Above: Restoration of the historic Ship Supply Building at the Port Of Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal will support the Port’s maritime small business incubator program. Images Credit: Port of Seattle
The U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation (USCMI) has launched its official website, and ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) is encouraging research partners and maritime stakeholders to join working groups of interest and subscribe to periodic email news and updates.
To join one of the Regional Working Groups, click HERE.
“The Center stands as an important national resource supporting the U.S. maritime industry as we navigate rapid changes and technological advancements. We invite maritime stakeholders to collaborate with U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation in working groups and stay informed with the latest updates as we move forward,” said David Walker, ABS Vice President, Global Government.
ABS, as the secretariat operating the USCMI under a cooperative agreement with the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), announced the mechanism for U.S. maritime stakeholders to join Technical and Regional Working Groups addressing topics in Maritime Energy, Maritime Operations, Maritime Competitiveness, and Maritime Resiliency.
Authorized by the U.S. Congress, the USCMI is intended to support the study, research, development, assessment and deployment of emerging marine technologies and practices related to the maritime transportation system (MTS).
To read about USCMI research priorities, click HERE.
Learn more by visiting www.uscmi.org and subscribe to get the latest updates.
About the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation
Section 3543 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA–codified at 46 U.S.C 50307 ) established a U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation (MInC ) to support the study, research, development, assessment, and deployment of emerging marine technologies and practices related to emerging environmental challenges faced by the maritime transportation system.
The Center for Maritime Innovation will be based at the Port of Seattle’s historic Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal, which will be transformed into this new globally recognized home for maritime innovation. The Port’s historic Ship Supply Building will be restored and modernized into a 15,000-square-foot facility that features work, fabrication, and event space for new business incubators and accelerators, and anchor tenants.
To view the Port of Seattle USMCI Web page, click HERE.
The Maritime Innovation Center will serve as headquarters for incubator and accelerator programs that are already helping startups and established businesses refine and scale their work. The MInC will also support workforce development programs aimed at ensuring that job opportunities in maritime industries are equitably accessible to all communities. By building a stronger maritime ecosystem, the Maritime Innovation Center will ultimately reach hundreds of startups, established businesses, and local would-be workers.
The major duties of the Center for Maritime Innovation and its working groups are envisioned to include:
- facilitating the development and use of clean energy and necessary infrastructure to support the deployment of clean energy on vessels of the United States;
- monitoring and assessing, on an ongoing basis, the current state of knowledge regarding emerging marine technologies in the United States;
- identifying any significant gaps in emerging marine technologies research specific to the United States maritime industry, and seeking to fill those gaps;
- conducting research, development, testing, and evaluation for equipment, technologies, and techniques related to marine environmental protection;
- providing guidance on best available technologies;
- conducting technical analysis; assisting with understanding complex regulatory requirements; and documenting best practices in the maritime industry, including training and informational webinars on solutions for the maritime industry; and
- working with academic and private sector response training centers and Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education Centers of Excellence to develop maritime strategies applicable to various segments of the United States maritime industry, including the inland, deep water, and coastal fleets.
