping the future of freight.

Save $200 with our community link:

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🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to By Land and By Sea powered by The Maritime Professor®! If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe ⭐ and leave a review 📝 - it really helps others find the show.

📚 Want to go deeper? Check out our live webinars, on-demand e-courses, and our Just-in-Time Learning™ sessions -- short, plain-language lessons (30 minutes or less) built for supply chain pros who need quick clarity.

🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide custom corporate trainings designed to meet your team’s needs.

⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast