Topics ranging from investment in ice breaker ships through to the importance of internet access at sea were discussed at Workboat New Orleans.
Polaris Media sent a delegation and attended key sessions. From this, we were able to capture the following takeaways, which impact all of us working in the maritime industry.
⚡️ Maritime tech and innovation is accelerating. There is a notable increase in new entrepreneurs and AI firms in maritime.
✨ Polaris clients in this space at NOLA all have exciting growth news for 2026. Marine battery maker AYK Energy Ltd. is winning major new contracts, Janus Marine & Defense LLC is set to expand autonomous vessel research in the USA and UAE, Eureka Naval Craft is expanding in hi-tech marine defence, while AI start-up DOLGO Inc is poised to disrupt maritime skills training.
📡 US-owned Inmarsat, the maritime specialist sat-comms provider, held a seminar which highlighted the importance of internet access at sea. Seafarers now expect broadband quality on par with Starbucks. ☕️
⛴️ There is a real buzz around the billions being invested in ice breaker shipbuilding under the ICE Pact between the USA, Finland and Canada. Lots of chatter at the show about Canadian-owned Davie Defense and the approval of its acquisition of Gulf Copper and Manufacturing shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas to support its yards in Canada and Finland. The US is set to build 11 medium icebreakers for the US Coast Guard, of which four will be built in Finland. Canada, meanwhile, has a budget of C$31 billion for 30 icebreakers.
📖 Greg Trauthwein has an excellent article on icebreakers in the latest issue of Maritime Reporter and Engineering News.
❄️ In this climate, speaking as regional VP of the Great Lakes for the International Propeller Club, the region must campaign hard for a second icebreaker to increase navigation days on the St Lawrence Seaway.
🤝 For all the talk of AI, maritime remains a people business. It was tremendous therefore to see the first International Propeller Club meet-up at Workboat. Polaris founder Ben Pinnington was proud to represent Chicago Propeller Club and see friends from:
Propeller Club of New York and New Jersey,
The International Propeller Club of Norway,
Propeller Club – Port of Seattle, and the
Propeller Club of the U.S. Port of New Orleans.
As AI grows in 2026 the Propeller Club network offers a valuable platform to get out of the office regularly and build relationships face to face.
