Virginia Maritime Bulletin Vol. 89, Issue 4 by VAmaritime

LS GREENLINK USA BREAKS GROUND ON $700 MILLION SUBSEA CABLE FACILITY

CHESAPEAKE, VA | On April 28th, the Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) was proud to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for LS GreenLink USA’s $700 million offshore wind subsea cable manufacturing facility in Chesapeake — a project that will include the tallest structure in Virginia. Standing at 660 feet tall, the tower will be a symbol of Virginia’s growing leadership in energy infrastructure and innovation.

Patrick Y. Shim has stated this state-of-the-art facility will span 750,000 square feet and is expected to create over 330 full-time jobs when completed. It marks a major milestone not only for Chesapeake, but for the Commonwealth as a whole, further solidifying Virginia’s status as a national hub for offshore wind and clean energy development. Leaders including Governor Glenn Youngkin and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine highlighted how projects like this are positioning Virginia at the forefront of America’s clean energy transition. LS GreenLink USA, a Golden Anchor member of the Virginia Maritime Association, represents innovation, investment, and commitment crucial to

our maritime and logistics industries.

Construction is expected to wrap up in late 2027, with the facility set to be fully operational by early 2028. The Virginia Maritime Association is honored to stand alongside LS GreenLink and celebrate this historic investment in Virginia’s future.

VMA ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERSHIP TIERS: UNLIMITED AND STANDARD

NORFOLK, VA | The Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) is excited to announce updates to our membership program, designed to offer your company even greater value and enhance the benefits you receive as a member.

Beginning June 1, the new membership tiers for industry members will be implemented upon your renewal date. Members will select either an Anchor, Unlimited, or Standard membership.

Anchor memberships will now offer unlimited representation while continuing to provide an enhanced benefit package to include a new marketing credit program. This change will provide your company with flexible options to better align with your business needs.

The Unlimited Membership tier allows your company to have

Photo: LS Greenlink

“The Voice of Port Industries”

OFFICERS

Chair of the Board

Judy Barrett

President Lang Williams

Vice Presidents

Capt. Kenneth Flowers

Capt. Whiting Chisman Camille Cherry

Executive Director & Secretary

David White

Treasurer Dana Truxell

Assistant Treasurer Clyde Clark

STAFF

Senior Vice President ................. Will Fediw

Vice President of Finance & Administration ....................... Sam Davis

Director of Membership Development .......................... Kristen Greene

Workforce Development

Director................................... Shayla Prince

Executive Assistant ................... Chanel Bolling

Marketing Manager ................. Jennifer Deason

Event Manager & Accounting Assistant ............. Jennifer Parham

Membership Services

Manager ........................... Susan Wisniewski For Questions about the Bulletin or Advertising jdeason@vamaritime.com - 757.628.2667 The MARITIME BULLETIN is provided through membership. Follow Us on Social

@VAmaritime Contact jdeason@vamaritime.com to submit an article in the Next Bulletin!

VMA SUPPLY CHAIN TECH & INNOVATION COMMITTEE – LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Management guru Peter Drucker once said “Because the business is to create a customer, the business has two, and only two functions - marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results. All the rest are costs.”

Those of us with an ops background will argue that you need to deliver on what the marketing folks promised, but Drucker has an excellent point. Production doesn’t matter if you don’t have customers - and if you are not innovating to keep up with the changing needs of the market.

Our Virginia Maritime Association has done an excellent job in helping to get the word out to national and global markets that Virginia is a great place to do maritime business. The Supply Chain Technology and Innovation Committee was formed to help foster the “innovation” side of the success equation. The committee will be working with the membership to help identify opportunities where innovation in technologies and processes can help improve the operation of the supply chain –driving down costs, increasing throughput, and helping make Virginia’s maritime business even more competitive and profitable. Some innovations may already exist, and some may represent opportunities to develop new solutions for businesses here and around the world.

Virginia is blessed with a significant innovation and entrepreneurship support system, ranging from world class universities and organizations set up to guide and mentor innovators, to funding sources ranging from government to private. Your committee is seeking to better engage this system with the maritime industry.

To do this, we will need your help. Innovation only thrives when there is knowledge and access to problem sets, industry willing to share issues and information with solution creators, and partners willing to pilot these solutions – and become customers if the innovations produce business value.

We will start with the other committees within the VMA and reaching out to the general membership for support. Look to the VMA newsletter to keep track of the journey – and feel free to reach out to us.

