Maritime Industrial Base

The U.S. maritime industry is vital to national defense and economic security. It underpins naval readiness, global supply chains, and the sustainment of deployed forces through shipbuilding, repair, logistics, and sealift capacity.

Maritime activity spans two domains—commercial (cargo handling, commercial shipbuilding, and port logistics) and defense (naval ship construction, fleet maintenance, and advanced maritime manufacturing). Together, they form the Defense Maritime Industrial Base (MIB), a critical ecosystem of shipyards, suppliers, and skilled workers.

Sustaining the MIB is essential as fleet modernization, shipyard recapitalization, and workforce readiness shape future maritime capabilities. Congressional authorizations and DoD industrial base policies drive investment in shipbuilding programs, workforce pipelines, and resilient supply chains.

Emerging priorities include unmanned surface and undersea vessels, digital shipyard technologies, and climate-resilient infrastructure. These advances strengthen resilience, reduce lifecycle costs, and ensure the U.S. maintains a competitive edge at sea.

NCMBC-Hosted Webinars and In-Person Events

State Resources.

Critical Markets

  • Dredging & Navigation Infrastructure
  • Energy Resilience & Shore Power
  • Environmental & Coastline Resilience
  • Marine Engineering & Civil Works
  • Maritime Electronics & Cybersecurity
  • Port & Terminal Infrastructure
  • Professional & Technical Services
  • Research, Development & Innovation
  • Shipbuilding & Submarine Industrial
  • Ship Repair & Maintenance
  • Sustainment & Logistics
  • Unmanned & Autonomous Systems

Key Contracts and Prime Vendors

Key Buying Agencies

Industry Contact: