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What is gunboat diplomacy without boats?
Bill Schmick
Feb 25, 2026
In December 2025, the president unveiled plans to revamp the U.S. Navy. He announced the construction of two new battleships, each costing between $10-$15 billion. It’s a start, but still only a drop in the bucket for reviving American shipbuilding.
Why is that important? First off, in commercial terms, almost 80% of global trade by weight is transported by ships. If you also consider the capabilities of our armed forces, you understand that nearly 90% of their supplies, equipment, fuel, ammo, and food are delivered by ships. In addition, if we encounter a national emergency, the Navy will depend on commercial shipyards to build warships and support ships, as well as to transport equipment and troops.
We learned this during World War II. At its height, the U.S. accounted for nearly 90% of global shipbuilding output. Today, that output has declined to a mere 0.2% of gross tonnage. What happened? Competition. After the war, the rest of the world needed to be rebuilt, much of it with American money, and the shipyards were among the areas that had been decimated.
Japan, for example, could offer lower labor costs, no union issues, brand-new shipyards, and prices that undercut American construction by as much as 60%. The fact that foreign steel production skyrocketed as well and was sold at a fraction of the U.S. price didn’t help either.
You know this, how? You might ask. As a kid in Philly in the early 50s, lots of neighborhood dads worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after the war. They made a good living then, since U.S. shipbuilding was still in its heyday. But the decline was rapid.
In the 1970s, the U.S. government attempted to reverse that slide with the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. Shipbuilders spent more than a billion dollars modernizing their yards and making capital improvements with government backing. America also asked the Japanese, now the world’s top shipbuilder, to introduce new techniques and practices to reinvigorate our moribund industry.
It worked. For a brief period, the U.S. became the second-largest commercial shipbuilder in the world, behind Japan. Many of these new ships were Liquefied Natural Gas carriers and oil tankers. However, the 1973 oil crisis put an end to that. The petroleum industry was on its knees, and demand for new ships dried up.
Despite that setback, our shipbuilding productivity improved in the years that followed. Meanwhile, foreign shipbuilders—especially the Chinese—improved even faster. In 2008, China surpassed Japan in shipbuilding output; by 2010, it overtook Korea to become the world’s largest shipbuilder.
By 2022, the U.S. had built just five ocean-going, commercial ships compared to China’s 1,794 and South Korea’s 734. Today, the U.S. Navy estimates that China’s shipbuilding capacity is 232 times that of the U.S. Even worse, it costs twice as much to build a ship in the U.S. as it does elsewhere.
Nine Asian and European carriers, organized into three cartels, now control 90% of the U.S. containerized shipping trade. To add insult to injury, one Chinese company produces 80% of all the ship-to-shore cranes in America. I could go on, but this is about shipbuilding, not about the Chinese, who also produce 95% of the shipping containers. The 2025 order book for new vessels indicated that China accounted for 75% of orders, followed by South Korea at 19%. Under these circumstances, how is Donald Trump going to make American shipbuilding great again?
Largely by following the tactics used by the U.S. in the Seventies. A new office of shipbuilding has been established and is again offering special tax incentives to develop the industry. Last year, the U.S. signed deals with three affiliates of Hanwha Group, the world’s third-largest shipbuilder. The $500 billion deal is earmarked for maritime investment. In 2024, Hanwha bought the Philly Shipyard for $100 million. This is the sad remnant of my boyhood Naval Yard. That yard closed in the 1990s, laying off thousands of South Philly workers.
Hanwha is sinking $5 billion into the shipyard to upgrade the site. It is also training what they hope will be a new generation of shipbuilders, while investing in robotic labor. Management estimates that, if they hit their target of 20 boats per year, the workforce could top 10,000. That’s a big “if.”
The administration and industry plan to focus on manufacturing LNG tankers, icebreakers, and naval vessels. An Italian company, Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), based in Wisconsin, is already manufacturing naval vessels, LNG-fueled cruise ships, and other commercial vessels. The U.S. is working with the Italians to expand that enterprise. In addition, last year Finland and the U.S. agreed to spend $6.1 billion to produce 11 new icebreakers for the U.S., with the first due to be completed by 2028.
Trump’s gunboat diplomacy, whether in Iran, Venezuela, or who knows where, appears to be a strategic tool of his presidency. As such, it is vital that the U.S. commands the high seas. In an age of drone warfare, ships are vulnerable in both combat and commercial settings. It’s early days, but at least the administration recognizes the need to modernize this industry. The hope is that just maybe my grandson might see the day when Philadelphia could once again be noted for something other than cheese steaks.
Bill Schmick is a founding partner of Onota Partners, Inc., in the Berkshires.Bill’s forecasts and opinions are purely his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Onota Partners, Inc. (OPI).
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Letter to the Editor - January 26, 2026
Lakeville Journal
Feb 25, 2026
Opposition is not a governing program
The guest commentary in the Feb. 19 Journal, an absolute anti-Trump screed, had me wondering just how far one person can expand the gulf between what they believe and have opinions on and a connection to actual facts.
Really, Trump is worse than Capone? I’m surprised Hitler escaped the article. Trump is blowing up a bunch of lowlife drug smugglers who are purportedly just innocent civilians. It’s a battle in a war against a declared terrorist cartel. I contend that the drug deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans deserve some aggressive countermeasures. And in that regard, look what’s happening with cartels in Mexico as I write this.
Furthermore, I ask, is withholding taxpayer money from institutions which allowed violent antisemitic takeovers actually an illegal shakedown?
Having said the above, I really laughed over the supposed conversion of the Department of Justice into an instrument of personal retribution by Trump. Ever heard of Jack Smith and the dismissed cases against Trump? In my opinion, THAT was a misuse of the DoJ.
After 10+ years of Trump Derangement Syndrome, I am sincerely asking if hating Trump is the extent of the governing program by the anti-Trump side.
Here are a few governing ideas to consider. How about: lowering taxes, no tax on overtime, tips and social security, securing the border, negotiating fair trade agreement around the world, trying to achieve peace through projecting strength in a dangerous world, and adopting simple voter ID laws? By the way, voter ID laws exist in all European, African and South American countries.
When the Democrats champion these policies, I’ll be with them, but no, they voted against them all. Oh right, it’s Trump who is doing or already did these things. It’s the policies that sway me, not the personalities. But let’s just hate on Trump. That’s the ticket — to nowhere!
Richard Shanley
Lakeville
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Turning Back the Pages - February 26, 2026
Norma Bosworth
Feb 25, 2026
125 years ago —
February 1901
Mr. G.E. Frink began placing steam heating apparatus in his Pharmacy in the Reed block Monday.
FALLS VILLAGE — First Selectman Kellogg has been engaged the past week in raising the large iron safe from the cellar of the Savings Bank, in order to get at the town records which are in the safe.
LIME ROCK — The roads are beginning to get into shape again. The town gang has scalped a few deep snow drifts and wagons can be used now.
The Connecticut Western News says that representatives from the New York Condensed Milk Co. have been in Canaan feeling the pulse of the farmers in regard to establishing a creamery in that place.
Master Francis Smith has taken a position at the Journal office. Master James Ellis who has been the printer’s devil the past year, will take a course in the Lakeville High Grade school and will also work for E.A. Eldridge.
100 years ago —
February 1926
Miss Harriet Fenton has accepted a position with the Connecticut Power Company in Canaan.
State Policemen Donald J. Geddes and Sergeant Brandt of the Canaan Barracks, acting on a bench warrant, raided The Arch Inn at Falls Village Thursday morning and confiscated a large quantity of liquor and arrested the proprietor, Edward J. House, whose establishment was raided earlier last week
50 years ago —
February 1976
Catherine E. Carlson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Carlson of Kent, is valedictorian of the class of 1976, Housatonic Valley Regional High School. The salutatorian, Sheryl L. Stair, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Schafer of Salisbury.
Lakeville firemen wearing masks and breathing apparatus put out a stubborn fire Saturday afternoon in a store room in the main building at The Hotchkiss School. The fire sent acrid smoke through the east wing of the administration building. As one fireman put it, the smoke was so dense that you needed radar to get though it.
In spite of the rain, the Salisbury Winter Sports Association cleared roughly $3,500 during the ski jump weekend, from the proceeds of the gate, dance, food booth and ads in the program.
FALLS VILLAGE — Two Dutch World War II comrades have been reunited in Falls Village after a separation of 31 years. Theodore Daalhuyzen of Main Street and Arie vanBommel of Undermountain Road and New York City met recently after vanBommel read a story about Daalhuyzen and his war experiences in The Lakeville Journal.
The North Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps has found new quarters in the old firehouse on Main Street in Canaan.
