Supporter

Marcia Blount

President, Blount Boats

Blount Boats is a multi-generation family company that has built hundreds of boats, including passenger and vehicle ferries, fast commuter boats, dinner excursion boats and small cruise ships. Most recently, we were contracted to construct the first crew transfer vessel for the newly emerging offshore wind industry in the United States. This vessel will be used to ferry technicians and construction workers out to Deepwater Wind’s five wind turbines off Block Island, Rhode Island.

 

We see the offshore wind industry as a business opportunity and appreciate that ocean planning expedited the siting process. In addition to the renewable energy sector, our diverse client base represents a variety of other ocean industries and users such as marine transportation, tourism and recreation. A planning process that engages stakeholders and strives to eliminate unnecessary conflict will facilitate multiple sectors to co-exist while maintaining ocean health.

 

We support ocean planning because we understand that successful offshore industries are good for Rhode Island’s economy and good for our business.’


© Richard Davidson

Similar Voices of Support

Renewable Energy National

Sophie Hartfield Lewis

Head of Permitting, Marine Affairs and Real Estate, Orsted North America

National Security

Molly Donohue Magee

Executive Director, Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA)

Ports, Maritime & Shipping California

Michael B. Jones

President, The Maritime Alliance

"Promoting sustainable, science-based ocean & water industries"
Recreational Fishing

Tom Raftican

President, The Sportfishing Conservancy

Science

Gary Gysin

President and CEO, Liquid Robotics®

Ports, Maritime & Shipping New York

Eric Johansson

Professor of Marine Transportation, SUNY Maritime

Recreational Boating Rhode Island

Shelley Brown, PhD

Marine Scientist and Education Director, Sailors for the Sea

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Maine

John Henshaw

Executive Director, Maine Port Authority

Ports, Maritime & Shipping

Sean Kline

Director of Marine Affairs, Chamber of Shipping of America

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Connecticut

North Atlantic Ports Association

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Massachusetts

Ed Anthes-Washburn

Port Director and HDC Executive Director, Port of New Bedford

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Connecticut

Captain Sean Bogus

President, Northeast Marine Pilots Association

Renewable Energy

Liz Burdock

Executive Director, Business Network for Offshore Wind

Commercial Fishing Rhode Island

Capt. Chris Brown

Brown Family Seafood

"Delivering the finest seafood is a family affair"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Massachusetts

Capt. Gary Oliveira

Providence Steamboat Company

"Providing ship assist services on Narragansett Bay"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Delaware

Capt. Stephen Roberts

Pilots’ Association for the Bay & River Delaware

"Ensuring the safety of our mariners, the environment and the security of our industries"
Commercial Fishing

John Williamson

Sea Keeper Fishery Consulting

"Building on the cultural heritage of our commercial fishing industry"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Virginia

Bobby Clinton III

Port Compliance Director, McAllister Towing of Virginia

"It is our legacy to help renew and protect the oceans and waterways of our planet"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Maine

Mark Klopp

President, Portland Pilots, Inc.

"Ensuring safety comes first in maritime navigation"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping

Jason Kelly

Executive Vice President, Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc.

"Largest independent steamship agency in North America"
Aquaculture Rhode Island

Cindy West

Owner, Cedar Island Oyster Farm

"Family owned and operated"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Maine

Chris Mayo

Kennebunkport Harbormaster and Cape Porpoise Pier Manager

"Balancing ocean health in a busy harbor"
Aquaculture Connecticut

Bob Rheault

Executive Director, East Coast Shellfish Growers Association

"Growing opportunities for shellfish growers"
Aquaculture Rhode Island

Bill Silkes

Owner, American Mussel Harvesters, Inc.

"Providing renewable protein resources while balancing multiple ocean uses"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Rhode Island

Robert Blackburn

Director, Port of Davisville

"Representing Rhode Island’s premiere gateway port to markets throughout Southern New England"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping

Carleen Lyden-Kluss

Executive Director & Co-Founder, NAMEPA

"Shipping industry leader preserving the marine environment"

Why We Need Ocean Planning

The ocean and coasts are active places, and we’re putting more demands on them every day. Think about it: traditional uses such as fishing, boating, shipping, recreation, and tourism are all changing and expanding, and at the same time we’re pioneering new industries alongside them like wind energy and sand mining. Ocean planning is about thinking ahead and planning for how to make it all work. Otherwise, we put the ocean’s vast, yet fragile, resources at risk. Voluntary ocean planning allows us to coordinate all these uses in a way that benefits our economy, our communities, and ocean health. Ocean planning is a science-based and data-driven process that provides a tool for people and government to work together, share information and solve problems in a way that works for everyone. Ocean planning helps to identify and resolve potential conflicts early on, helping decision makers and stakeholders in both the private and public sectors do their jobs better. This creates better outcomes for everyone, supporting a healthy ocean and vibrant economy

Learn More