NAWE Concludes Largest Annual Meeting In Association History

The National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) concluded its 2026 annual meeting in Washington in the third week of October, bringing together public officials, maritime industry leaders and waterfront employers for the largest annual meeting in the association’s history.

NAWE is a Washington-based trade association whose member companies are privately owned stevedores, marine terminal operators and other waterfront-related employers. Member companies do business at major U.S ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Gulf, the Great Lakes, Canada and Puerto Rico. These firms are committed to keeping America’s international trade and commerce flowing to better serve our economy.

The meeting convened government officials and industry representatives for discussions on the future of the U.S. maritime industrial base, the economic and regulatory landscape, maritime security, supply chain coordination, workforce development and the operational challenges facing marine terminal operators.

“This year’s annual meeting reflects the tremendous growth of NAWE and the importance of bringing the maritime community together at a pivotal time for our industry,” NAWE President Carl Bentzel said. “From strengthening our nation’s maritime industrial base to addressing the policies and operational challenges that affect our members every day, these conversations help ensure that the perspectives of our industry are heard by the policymakers and industry partners shaping our future. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history, and NAWE will be supporting the (Trump) Administration’s policies to strengthen and rebuild our maritime industrial base.”

Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer of the Georgia Ports Authority and chairman of the NAWE board of directors, highlighted the value of collaboration across the maritime sector.

“The strength of our maritime industry depends on the people and organizations working together across the waterfront and throughout the broader supply chain,” McCarthy said. “NAWE provides an important forum for sharing perspectives, building relationships and advancing practical solutions to the challenges facing our industry. The record participation and the quality of our speakers and attendees at this year’s annual meeting demonstrates the value of that work and the commitment we have to the future of the maritime industry.”

The meeting featured remarks from Stephen M. Carmel, administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, and Lee Forsgren, acting assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Thomas B. Chapman, board member of the National Transportation Safety Board, and Michael Rutherford, assistant secretary of the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Industry experts and leaders from across the maritime and supply chain sectors discussed opportunities to strengthen the U.S. maritime industrial base, the global economic and trade outlook, the potential impact of the midterm elections on maritime policy, marine communications spectrum protection, global trade security, intermodal coordination, supply chain challenges, lithium-ion battery emergency response and waterside operations.