The Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently selected the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to be secretariat of the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation.
ABS will establish and maintain the center which will promote the study, research, development, assessment, and deployment of emerging marine technologies along with practices related to the maritime transportation system.
The center was congressionally authorized and is part of MARAD’s Office of Environment and Innovation through the Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program.
“The U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation will serve as a strategic resource for advancing the nation’s maritime industry,” MARAD Administrator Ann Phillips said. “The Center will be critical for engaging industry, academia, government, and other stakeholders in the setting and execution of multi-year research priorities that drive innovation.”
MARAD and ABS will establish the center over the next six months and will host working groups and functions, and establish research priorities and associated projects.
Projects under consideration include the development of technologies and practices that minimize the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species; emergent environmental issues; vessel and port emission reductions; and mitigating vessel-generated underwater noise.
The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 directed the secretary of transportation, establish a U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation.