Michigan Unveils 10 Year Maritime Strategy for Great Lakes Innovation

Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week unveiled Michigan’s first Maritime Strategy, a 10-year blueprint intended to expand the state’s water-based economy while safeguarding the Great Lakes.

According to a press release from the state, Whitmer said, “Michigan is prepared to lead the future of maritime innovation while protecting the waters that define us … our Great Lakes, which contain 21% of the world’s fresh surface water,” noting that these natural resources provided “an incredible opportunity to harness them to grow our economy and an awesome responsibility to safeguard them for future generations of Michiganders.”

The announcement outlined a strategy with six core priorities: 

• Modernize ports and intermodal links
• Expand maritime manufacturing
• Accelerate low- and zero-emission vessel technologies
• Strengthen maritime workforce recruitment and training
• Cultivate an innovation ecosystem for marine technologies
• Improve sustainability at recreational harbors and marinas

Implementation will reportedly be a cross-agency effort with coordination among the agencies including the Departments of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); Transportation; Agriculture and Rural Development; Natural Resources; the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

EGLE Director Phil Roos said that the strategy “underscores our commitment to protecting the Great Lakes while driving sustainable economic growth,” adding that by “reducing pollution and harmful emissions and investing in cleaner energy, modern infrastructure, and innovative ports and vessels, we can strengthen Michigan’s maritime sector and create good-paying jobs. Environmental stewardship and economic progress go hand in hand as we chart a course for the future.” 

The plan was produced over roughly a year under the guidance of EGLE’s Office of the Great Lakes and facilitated by the University of Michigan’s Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, which led stakeholder engagement, including interviews, site visits, and workshops. 

Thomas McKenney, University of Michigan professor of practice of naval architecture and marine engineering, led the development of the strategy in collaboration with state departments, describing it as, "...a holistic approach to maritime development beyond just shipping freight, which brought together groups that wouldn't normally engage. We worked hard to align all of the state agencies involved, and we're proud of this unified vision for Michigan's maritime future."