Recent U.S. government and international government and commercial literature on maritime shipping

80% of global trade involves ocean shipping. During 2023 global maritime trade reached 12,292 million tons according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) representing an annual increase of 2.4%. The total estimated ton-miles reached in this trade for this year was 62,037 billion representing an increase of 4.2% from 2022. In addition average distances traveled per ton of cargo have increased from 4,675 miles in 2000 to 5,186 miles in 2024. This trade can be affected by numerous factors including climate, wrecks clogging shipping lanes, pandemics, and geopolitical turmoil. Another key factor in maritime trade has and U.S. national security strategy has been the multidecadal decline of the U.S. maritime shipping fleet. A 2024 congressional assessment noted that the U.S. flagged fleet of oceangoing vessels was less than 2000 with its Chinese counterpart flagged fleet being larger; 2023 U.S. shipbuilding orders were considerably less than Chinese; the U.S. shipbuilding workforce was barely 1/4th of China’s, and the number of U.S. merchant mariners was miniscule compared with Chinese seafarers. This article aspires to inform librarians about the variety of government and commercial literature produced by multiple government agencies on this subject and non-governmental databases. Its ultimate objective is striving to facilitate users to augment their understanding of this complex subject involving consumer goods, economics, the environment, international security, and supply chains (UNCTAD; Congressional Guidance for a National Maritime Strategy).