In this conversation, John D. McCown, an internationally recognized expert in maritime commerce, shares his insights on the container shipping industry, discussing its evolution, the impact of Malcolm McLean, and current economic trends. He emphasizes the importance of free trade, the implications of tariffs, and the role of the Jones Act in supporting national security. McCown also addresses the future of shipping, including automation and the growing significance of reefer shipping.

Non-Resident Senior Fellow

John D. McCown is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy. He is an internationally recognized expert in container shipping and maritime commerce. Mr. McCown has more than four decades of operating and investment experience in his field. He was a co-founder and CEO of U.S. flag carrier Trailer Bridge, Inc. and also formerly led transport investments at a large hedge fund.

Transportation pioneer Malcom McLean, the inventor of container shipping mentored Mr. McCown, and they worked together for twenty years. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and is also the holder of two maritime related patents. Mr. McCown is the author of “Giants Of The Sea: Ships & Men Who Changed The World,” a book on the modern cargo shipping industry and how it developed. He advises, lectures, and writes extensively about maritime issues and his regular reports on the container shipping sector are widely read and quoted.

At the Center for Maritime Strategy, Mr. McCown’s research and analysis will focus on the intersection of merchant shipping and maritime commerce with national security.