The Department of the Navy has released its shipbuilding plan for fiscal year 2027 and beyond, with Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao outlining long-term plans for what the Trump administration is calling the Navy’s “Golden Fleet.” “The United States is at a strategic inflection point, and rebuilding American maritime dominance requires urgency, accountability, and sustained commitment,” Cao said. “This shipbuilding plan provides a roadmap for the Golden Fleet, to grow a larger, more capable fleet while revitalizing the industrial base, strengthening our workforce, and ensuring our sailors and marines have the platforms they need to defeat any adversary for decades to come.” Golden Fleet is an homage to Theodore Roosevelt’s “Great White Fleet,” 16 white-painted battleships deployed in 1907 for a 14-month circumnavigation to project American naval strength.

Snow & Co., Seattle, has launched the first battery-powered electric ship-assist tug in an eight-vessel series being built for Curtin Maritime, Long Beach, Calif., with Los Angeles-based Arc providing the battery and battery management system integration. WorkBoat visited the shipyard in April as two 2,000-hp Schottel L-drive propulsion units were being installed aboard the 80’9”x42’3” tug Tuuli C, and crews prepared the vessel for launch. The tugs are too heavy for the shipyard’s traditional 1942 steam-powered crane launch system, so Snow brought in Manson's Derrick 24, a much larger floating crane, also leading Snow & Co. to develop an alternative approach to move the vessel out of the building using eight air casters. “So that sits flat on the floor and the air blows in there. This is the manifold for the eight air casters,” said shipyard founder and president Brett Snow, pointing to the contraption in his office.

HD Hyundai Robotics reports that it has secured an order for its ArcLift GO robotic welding solution that will see it supply robotic welding systems for three Chouest Group shipyards in North America and one shipyard in Brazil. ArcLift GO is a robotic welding solution designed to deliver uniform and stable weld quality, significantly reducing dependence on skilled welders. Based on HD Hyundai’s extensive process know-how accumulated through years of shipbuilding experience, the solution adopts a plug and play concept supported by intuitive operating software, enabling flexible responses to diverse geometries and working environments.

On the evening of Friday, May 1, the Squalicum Boathouse was filled with energy, pride, and celebration as more than 70 community members gathered for a truly historic moment, the inaugural graduation ceremony of the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship. This wasn’t just a graduation. It was a milestone for the maritime industry in the United States. For the first time, three apprentices, Talia Piper, Ben Oliver, and Matthew Sutherland, officially completed a rigorous, state-registered program designed specifically to train professional Marine Service Technicians earning their Certificates of Completion. In doing so, they became among the first individuals in the country to earn this distinction through an apprenticeship program.

In an effort to help understand where whales are getting entangled, the Pacific States — California, Oregon, and Washington — began implementing colored markings on Dungeness crab pot buoy lines in 2020, with state-specific requirements. California fishermen must use purple and black line on traps beginning in the 2025–26 season. Oregon will require yellow and black rope beginning Dec. 1, 2026, and Washington is phasing in red and black rope between 2025 and 2028. With tariffs on imported rope and color confusion among foreign producers, Russ Mullins of Bellingham, Wash., saw an opportunity. He launched a new company, Pacific Ropeworks, to meet the needs of West Coast fishermen.

Predictwind meteorologist Arnaud Monges describes the past 50 years of weather forecasting the way Gen Z might describe a dusty calculus textbook from the 1980s. “You solve the equation, and you can predict the change of pressure that leads to change of wind and all those things,” Monges says. “That was weather forecasting.” The old-school technique still works, of course, but PredictWind is now using artificial intelligence to build new forecasting methods. PredictWind G is based on the traditional American weather model, while PredictWind E is based on the European model. AI is then layered in.

SAFE Boats International (SBI) said it has delivered its Response Boat–Small (RB-S) Demonstrator unit to the Coast Guard in Charleston, S.C., for the service's evaluation of next-generation capabilities for one of its most critical and widely deployed platforms. The 32’4.5” x 8’6” vessel has a 28-knot cruising speed/top speed of 49 knots, powered by twin 300hp V8 Mercury Verado outboard engines.  “The delivery of this RB-S Demonstrator underscores SAFE Boats’ ability to move quickly, listen closely, and deliver a highly capable platform built around the realities of Coast Guard operations,” said Rob Goley, chief revenue & customer officer at SAFE Boats International.