A new play by Cornwall playwright Lonnie Carter will be performed at the Walker Auditorium of The Hotchkiss School at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Sunday of this week. “Iz She Izzy or Is He Ain’tzy or Iz They Both,” a comedy, will be presented by the Hotchkiss Drama Department under the direction of Jennifer Barrows.
25 years ago —
February 2001
CORNWALL — After the Florida voting and election fiasco, it’s no wonder the whole country is looking a little more closely at the voting process. The Board of Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday morning started with a discussion about a communication the board received from the secretary of the state. The letter explains the possibility of new voting machines which will hopefully be utilized in all future elections. However, sometimes trying to fix something that isn’t broken is a bad idea. “Basically the whole board thinks it’s a mistake [to fund these new machines],” First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said, feeling they are unnecessary. “Even though our voting machines are old, they’re still working,” he said.
Reggie the Robot rolled down the main hallway at Housatonic Valley Regional High School last Friday. The six-week-old creation of students in David Lindsay’s robotics club is headed to Hartford, where it will compete in the 2001 FIRST Robotics Competition. This is the 10th year the contest has been held, but the first time that students from HVRHS will compete.
These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.
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Cornwall secures land for future sewer plant
Riley Klein
Feb 25, 2026
Cornwall Town Hall
Riley Klein
WEST CORNWALL — The future site of the wastewater plant in West Cornwall was officially determined by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The site is located on Route 128 between the post office and the design studio. The town has long planned to use this grassy plot for the sewer facility, and a signed option to lease the land from property owner Eric Tietz made it official.
The land was assessed at $94,000, which will be paid to Tietz out of the Housing and Urban Development grant that is funding most of the wastewater project. Moving forward, the town will pay $800 per month for the life of the 50-year lease.
With the land secured, Cornwall can move forward with the permitting approval process, which could take more than a year. A firm is already under contract to build the facility once the permits are finalized.
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Student artists shine
Lakeville Journal
Feb 25, 2026
Lynn Kearcher
Ella Sun of Kent School won Best of Show at the 31st annual Kent Art Association Student Show Feb.15. The show exhibited art by 60 area students.
Kent selectmen oppose Schaghticoke Tribal Nation recognition effort
Patrick L. Sullivan
Feb 25, 2026
Kent Town Hall
Leila Hawken
KENT — The Kent Board of Selectmen has formally joined opposition to a renewed effort by the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation (STN) to gain federal recognition.
The selectmen discussed the topic in executive session Tuesday, Feb. 17. In the regular meeting that followed, First Selectman Eric Epstein made a motion to approve a “common interest agreement” with the State of Connecticut and the Kent School to oppose federal recognition of STN. The motion passed unanimously.
STN is distinct from the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT), which recently received a positive review from the Office of Federal Acknowledgment. The tribe split into two factions — SIT and STN — roughly 40 years ago. STN is currently in the re-petition process for federal acknowledgment as well.
STN sued the state in 2016 seeking $610 million in damages for selling tribal land. The case was dismissed in 2019. Originally, STN aimed to leverage its land claims in Kent to build a casino in Bridgeport.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Finance an alternative paving bid connected to Kent Center School. The town school board, working through Region One, has already gone out to bid for a repaving project at Kent Center School, for $494,477.
Attached to the bid package was the option of repaving Judd Avenue and Elizabeth Street south of the intersection of the two roads and adjacent to KCS, for an additional $97,010.
The selectmen heard from Kent resident Gregoire Pye, owner of the Crepe Royale food truck, who would like to operate in Kent.
The status quo is that food trucks are not allowed on public property in the town, but are allowed on private property. Gregoire noted the presence of a hot dog vendor in the summer, and wondered why he couldn’t get a similar exemption. The selectmen said the hot dog vendor was grandfathered in. Epstein said the Planning and Zoning Commission does not have a regulation about food trucks. The matter was tabled and will be addressed next month.
The board tinkered with a resolution governing the recording of public meetings. The change would allow a board or commission to close a meeting if audio recording fails and 30 minutes of troubleshooting is unsuccessful.
The selectmen accepted Matt Frasher’s resignation as chair of the USA 250 subcommittee and appointed Sarah Chase as a replacement.
Epstein reported that work is ongoing on a request for proposals for work at Emery Park pool. He said the town has $100,000 in federal COVID relief funds that need to be spent by the end of the year.
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