29
MAY 2026
A
s we just observed National Maritime Day on May 22, I’d like to take this opportunity to 
celebrate our U.S. merchant mariners and the broader maritime workforce. Since 1933, 
when Congress designated May 22 as the day to commemorate the S.S. Savannah’s 1819 
transatlantic voyage—the first steamship ever to make the crossing—we have honored the brave, 
hardworking, and dedicated mariners who sail the high seas in service of their country. Over time, 
the observance has expanded to include the wider maritime workforce, both on and offshore, 
in recognition of their essential roles in ensuring a well-functioning economy and our national 
security. The U.S. maritime sector is responsible for the safe transport of people and billions of 

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