An advocacy group is raising concerns about a potential cement supply crunch in the U.S. as federally funded infrastructure projects ramp up, warning that marine and ferry construction could face increased competition for materials in the coming years. American Foundations, an initiative of Common Sense America, is urging lawmakers to expand Buy America provisions to include cement and other building materials in the upcoming Surface Transportation Authorization bill. The push follows what the group describes as a decline in domestic production paired with rising imports and a surge in construction demand.

Shipbuilder Mavrik Marine Inc., La Conner, Wash., has delivered a new whale-watching boat for Pacific Northwest ferry and excursion vessel operator FRS Clipper Inc., Seattle. The boat was christened during an April 16 ceremony. Designed by One2Three Naval Architects, Sydney, the 103.4'x32' high-speed aluminum catamaran, the Emerald Clipper, is a USCG Subchapter T vessel with capacity for 150 passengers plus a crew of four to eight. It is powered by quad Scania DI16-082M Tier 3 diesels, each producing 800 hp at 2,100 rpm. The engines power HamiltonJet HTX42 waterjets through ZF 655 SC gearboxes. The boat cruises at 32 knots, and it will have a range of 340 nautical miles — enough to reach the full length of Puget Sound and the Juan de Fuca Strait.

For decades, global supply chains operated with predictable lead times and stable delivery expectations. End users ordered parts from OEMs, who built and delivered them within an agreed timeframe. Over the past decade, marked by COVID-19 disruption and rising geopolitical tension, the fragility of traditional supply chains has been exposed. Under increasing pressure from end users, OEMs are now being forced to consider alternative production models. In the maritime and energy sectors assets are built to last, with many now exceeding 20 years of age. Continuing safe and efficient operation often relies on the availability of legacy parts which may be difficult to source as OEMs discontinue production in favour of newer components.

A group of Great Lakes shipyards has announced a collaborative alliance aimed at competing for Coast Guard work and expanding domestic shipbuilding capacity in the region.  Fincantieri Marine Group, Washington, D.C. — which operates Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wis., Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and Fincantieri ACE Marine, Green Bay, Wis., — announced Thursday that it is partnering with Fraser Shipyards LLC, Superior, Wis., and Donjon Marine Co., Erie, Pa., to establish a collaborative framework to bring new shipbuilding programs and technology to the "Fourth Coast."The alliance's immediate focus is a contract to build a series of new Homeland Security Cutter - Light icebreakers for the Coast Guard, the partners said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) said Friday that it has invested $13,280,351 million in 11 marine highway projects across seven states through the U.S. Marine Highway Program. The funding will support public and private partners in developing supply chains on marine highway routes—including the transportation of waste in Oregon and the improvement of barge docks in Pennsylvania—to ensure resiliency. “Investing in marine highways will strengthen the Great Lakes economy and other regional communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We’ll deliver jobs, boost provide a boost for local industries, and strengthen infrastructure our economy relies on.”

(BELLINGHAM, Wash.) —All American Marine has begun construction on a 78-by-26-foot aluminum catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI). The vessel is being built on Teknicraft Design’s proven multi-purpose research platform and is designed to support scientific research, survey, and teaching missions throughout the Gulf of Mexico, including offshore operations up to 150 nautical miles from shore. Purpose-built for multi-mission flexibility, the twin-engine, propeller-driven vessel will support a broad range of scientific operations including coastal and offshore ecology research, seismic surveys, gravity coring, water chemistry analysis, fisheries surveys, and undergraduate and graduate instruction. The platform integrates an adjustable hydrofoil system, modular deck equipment, and dedicated wet and dry laboratory spaces to accommodate evolving research requirements across diverse operating profiles.