Contributor: Jerry Cronin

Executive Director

Old Dominion University

• Open Seas Technology Innovation Hub

• TempO: Growing Entrepreneurial Businesses & Regions

• The Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE) VMA SCTI Committee

The “Navigating Innovation” column features industy expert insights from VMA’s Supply Chain Technology & Innovation (SCTI) committee.

We invite all VMA members to submit content for our publications and propose ideas for in-person or virtual presentations that enhance our community’s knowledge. Submissions should be timely, educational, and relevant to the general membership or specific groups. Articles should be 400-600 words, with highresolution images or infographics encouraged. All sourced materials must be properly credited. Please note, content should focus on sharing expertise, not business promotion. For submission guidelines, please contact us. Let’s continue to elevate our community through impactful contributions.

Photo: Koegelenberg/AdobeStock Photo

STRENGTHENING THE TEAM TO BETTER REPRESENT AND SERVE VMA MEMBERS

The Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) has made personnel changes to better represent and serve the maritime industry.

We are delighted to announce Shayla Prince’s promotion to the role of Workforce Development Director. Shayla has been an integral part of the VMA for the past two years, initially serving as Executive Assistant. Her transition to Workforce Development Director will leverage her extensive background in higher education and business management. In this capacity, Shayla will play a pivotal role in addressing the industry’s workforce needs, particularly through initiatives supported by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council’s grant. This includes connecting trainees from the Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS) with member employers seeking to fill crucial roles. The grant program is funded wholly or partially under Subaward Agreement #GAFVMA-2024-01, with funds allocated through Clause 5 of the Virginia General Assembly ($2.5 million award) to HR.WC, serving as the System Lead Entity.

We congratulate Susan Wisniewski on her promotion to Membership Service Manager. With 24 years of dedicated service at VMA, Susan has been instrumental in tracking cargo vessel movements and supporting members with ballast water

MEMBERSHIP CONT.

as many employees as you choose to be actively involved on the VMA account. This expanded access means more of your team members can receive crucial industry communications, participate in committees, and take part in a wide array of VMA activities such as workforce development, advocacy, Maritime Leadership Certificate Program, Young Maritime Professionals program, and networking opportunities. At VMA, we are committed to building connections that drive success for our members. As an Unlimited Member, your company will be empowered to engage more deeply with industry leaders, stay informed on key developments, and ensure your voice is heard in critical discussions that shape the future of Virginia’s maritime industry.

reporting and export documentation requirements. In her expanded role, Susan will leverage her gained expertise with VMA’s member management system and online membership portal, optimizing communication automation, and streamlining membership processes. Her commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions will be crucial in enhancing our members’ engagement.

Additionally, we warmly welcome Chanel Bolling to our team as Executive Assistant. Chanel brings a wealth of experience in executive office operations and senior-level support, along with a background in training, counseling, and mentorship. Her reputation for attention to detail, dedication to excellence and effective communication, and being a thoughtful presence in the workspace align perfectly with VMA’s values. Chanel’s ability to build strong relationships across all levels of an organization will be invaluable.

At VMA, we are dedicated to promoting, protecting, and facilitating commerce through Virginia’s ports and supporting the broader maritime and supply chain industries. These appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to Better Connect, Better Inform, and Better Represent our members and stakeholders.

Please join us to congratulate Shayla, Susan, and Chanel on their new roles. We look forward to their continued contributions to the success of the Virginia Maritime Association.

Your support has been instrumental to VMA’s success, and we are grateful for your ongoing partnership. The continued involvement of our members is essential as we work to promote, protect, and facilitate commerce through Virginia’s ports and safeguard the interests of industries and supply chains across the region.

Stay tuned for additional information about our new membership tiers and pricing. At VMA, we are dedicated to keeping our members Better Connected, Better Informed, and Better Represented. We look forward to bringing you even more valuable opportunities to strengthen your business.

Thank you for your continued support!

DISTRIBUTION OF COAL DUMPINGS

PORT OF HAMPTON ROADS TEU’S

CUSTOMS RECEIPTS

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE VIRGINIA PORTS ANNUAL

This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Virginia Ports Annual. To commemorate this occasion, we have launched our most comprehensive resource yet—a dynamic web tool paired with a 64page printed supplement.

Published by the Virginia Maritime Association since 1925, the Virginia Ports Annual delivers essential facts, services, and opportunities for shippers and port stakeholders. The 2025 printed supplement arrived on VMA members’ desks, as well as with business leaders across the Commonwealth!

The Virginia Ports Annual web tool is now live! Explore this invaluable resource for businesses looking to invest, expand, or engage with Virginia’s maritime and supply chain industries, featuring a VMA Membership Directory.

