US President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly chosen former Labour Secretary Elaine Chao, a shipowner's daughter, to run the Department of Transportation.
The choice of Chao, whose father is the founder of New York's Foremost Maritime, could mean that there will be two figures with deep ties to shipping in the top echelons of the Trump Administration, where shipping investor Wilbur Ross has also been reported to be the top choice for commerce secretary.
Her nomination, reported by several US media outlets, may come as a welcome development to many in the US domestic shipping sector, where stakeholders complained of administrations in recent years that have shipping low on its agenda in recent years.
Industry experts say having a transportation secretary that will put focus on maritime matters is a matter of luck.
"The good luck happened," said one expert. "It's good luck because of the lots and lots of different kinds of people that could have that job, she knows the industry and she is as likely as anyone to give it emphasis."
Taipei-born Chao, is the daughter of James Chao, who was a Chinese merchant mariner before he founded the Foremost Group in 1984 whose other daughters Angela and Christine hold key executive positions in the company.
It is not clear if Elaine Chao has any equity stake in the shipowner, which has a fleet of 16 bulkers and nine newbuildings. A call to Foremost's New York headquarters rang unanswered.
Chao's government experience includes both domestic and international shipping. She was deputy administrator of the Maritime Administration under US President Ronald Reagan, before becoming chairwoman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
The 63-year-old Republican was deputy secretary of transportation during the administration of President George HW Bush, where she oversaw the US Maritime Administration. She was also Federal Maritime Commission chairwoman.
Cabinet history
As labour secretary from 2001 to 2009 under President George W Bush, she was the first Asian-American woman and the first Taiwanese American in the US cabinet.
Chao's nomination may be seen as a unifying gesture by Trump (pictured) after sniping with leaders of his own party during a bitter campaign. She is wife of Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, who represents their home state of Kentucky.
