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Maritime Clusters: trends and challenges in the U.S. context
Clusters are generally defined as a concentration of industry members in a certain geographic area. These organizations usually agglomerate due to various types of linkages and or competitive advantages present in that region. The maritime sector could be considered as natural cluster formation due to its typical characteristics alongside coastal cities and proximity to markets. In the case of the U.S., we found a dearth in the literature about maritime clusters, despite an abundance of economic impact studies about ports. As such, it is clear the need of investigation beyond the economic significance of maritime clusters. This study builds on the body of knowledge of strategic competitiveness of maritime clusters and aims to investigate the key driving forces and the development stage of maritime clusters in the context of U.S. Giving the country dimensions and diversity of maritime activities, the geographical area selected focused on the seven locations where a Maritime Academy is present, given the strategic importance of the academies supported by Federal Government. We employ a multi-method methodology composed of SWOT analysis; content analysis and case studies techniques to conduct the analysis. Preliminary results indicate two main trends: first, cluster members do not share the same level of information, which impacts information exchange and innovation and the benefits associated with that; and second, the need for further innovation applied to the maritime industry, in particular considering the impact of automation and digitalization in the sector. Additional research is being carried out to further investigate the implications for business leaders and policymakers of the intentional development of maritime clusters.
About the Presenter
Cassia Galvao
Faculty Member
Texas A&M University
Dr. Cassia B. Galvao. Economist and Ph.D. in Social Sciences, Catholic University of Sao Paulo. Her dissertation was about port policies and development in the context of economic development. Private sector (10+ years) experience in Marketing & Sales Division of multiple international container liners and freight forwarders. She is a Fulbright Alumni and currently a tenure-track professor at the Department of Maritime Administration of Texas A&M University at Galveston. Her teaching experience includes various undergraduate and graduate courses in International Economics; Global Entrepreneurship; Maritime Shipping & logistics; Port Economics & Governance; Marketing Transportation Services. She was recently awarded the TAMU Montague Center for Teaching Excellence Award for her ability and interest in teaching undergraduates. Nominated member of the Ports and Channels Committee of the Marine Group at TRB (Transportation Board) and serves at the IAME (International Association of Maritime Economists) Secretariat as webmaster. Her research is founded mainly on qualitative data, applying various techniques of content analysis and multi-method analysis. Publications include applied research in international maritime shipping, issues in port governance, port law, and reform policies. Current projects include maritime shipping logistics and port development, Corporate Social Responsibility; Stakeholder Management; port-city relationship; green and sustainable shipping; port automation, and digitalization. Senior personnel at the NSF REU Program Ocean US and a peer reviewer in specialized maritime journals (such as Research on Transportation Business Management; Case Studies on Transport Policy; Tourism Management Perspectives; Research in Transportation Economics; and International Journal on Transport Economics) and conferences i.e. International Association of Maritime Universities – IAMU; and World of Shipping Portugal.
Presentation
Maritime Clusters: trends and challenges in the U.S. context
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