The Maritime Alliance (formerly CfMSS) is a public-private partnership composed of academia, government, and industry whose missions are to develop and enhance capabilities to secure the maritime domain in support of the strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Maritime Security, and to identify and promote innovative maritime technologies, services and educational programs to further the responsible and sustainable use of oceans.
The Maritime Alliance and the San Diego Maritime Community
As The Security Network (TSN) was organizing the San Diego defense/security sector and looking at maritime security, it discovered that San Diego is a major maritime technology center reaching far beyond maritime security. In
January 2007 we organized The Maritime Alliance (TMA – formerly the Center for Maritime Systems and Security) to focus on "Promoting the Maritime Community". The Maritime Alliance is administered by The Security Network.
San Diego is a historical maritime city that grew up around a magnificent natural harbor and the proximity to the ocean creates the marvelous climate for which the City and region are known. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to visit what is now the West Coast of the United States when he landed in SD on Sept. 28, 1542. Fishing became an important industry – today SD is still home to a thriving sport fishing industry. With World War II came a boom in shipbuilding in San Diego, which has continued to the present day with SD being the only location for major shipbuilding and repair on the US West Coast (primarily to service the Navy). The yacht design, build, repair, and service businesses – including the America’s Cup activities – are world class. The Port of San Diego established itself as an important specialty port and is today a major import site for autos, bulk cargo, fresh fruits, steel, and wind turbine blades, which co-exist with the largest Navy presence in the world, a large and growing cruise line presence, a significant Coast Guard presence, and a very large recreational fleet.
With the presence of top-notch research institutions, large concentration of military (Navy and Marines) and affiliated labs, a major port and traditional maritime industry, and major cluster of marine technology companies, San Diego is recognized today as one of the leading maritime technology centers in the world. TMA is organizing the maritime cluster in San Diego and reaching out internationally through a growing number of international relationships in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and the U.K. SD’s maritime presence on the national and international stage is bolstered by prestigious research institutions such as Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, National Polytechnic College of Science, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), SDSU Coastal Waters Laboratory, SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, and, most recently, the J. Craig Venter Institute, a world leader in genomic research. The US Navy has long played a key role in San Diego’s economy – for example, it was the Navy’s need for constantly improving wireless communications that led to SD’s preeminence in telecommunications. The Navy has also played an enormous role in the development of the maritime industry – it was an early, strong, and on-going supporter of SIO, the maritime defense industry was attracted by the large Navy presence, and the non-defense maritime industry has benefited from the Navy presence, as well.
TMA has identified more than 150 maritime technology companies in SD. However, like in many places around the world, the San Diego maritime community is fragmented with little local visibility despite its importance. TMA is organizing the Maritime Collaboration Summit as part of the 1st San Diego Maritime Week, which is being supported by a broad array of organizations (shown on the next page), to help raise the profile of participants and this broad and very important community.
San Diego is one of the leading regions in the U.S. for maritime technology development
Early supporters in San Diego
International outreach (as of January 2008)
Friday, February 9, 2007 - Click here to view and print
Friday, January 12, 2007 - Click here to view and print
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