Whatcom County Public Works (WCPW), Bellingham, Wash., has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a propulsion system integrator to support the design and construction of a new vehicle ferry serving the Lummi Island route in Washington state. The solicitation, released March 16, outlines requirements for a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion package incorporating lithium-ion battery storage, with the selected providerexpected to work closely with naval architect Elliott Bay Design Group, Seattle, during the contract design phase and through vessel delivery. The new ferry is intended to operate on a short, repetitive 0.8-nm route between Lummi Island and Gooseberry Point, completing up to 30 round trips per weekday and approximately 9,360 annually.

The White House has approved a 60-day Jones Act waiver, moving forward with a controversial policy that U.S. shipping interests warned just days ago would do little to lower fuel prices—and is now drawing fresh backlash from maritime labor groups. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the decision Tuesday, saying the waiver is intended to mitigate short-term disruptions to the oil market as U.S. forces continue operations tied to Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The temporary exemption allows foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, coal, and other critical commodities between U.S. ports, effectively opening domestic coastwise trade to international shipping for the next two months.

The Sea Tow Foundation is currently seeking six new members to join its Boating Safety Advisory Council. Council members represent a diverse cross-section of the marine industry and serve as decision-makers, influencers and subject-matter experts within their respective fields. Each member serves a two-year term. The Boating Safety Advisory Council provides strategic guidance and recommendations on key issues such as the use of required and recommended safety equipment including life jackets, the importance of boater education and training, promoting the designation of a Sober Skipper on every boating trip and other critical boating safety priorities, according to the organization. Members of the Council also oversee the National Boating Safety Awards, which recognize outstanding marine industry contributions to boating safety. 

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. The U.S. Coast Guard is quashing the latest rumor on tankers looking to reposition to the Atlantic and Pacific trades instead of staying in the Middle East. Early on Thursday, in some tanker circles, there was chatter of tanker owners looking to register with the Coast Guard to be eligible to trade in the U.S. “The Coast Guard is aware of this public reporting,” said a Coast Guard spokesperson. “However, we cannot verify this is happening.” No registrations have been filed.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. The Norwegian Maritime Authority has announced the strictest step yet made by any government agency or industry association to address the risk of Iranian attack in the Strait of Hormuz: an inbound transit ban. Effective Thursday, no Norgwegian-flagged ships are permitted to enter the Arabian Gulf, regardless of the shipowner's own risk assessments.  "We do not believe any shipping companies are planning to sail into this area in the near future, but as the situation has now developed, it is important for us to emphasize that we are now moving from a strong recommendation related to ship traffic in the area to a ban on entering the Strait of Hormuz," said Maritime Director Alf Tore Sørheim. 

HII reports that all five collective bargaining units at its Ingalls Shipbuilding division have ratified new collective bargaining agreements, securing an immediate 18% or higher base wage increase for union‑represented shipbuilders. This is the largest single wage increase in Ingalls Shipbuilding history and will extend the contract through March 8, 2031. The Ingalls Shipbuilding collective bargaining agreement, for union-represented shipbuilders provides historic wage growth of 35 to 47 percent through 2031. Shipbuilding leadership anticipates this will improve recruitment and attrition and will enable accelerated throughput.

“This agreement strengthens our partnership with our represented shipbuilders and affirms our commitment to providing competitive wages and stability for our workforce,” said Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president.

As part of our Career Connect Washington Maritime Sector ongoing work, we actively track, document, and inform about emerging technologies and trends. As digital solutions multiply across shipping, a notable gap is emerging. We talk about platforms, data, and transformation, yet many organizations still struggle with a more fundamental question: what does it actually mean to buy, integrate, and grow with software? Too often, maritime software is approached like a charter party. We negotiate the terms, sign the contract, and hope it works. But software isn’t a static transaction, it’s a living system that only creates value when it is actively adopted, connected, and evolved. Treating it otherwise is one of the quiet reasons so many digital initiatives underdeliver. This is why the future of shipping will not be shaped by whoever claims to offer “the most comprehensive platform.” It will be shaped by our collective ability to build smarter digital ecosystems.