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Maryland forms task force to steer maritime investment, jobs and port growth
Gov. Wes Moore has created a statewide task force to identify maritime projects, address barriers to federal contracts and recommend ways to grow the industry. The sector contributes more than $10.2 billion annually to Maryland’s economy and supports about 115,000 jobs.
Maryland is forming a new task force to coordinate state agencies, businesses and workforce organizations around expanding the state’s maritime economy, Gov. Wes Moore announced after signing an executive order creating the group.
The Maryland Maritime Task Force will develop a plan to strengthen and diversify the industry, identify obstacles to winning national maritime projects and recommend state incentives and other economic development tools. It is also directed to increase advocacy for workforce training and grant programs, and to prepare an application for a Maritime Prosperity Zone if Congress establishes the program.
U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth and Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker Jr. will co-chair the task force. Its membership is expected to include representatives from state departments, the Port of Baltimore, maritime research and training organizations, labor unions and trade associations. The group may also work with federal agencies, including the Navy, Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers.
Moore said the state’s infrastructure could support shipbuilding and jobs for welders, mechanics and engineers, and said the initiative is intended to create more pathways to well-paid work while strengthening Maryland’s economic competitiveness.
The effort comes as Maryland officials point to the Port of Baltimore and recent infrastructure and industrial investments as potential drivers of growth. The port handled a record number of containers and ship calls in 2025, according to Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. Earlier this year, it began handling double-stacked containers by rail after completion of the $495 million Howard Street Tunnel project, which increased rail capacity.
Maritime industries—including transportation, shipbuilding, defense, research, shipping and recreation—generate more than $10.2 billion a year in Maryland and support roughly 115,000 jobs. Announced projects include a $3.7 billion Anduril Industries shipyard project in Baltimore County, expected to support as many as 14,000 jobs, and a $1.5 billion Coast Guard upgrade at Curtis Bay.
Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said boating and fishing generate more than $700 million in added value to the state economy each year. He also cited the potential for Maritime Enterprise Zones to help expand those industries and related tourism.
Elfreth said the task force would draw on Maryland’s maritime history, including the shipbuilding legacy of Baltimore and the state’s role in wartime production. The task force’s work will also encompass the Port of Baltimore’s future and the broader industry, officials said.