Advancing Legislation, Innovation, and Industry Resilience: “Revitalizing the U.S. Maritime Industry: When Policy Aligns with Possibility” Event
May 6, 2025: Washington, D.C. –Join industry stakeholders and government officials for The Maritime Accelerator for Resilience (MAR)’s “Revitalizing the U.S. Maritime Industry” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The event will be held at the ABS’ Offices, located at 80 M St SE in Washington, D.C. It will bring together maritime executives, innovative leaders, and key partners to dissect a new vision for America’s maritime future. This event is a part of National Maritime Week, taking place from May 20th to May 22nd in Washington, D.C.
This session will spotlight the SHIPS Act and the efforts to rebuild U.S. maritime capacity, strengthen shipbuilding and industrial infrastructure, and promote a resilient maritime industry. Attendees will hear directly from key voices shaping U.S. maritime policy and strategy, including Carl Bentzel, President of National Association of Waterfront Employers, Jim Patti of MIRAID, and co-authors of ZERO POINT FOUR – How U.S. Leadership in Maritime Will Secure America’s Future.
View the complete agenda below.
Agenda:
Registration and Coffee: 8am – 9am
0900 – OVERVIEW – REVITALIZING US MARITIME:
- Welcome – Carleen Lyden Walker, MAR
- Overview
- Setting the Stage – RADM Jim Watson, USCG (Ret) and MAR -SHIPS Act leading to EO
- Keynote -The Opportunity of a Century for Maritime – Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation (Invited)
- Keynote SHIPS Act and Implementation
- SHIPS Act Sponsors – Senators Mark Kelly and Todd Young, Representatives John Garamendi and Trent Kelly (invited) – Significance and ask from industry
Remarks – Event Moderator Bruce Kimbrell, National Security Council
1000 – SHIPS ACT – A DEEP DIVE:
- Oversight and Accountability – Ian Bennitt, National Security Council (Invited), institutional set up
- SHIPS ACT, Executive Order MAP, White House (Maritime Industrial Base, Office of Shipbuilding)
- Maritime Trust Fund – Carl Bentzel, President, National Association of Waterfront Employees
- Sealift Capacity – Brian Schoeneman, USA Maritime (Invited)
- US international vessels – Mike Roberts, Hudson Institute
- Shipbuilding – Matt Paxton- SCA (Invited)
- Tax Provisions – – Jim Patti, MIRAID
1100 – Coffee Break
1130 – THE PLANS
Panel 1 – Innovative Approaches- Shipbuilding/Shipyards/ Industrial base
- Shipyard Capacity- Craig Hooper, California Forever
- New Designs – Carleen Lyden Walker, CEO SeaTrain Technology
George Kochanowski, CEO/CTO STAXXON
- U.S. Flagging- – Richard Balzano, APL (invited)
- Innovation/SMRs- Tony Huston, Quantum
Panel 2 – Tools- U.S. Flag Ships/Cargo/Ports/Defense –
- Dual Use for Defense – Steve Carmel- President of US Marine Management
- Finance- TBD
- Public Private Partnerships / Industry engagement – David Walker, ABS and Center for Maritime Innovation
- Ports/Cargo- Cary Davis, AAPA (Invited)
1230- Q&A / Discussion / Next Steps by MAR – 20 mins
1250- Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements – Carleen & Sponsors (MAR)
Sandwich Lunch
This forum relays the expertise, urgency, and leadership necessary to activate change that will benefit our national security, economic stability, and industrial resilience. Members of the press, policymakers, and industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend.
This event has been made possible through our Gold event sponsor, Navaya Maritime,and MAR.
