Washington State as a Maritime Campus: A Vision for the Future, Part I
By Ann Avary
Washington State has a unique opportunity to reimagine maritime education—not as a collection of isolated programs, but as a statewide, interconnected campus. Imagine a system where access, awareness, and opportunity extend from coastal communities to Puget Sound, from inland waterways to river ports, and across every region of the state.
Why This Matters
As a maritime state, Washington’s maritime industry is a major economic driver, supporting over 170,000 jobs and generating nearly $46 billion in revenue (Economic Impacts of Washington’s Maritime Industry 2022). Yet many residents—especially those outside traditional maritime hubs—don’t see a clear path into these careers.
“The whole of Washington is a maritime state…products from the eastern part of the state work their way down the river or by rail to ports for export all over the world…so we ought to offer the benefits of maritime education and maritime jobs to the whole state, too.”
— Dale Bateman, Seattle Maritime Academy
Earlier this year, the President issued an executive order, Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance. It calls for revitalizing domestic maritime industries and workforce to strengthen both national security and economic prosperity.
At the same time, the maritime sector is undergoing rapid transformation. Innovation in marine fuels, decarbonization, battery technologies, advanced navigation systems, materials science, cyber security, and safety practices are reshaping the future of the ocean economy. Preparing a workforce for this future requires flexibility, innovation, and broad access to training.
Drawing a Circle Around the State
Mark Schrader (One Island, One Ocean), once remarked that as a young student when he wanted to learn something, he would “draw a circle around it.” That idea stuck with me—and it’s exactly what we’re doing with maritime workforce development.
By drawing a circle around the entire state, we can treat Washington as a single, collaborative maritime campus where:
· Students from all regions can access training and career exploration opportunities, meeting students where they are.
· Industry and educators co-create programs that respond to real workforce needs.
· Innovation thrives through integration of emerging technologies and skills.
· Existing training programs are leveraged to maximize their impact on the state
Turning Vision into Action
Over the past two years, Dale Bateman (Seattle Maritime Academy) and I have worked to bring this concept into clearer focus. A statewide campus model can:
Expand Access: Open more pathways for youth and adults to explore maritime careers
Support Existing Programs: Strengthen and leverage them for statewide growth.
Drive Innovation: Develop new curriculum reflecting the technological advancement occurring in the industry.
Enhance Faculty Development: Equip educators with tools to stay current.
Grow Apprenticeships: Build robust pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pipelines.
What’s Next?
This is only the beginning. A hub-and-spoke model—bringing training directly to students and communities—can help break down barriers and open doors to a high-opportunity industry. But success requires innovative partnership, and this is where your thoughts and ideas are encouraged and welcome!
What are your thoughts about Washington as a maritime campus?
What challenges and opportunities do you see in expanding access?
How can we better connect education, industry, and workforce development?
Please reach out to me at ann.avary@skagit.edu with your thoughts and ideas.
In Part II we will outline The Blueprint – moving from concept to practice.