ASSOCIATION IN ACTION

Simply stated, active VMA members are Better Connected, Better Informed, and Better Represented. This segment of the Bulletin aims to provide insights into some of the ways in which the interests of VMA members were Better Represented during the previous month.

President Trump’s administration has acted on numerous fronts that touch Virginia’s maritime and supply chain sectors. These include tariffs, reductions in the federal workforce, offshore wind, port call fees on operators of Chinese-built ships, and investments in shipbuilding. In March, much of VMA’s attention was focused on representing the interests of VMA’s membership on these issues.

VMA participated in meetings with Senators Warner and Kaine and spent time on Capitol Hill visiting the offices of the rest of Virginia’s Congressional delegation to convey the interests of VMA’s member businesses. VMA joined with other organizations to issue a letter to the Congressional delegation and Governor Youngkin identifying the opportunities and risks to Hampton Roads and Virginia from actions being taken by the new administration.

The VMA supports the Trump Administration’s goals to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding and broader maritime sector, where Virginia is well positioned to be a leader and beneficiary. However, VMA found it necessary to submit a letter opposing port call fees and restrictions on operators of Chinese-built ships proposed by the U.S. Trade Representative as means to fund those objectives.

VMA also had the opportunity to engage in dialogue with Gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in a meeting organized by the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable.

March was also a very active month for workforce development. Representation, input, and collaboration opportunities included:

• Old Dominion University Work-based Learning Roundtable

• Newport News Public Schools Senior Reset

• Old Dominion University Maritime and Offshore Wind Conference

• Commonwealth Connections: Mentorship in Action with First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin

Other notable events and meetings in which VMA made presentations or represented the membership included:

• Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Freight Transporation Advisory Committee

• Elizabeth River Project Board of Directors

• Oceantic Network

• National Association of Maritime Organizations Semiannual Meeting

• Onward New River Valley Investor Breakfast

• A Common Cause to All 2025

• WHRO Board of Directors

VMA NEW MEMBERS ADDITIONAL MEMBERS

FULTON BANK, N.A.

Banks/Investments and Mortgage Loans

150 Boush Street Suite 700 Norfolk, VA 23150 fultonbank.com

Joey Barnes Senior Vice President - Relationship Manager jbarnes@fultonbank.com

Ali Broemeling Workforce Development Manager abroemeling@colonnaship.com

COLONNA’S SHIPYARD Norfolk, VA

Mike Dempsey Communications Manager mdempsey@cctnetworking.org

EASTERN ATLANTIC STATES

REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS

Upper Marlboro, MD

Mary McCarthy

Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility marymc@morantug.com MORAN NORFOLK New Canaan, CT

Ashley Wisniewski

Executive Assistant

awisniewski@colonnaship.com

COLONNA’S SHIPYARD Norfolk, VA

Cyndie Williams

Executive Director

cwilliams@cctmarketing.org

EASTERN ATLANTIC STATES

REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS

Upper Marlboro, MD

Corrie Marsh

Director of Operations, ODU Division of Research cmarsh@odu.edu

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY Norfolk, VA

SWINGING FOR SUCCESS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2025 VMA GOLF CLASSIC

On April 18, 2025, the Virginia Maritime Association hosted the 26th annual VMA Golf Classic at Cedar Point Country Club— bringing together industry leaders, friends, and colleagues for a day of golf, connection, and advocacy in support of the VMA Political Action Committee (PAC).

This year’s event once again sold out, highlighting the maritime community’s strong and growing commitment to shaping a competitive, forward-looking future for Virginia’s ports. Attendees enjoyed a perfect day on the green, with stunning views, friendly competition, and the kind of conversations only possible outside the office.

Since 2000, the VMA PAC has served as a vital part of VMA’s mission—supporting candidates who understand the value of maritime trade, port infrastructure, and

the industries that rely on a healthy supply chain. Through the PAC, VMA works to ensure the voices of our maritime stakeholders are heard in Richmond, advocating for investments in freight corridors, workforce development, business-ready sites, and channel deepening projects that directly impact our region’s economic vitality.

Congratulations to this year’s winning team, and a big thankyou to everyone who participated, sponsored, and supported this year’s Classic. Events like this continue to keep members Better Connected, Better Informed, and Better Represented.

Special thanks to our 2025 Platinum Sponsors: Bay Power Solutions, CP&O, and Hampton Roads Shipping Association. Your continued leadership and generosity are what keep events like the VMA Golf Classic thriving year after year. To learn more about the VMA PAC or to make a contribution, visit: VAmaritime.com/VMAPAC

PERMIT NO. 1930

P.O. Box 3487

Norfolk, Virginia 23510