The Future of Maritime Is Human

Mariners for America Conference 2027

Early Bird Registration Ends November 1

April 5 – 7, 2027 | Baltimore, MD

Building the Maritime Workforce of Tomorrow

The future of maritime will be shaped by new technologies, evolving operations, and changing demands across the industry. But behind every vessel, system, port, and innovation are the people who make maritime work.

Mariners for America 2027 brings maritime leaders and professionals together to focus on those people—and what it will take to build a strong, skilled, engaged workforce ready for the next 10 years and beyond.

Over two days of conversations, presentations, and panels, we’ll explore the full maritime workforce journey:

ATTRACT

Bring the next generation on board.

How can the industry introduce maritime careers to the next generation, recent graduates, transitioning military personnel, and other potential talent?

RETAIN

Create careers people want to build.

What will keep mariners engaged, supported, and building long-term careers in the industry?

DEVELOP

Build the workforce of tomorrow.

What skills, training, and career paths will tomorrow’s maritime workforce need?

EVOLVE

Prepare people for the industry of the future.

How will new technology, tools, and changing workplaces reshape maritime careers and the people who perform them?

Speakers, sessions, and additional conference details are still being developed. Check back often as we announce new speakers and share the latest agenda updates.

Be Part of the Conversation

Mariners for America is an opportunity to connect with people from across the maritime community, exchange ideas, and tackle the workforce challenges that no single organization can solve alone. Come ready to share what’s working, learn from others across the industry, and help shape a stronger maritime workforce for the future.

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

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.