Part 2/11:
Magaliano begins by expressing a clear bias: he advocates for a robust and revitalized U.S. commercial maritime infrastructure. He emphasizes the importance of expanding the U.S. merchant marine, which currently operates around 180–190 deep-sea vessels—far below what he sees as necessary for true maritime strength.
He argues that the U.S. should rebuild its shipbuilding base and repair infrastructure, lamenting that despite being the fourth-largest investor in global shipbuilding, the U.S. merchant marine ranks only 23rd worldwide. This discrepancy underscores the need for a strategic rethink: a properly resourced commercial sector can serve as both economic backbone and a surge capacity in wartime.