Thank You for Attending Mariners for America 2026

Join us next year: April 5–7, 2027

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Shaping the Future of the U.S. Maritime Workforce: 2026 Recap

From March 30 to April 1, leaders, operators, and policymakers gathered at MITAGS for the inaugural Mariners for America Conference. Together, we explored bold solutions to our industry’s most pressing workforce challenges.

Conference Highlights & Key Takeaways

Bridging the Talent Gap

Experts from Washington State Ferries and Maine Maritime Academy shared scalable models for moving beyond theory into high-stakes operational readiness.

The Technology Frontier

Sessions on maritime cybersecurity and autonomous systems underscored that cyber literacy is no longer optional—it is a core safety requirement for the modern fleet.

Retention through Mentorship

A major consensus of the summit was that retention starts with intentional career pathways. Strategic mentorship was identified as a key tool for reducing turnover in the U.S. fleet.

Nontraditional Pathways

Panelists identified specific placement barriers, highlighting the importance of community colleges and technical programs in the talent pipeline.

Voices from the Bridge & The Boardroom

The Vision for the Future

“MITAGS has established a pivotal event with the potential to become the nation’s premier annual forum for maritime workforce development. The inaugural conference was both engaging and informative—a valuable foundation for the industry to build upon.”

— Zander Parker, Maine Maritime Academy

The Strategic Alignment

“Events like this reinforce the critical importance of aligning training and career pathways to meet the evolving needs of our industry. It was an honor to engage in such a timely conversation focused on strengthening the U.S. maritime workforce.”

— Allen Scott, Training & Credentialing Manager, Washington State Ferries

The Industry Perspective

“The Mariners for America Conference provided a premier platform to address the topics our industry cares about most. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue and for the work MITAGS continues to do.”

— John Prell, General Counsel, VIKAND