Governor Creates Maryland Maritime Task Force

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced an executive order to create the Maryland Maritime Task Force that will identify and pursue national and international maritime-related federal and commercial growth opportunities. The task force will foster quick, strategic coordination among Maryland state agencies and local businesses to achieve maritime success and economic development across the state.

Maryland is uniquely positioned to contribute to the nation’s security, while advancing federal priorities that will strengthen the United States’ maritime capabilities. The federal framework for America’s Maritime Action Plan presents potential for Maritime Prosperity Zone designation in Maryland, an emerging opportunity for increased economic growth.

By way of executive order, the task force will focus on several items including:

• Completing the necessary actions to secure a Maritime Prosperity Zone designation for the state once Congress acts to create the program
• Working with stakeholders to develop a plan of action to advance and diversify the state’s maritime economy
• Identifying barriers encountered by public or private entities in pursuing national maritime opportunities and recommend legislative and regulatory actions to help overcome
• Coordinating and strengthening state and federal advocacy efforts, including international engagement, workforce training opportunities, grant programs, and more
• Making recommendations for state business incentives, tax credits, and other economic development tools that can help expand and support Maryland’s maritime industries

The task force will be co-chaired by Representative Sarah Elfreth and Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. Other task force members include representatives from the Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Military Department and Maryland Economic Development Corporation; up to five government officials with expertise or interest in the state’s maritime economy; the Port of Baltimore or the Port of Baltimore Alliance; the Maritime Technology Alliance; the Baltimore or Chesapeake Bay maritime industries; a maritime research entity; a maritime training program; and a labor union or trade association.

Additional collaborative partners may include the United States Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division; United States Coast Guard, Curtis Bay command; United States Naval Academy; United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; and other subject matter experts to assist in developing strategies and identifying opportunities.

Maryland’s maritime industries contribute more than $10.2 billion annually to the state’s economy and support 115,000 jobs. The sector comprises marine transportation, shipbuilding and repair, national defense and security, world-class research on autonomous crafts, shipping and logistics and tourism and recreation. The most recent addition to Maryland’s Maritime economy includes a $3.7 billion investment by Anduril Industries, which is locating its Arsenal-2 project – a 2 million square-foot software-defined shipyard – in Baltimore County, to expand America’s submarine industrial base and support upwards of 14,000 jobs.

Maryland owes its maritime leadership to assets including the Port of Baltimore, and numerous private businesses, federal entities and educational and workforce training institutions like the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in St. Mary’s County and the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Anne Arundel County. In Montgomery County, more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, and technicians work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division – the U.S. Navy’s primary center of excellence, research, development, and test facility for ships and ship systems. In Baltimore, the United States Coast Guard is planning a $1.5 billion investment to improve its Curtis Bay Yard to continue performing critical national security services on cutter vessels.