The future of the American maritime workforce depends on who we bring into it. That is why Transportation Institute was proud to sponsor the 2026 Women on the Water Conference, held February 8 through 10 at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.
About the conference
Now in its 13th year, Women on the Water is a professional development conference hosted by the Consortium of State Maritime Academies with support from the United States Maritime Administration, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, and Northwestern Michigan College. The event brings together cadets from the nation’s maritime academies with industry leaders, union representatives, and government officials for three days of networking, mentorship, and career development.
This year’s program included two days of sessions and networking at MITAGS, followed by a trip to Washington, DC for a formal welcome to Capitol Hill, a full slate of policy sessions, and a closing reception at the Canadian Embassy. The Capitol Hill program concluded with a keynote address from Transportation Institute’s own Sara Fuentes.
Why TI supports this work
The American merchant marine cannot grow without new mariners, and it cannot reach its potential without drawing talent from everywhere talent exists. Conferences like Women on the Water give cadets direct access to the people and organizations shaping the industry they are about to enter, and they signal clearly that there is a place for them in it.
Transportation Institute has advocated for a strong, well-crewed American fleet since 1967. Supporting the pipeline of future deck and engineering officers is part of that mission, and we were glad to stand alongside sponsors from across the industry, including maritime unions, carriers, and government partners, in making this year’s conference possible.
To learn more about the conference, visit the Great Lakes Maritime Academy’s Women on the Water page.
To learn more about the conference, visit the Women on the Water page: https://www.nmc.edu/maritime/maritime-industry/women-on-the-water-conference/