Offshore Wind Roundtable in Atlantic City Sparks Critical Conversations on Maritime Opportunities and Workforce Development

Atlantic City, N.J. (May 23, 2024) – Yesterday, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) hosted a Maritime Roundtable forum to convene leading figures from the maritime service industry and maritime-related businesses to address pressing opportunities and challenges in offshore wind. Held in Atlantic City on National Maritime Day, discussions focused on the development of training programs for qualified mariners, maritime career pathways including the importance of considering veterans for positions, and the necessity of building networks and dialogue among various stakeholders.

Participants from the local maritime sector, businesses with offshore wind expertise, training providers and other key stakeholders came together to discuss collaborative opportunities, innovative approaches and lessons learned from the first offshore wind projects on the East Coast. Featured speakers included Stephen Lyman of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York New Jersey, Julie Shebroe of NorthStar Marine, Sloane Perras of FOSS Offshore Wind, John Berry of Crowley Maritime Corporation, and Peter Knorr from the New Jersey Wind Port.

Lyman, who delivered a keynote address at the event, commented on the opportunity ahead.

“The rapidly growing offshore wind industry will play a huge role in the region’s transition to clean energy and carbon neutrality, while doing so will create thousands of jobs,” Lyman said. “This transition will require partnerships between the commercial maritime sector and the energy sector.”

Industry leaders at the event shared their experiences and strategies for recruiting and training personnel. The forum provided a platform to explore solutions aimed at strengthening existing career paths, thereby supporting the growth of the maritime workforce in New Jersey. Specific topics covered during the event included:

• Required services e.g., survey, research, bunkering, fuel, engineering, procurement, and construction, etc;
• Gaps and challenges in growing the workforce and enhancing existing services;  
• Training, upskilling, apprenticeships, and career pathways; and
• Innovative workforce and business solutions.

“New Jersey is home to one of the most highly skilled and educated workforces in the nation,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA. “Under Governor Phil Murphy’s leadership, we are committed to ensuring New Jerseyans are poised for careers in emerging sectors. We are excited to partner with community colleges, labor unions, and other workforce development organizations to meet the needs of the offshore wind sector, as well as others in maritime services.”

As the offshore wind industry continues to evolve, the Maritime Roundtable event builds a foundation for fostering future collaboration, innovation and creating necessary pathways to ensure a robust maritime workforce equipped to meet the demands of the sector.

“The Wind Institute for Innovation and Training is committed to developing workforce programs to help our maritime industry thrive alongside the growth in offshore wind,” said Jen Becker, Executive Vice President, Clean Energy and Workforce Innovation Partnerships at the NJEDA. “Bringing industry, academic, and other stakeholders together for this roundtable is an important part of those efforts.”

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

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