As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Panama City, Fla.-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) this week welcomed (Acting) Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN RDA) Dr. Brett Seidle, Rear Admiral Tom Anderson, Program Executive Officer for Ships (PEO Ships), and other key Department of Defense (DOD) officials to its shipyard.

ESG says that, as a leader in America’s maritime industry, it remains committed to supporting the nation’s defense initiatives and strengthening the U.S. shipbuilding sector. The visit underscored the renewed focus on advancing domestic shipbuilding capabilities, ensuring a robust and resilient fleet for the future. “We are proud to play a vital role in sustaining and expanding America’s shipbuilding capacity,” said Joey D’Isernia, CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group. “This visit reaffirms the importance of investment in U.S. shipbuilding, and we stand ready to meet the nation’s needs.”

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Elkhart, Indiana, is the center of the RV manufacturing universe. It’s also home to marine manufacturers and boatbuilders. Temperatures hovered around 8-below on the drive south to Elkhart, Ind., from Chicago. The landscape looked much like what I imagine as nuclear winter: buildings freeze-blasted with snow, Lake Michigan frozen a crusty gray, and factory stacks billowing ominous pillows of white steam. I was there to visit the non-geographic center of the Indiana manufacturing belt, where approximately 80% of all recreational vehicles are built. This end of the state is also home to several boatbuilders, including Smoker Craft, Bennington and Godfrey, along with components and accessories manufacturing giants such as Lippert and Patrick Industries, which supply both the RV and recreational boating industries.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Wind propulsion system provider Norsepower and climate tech startup Syroco have deployed wind propulsion with digital technologies on board Socatra’s tanker Alcyone. Syroco’s digital solution combines weather and sea data with advanced naval architecture principles and IoT data collected from onboard systems to create a digital twin of each vessel. The virtual representation of the ship accounts for key characteristics such as hull design, windage, appendages, propulsion systems and the most accurate models of the Norsepower Rotor Sails. This digital twin enables vessel operators to optimize routes in real time, considering wind propulsion, waves, swell, currents, arrival times, safety constraints and cargo-specific parameters.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) could serve as a catalyst for U.S. shipbuilding, according to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. Wiernicki emphasized the need for a marinized SMR demonstrator as the next step in developing the technology for commercial use. An statement recently released by ABS deemed the new nuclear reactor technology "a once in a generation opportunity for U.S. industrial policy." In the statement, Wiernicki noted SMR technology could change vessel economics, operations, and design while also contributing to national energy and economic security.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. A vessel-autonomy company led by a management team of Navy, Tesla and SpaceX veterans plans to start its own U.S. shipyard with $600 million in venture-capital financing - and it has the cash in hand. Austin-based Saronic is planning the most ambitious infrastructure venture in autonomous navigation in the West, and it hopes to bypass shipyard labor constraints through advanced automation.  Saronic's primary client is the U.S. Navy, and to date, Saronic's vessel classes have been at the small end. It has models measuring up to 24 feet in length, and produces them in-house. Small unmanned vessels have inherent limitations with range and weather, but have proven their battlefield value with Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. I had the pleasure of attending the seventh National Working Waterfront Network (NWWN) conference in San Diego, Calif. This conference focused on the importance of collaboration and community in addressing every aspect of the working waterfront. Each time the conference is held in a different region, it reminds the community of the diversity of working waterfronts across the country, from sprawling commercial harbors to small-town docks and boat ramps. One of the most significant talking points was the need for commercial, recreational, and waterfront fisheries, ports, and businesses to come together and address climate change impacts. Other key points included the collapse of fisheries and the need for increased awareness and communication between scientists and the fishing industry. 

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. A partnership of companies from Norway has ordered a pioneering short-sea cargo ship that will advance the industry’s ability to provide zero-emissions operations. The cargo ship, which will be 7,800 dwt, is designed to transport timber from Norway to Europe and will be the first to operate on ammonia and electricity. The order was placed by Skarv Shipping, a joint venture between Pear Group and Greig Edge, which was launched to initiate and develop sustainable short-sea shipping in northern Europe. The ship will be built by China’s Huanghai Shipbuilding and is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2027.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Belfast, Northern Ireland-based Artemis Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Seattle super yacht builder Delta Marine Industries to manufacture eFoiler foiling ferries specifically for Washington’s Puget Sound. Artemis Technologies says that it will work alongside Delta Marine to meet the growing demand for zero-emission ferries, including smaller vessels ideal for high-speed, short-haul routes. Washington State, with more ferries than any other region in the U.S., is under increasing pressure to transition to cleaner, more efficient models as public interest in sustainable transportation rises.

At Sea Potential, we’ve designed and facilitated a variety of youth programs for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) ages 12-18, but the summer of 2024 marked a meaningful first: our inaugural culturally relevant sailing program! Partnering with the Center for Wooden Boats (CWB), we approached this opportunity as more than a chance to teach technical sailing skills—it became a way to align with our drive to empower BIPOC youth by designing heart-based programming that celebrates identity, representation, and connection to the water.

This blog reflects on the why behind culturally relevant programming, how we built this initiative, its impact on the youth and community, and the challenges and lessons we encountered along the way.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Everett Ship Repair has acquired the retired Washington State Ferries (WSF) vessel, Elwha, for $100,000, with plans to repurpose it into a floating office and warehouse space at its shipyard in Everett, Wash. The decommissioned ferry was towed from Bainbridge Island by the Western Towboat Co. tug Mariner on Jan. 30. Built in the mid-1960s as one of four Super-class ferries, WSF said the 144-car Elwha was a longtime fixture on the Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney, British Columbia route before being retired on April 8, 2020. The vessel, which served millions of passengers over its operational lifetime, is now being repurposed.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. BRIX Marine recently launched a new 41’ rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to commercial tour operator Hawaii Nautical, Kaneohe, Hawaii. A BRIX press release noted that the vessel, named Olohana, is designed to meet the demands of Hawaii’s marine environment with a focus on stability, speed, and operational efficiency.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. MARAD’s program to build the first modern training ships for the U.S. merchant marine marked another milestone with the floating of the fourth vessel of the class. The future Lone Star State which has been assigned to Texas A&M Maritime College took to the water for the first time on Friday, January 24, and was towed to the outfitting berth.

“This is an exciting milestone because the vessel moves from production on land to water, and it is one of the last major moves before heading out for sea trials,” said Hanwha Philly Shipyard posting a video of the repositioning.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Huntington Ingalls Industries has completed the purchase of W International's fabrication facility in South Carolina, opening up new workforce options for the U.S. Navy's biggest shipbuilder. 

The W International plant in Goose Creek, South Carolina is an example of the Navy's challenge in scaling up the submarine industrial base for a once-in-a-generation demand surge. As part of a program to boost capacity, the Navy helped a previously unknown company, W International, to set up a fabrication facility in South Carolina to build modules for HII Newport News - starting with components for the Ford-class aircraft carrier program.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. All American Marine, Bellingham, Wash., has launched a new research vessel built for the California Polytechnical Institute at Humboldt. The R/V North Wind will now undergo sea trials ahead of its delivery and entry into service later this year. The new vessel is a 78’ x 26.7’ semi-displacement aluminum catamaran developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design, Auckland, New Zealand. Inspected as a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Subchapter T vessel, the newbuild will operate as a multipurpose research vessel in the near-coastal waters of northern California and Oregon and on offshore and ocean routes.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives on Dec. 19 introduced introduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries.

The SHIPS for America Act was introduced by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Reps. John Garamendi (D-California) and Trent Kelly (R-Mississippi). After decades of neglect, the United States has a weakened shipbuilding capacity, a declining commercial shipping fleet dwarfed by China and a diminished ability to supply the U.S. military during wartime, the lawmakers said.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who actually read the full petition filed by U.S. unions back in March 2024, (see our earlier report) but U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai has found that China’s targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance is actionable under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Section 301 is a key tool used by the United States to address unfair trade practices and enforce international trade agreements. It grants the office of the U.S. Trade Representative the authority to investigate and take action against foreign countries that violate trade agreements or engage in practices that unfairly burden or restrict U.S. commerce.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have asked the U.S. federal government to provide financial aid for the states’ struggling commercial West Coast Pacific albacore troll/hook-and-line fishery.

Last year was the fishery’s worst performing season in 30 years, California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a recent statement. The fishery generated USD 9.5 million (EUR 9.3 million) in ex-vessel value in 2024, notably lower than the five-year average of USD 24.6 million (EUR 24 million).

Now, Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee have written a joint letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo requesting a fishery disaster determination for the albacore fishery, which would open the door for federal financial aid for fishers and affiliated businesses.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. In 1974, 17-year-old Martin Hardy gathered his pizza shop earnings and joined a couple of classmates on an open-ended trip to Europe and Great Britain. He reckoned that a thousand dollars would fund the adventure. After a couple of months on trains and hitchhiking, living on bread and cheese, he ran out of cash somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. He somehow made his way to the hamlet of Scoraig, situated between two sea lochs and reachable only by boat along the rocky northwestern coast. He found work patching up the essential double-ended, lapstrake boats the Scoraigians used to cross Little Loch Broom to and from the only road in or out. Lessons from his grandfather, a patternmaker at the U.S. Navy Yard, served him well, and the Scoraig residents took him in, fed him, and paid him what they could. It took U.K. government officials about six months to discover that he was there working without a visa. Two agents made the 25-mile (40.2-km) road trip out to catch a boat across the loch, address the situation, and give him a year to get out. In that time, he discovered just what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. Mark Norris has been named vice president of marine fabrication for Portland-based Vigor Industrial, leading the shipbuilding and repair company’s most cutting-edge marine fabrication projects, the company announced Jan. 6.

Norris, who’s expected to be based at Vigor’s Vancouver, Wash. facility, brings with him almost 40 years of experience overseeing major defense programs, including 25 years at Lockheed Martin, where he served as vice president of joint programs for the U.S. Army and Navy.

He also worked with Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri, where he oversaw strategy and business development for BAE Systems Inc.’s F-35 Lightening II program.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. The largest ferry service in the U.S., Washington State Ferries (WSF), welcomed nearly 500,000 more people aboard last year compared to the year before. Ridership for the year was more than 19.1 million, up 2.6% from 2023, which was, itself, up from the prior year. WSF says that the lowest number of canceled sailings since 2020 and a big jump in walk-on passengers fueled the rise in annual ridership. The number of walk-ons soared by 224,000, or 5.7%, as tourism and a return to the office for many workers increased substantially. Passengers with vehicles climbed by a more modest 102,000, or 1.1%.