Michigan Maritime Strategy
Project Summary
The Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) at the University of Michigan is collaborating with the Department of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering on the Michigan Maritime Strategy project. Led by Dr. Thomas McKenney, Associate Professor of Engineering Practice, this initiative has received a grant of $199,993 from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to develop a comprehensive maritime strategy that addresses climate action, environmental justice, and sustainability.
The project aims to advance the greening, electrification, and decarbonization of Michigan's maritime sector, focusing on improving infrastructure and the efficient movement of goods. It will also address equity and environmental justice to ensure that the benefits of a more sustainable maritime sector are accessible to all communities.
Supported by the Office of the Great Lakes (OGL) and with support from various other divisions within EGLE, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), this interdisciplinary effort is positioned to enhance Michigan’s blue economy and ensure the long-term sustainability of the state's commercial shipping, ferries, and recreational boating sectors.
The strategy will support Michigan’s MI Healthy Climate Plan by recommending policies that reduce carbon emissions throughout the maritime economy, address past injustices, and create new opportunities. This effort aligns with other state and regional strategies and supports the goals of MDOT’s newly established Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Office, which is tasked with developing a statewide strategic maritime plan.