Maritime Blue/Port of Seattle Partnership
Advancing Washington State’s Maritime Industry
Item No. 3b attach
Date of Meeting July 23, 2019
Maritime Innovation Initiative Progress
2
Update Business Plan
Form advisory group
Commission authorization for
Ship Supply building design work
Develop MOU with WA State
Develop virtual incubator and
accelerator
“The challenging times in all port related
markets, like logistics, oil and gas, and
maritime, require that we have a window on
new technologies. [The] PortXL [Maritime
Accelerator] helped us identify these
trends, bringing new business models to
our markets and challenging conventional
businesses.”
Paul Smits
CFO, Port of Rotterdam
Substantial progress since January
Formalizing Alliance to Advance Maritime Blue Strategy
• Seeking Commission authorization for Executive Director to
execute the Maritime Blue Partnership Memorandum of
Understanding between Washington Maritime Blue, a
Washington 501 c6 nonprofit organization, and the Port of
Seattle
• Memorandum identifies areas of cooperative interest and has
POS and Maritime Blue establish annual priorities and specific
work plans
3
Maritime Blue Strategy: Pathways and Initiatives
4
What Does a Cluster Organization do?
General cluster development
• Networking activities
• Facilitate collaboration
• Strengthen the knowledge base
• Improve practices and efficiency
• Attract investors and talent
• Communications and marketing
• Drive commercialization
• Connect to education and training
• Advocacy and awareness
Knowledge collaboration
• R&D and education initiatives
• Build international relationships
• Direct Advisory services‘
Innovation collaboration
• Set research priorities
• Facilitate funding / financing
• Accelerate tech development
• Joint industry projects
‘
5
Memorandum of Understanding Details
• Will underpin the specific collaboration needed to advance the
Maritime Blue plan.
• As part of the MOU, the Port and Maritime Blue will establish
annual work plans
• These plans will include goals, metrics, outcomes and funding
needed to successfully support maritime accelerator initiatives,
workforce training programs and a host of other Maritime Blue
initiatives
– Pending contract between Port and Maritime Blue will further
delineate priorities, resources and desired outcomes
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