When you think of Northwest Florida, you might picture our emerald waters—but beneath the surface of our economy, we are the Southeast’s premier hub for maritime engineering. From luxury fishing boats to complex deep-sea vessel repairs, we are building what’s new and what’s next, driven by a deep-seated naval heritage and a future-focused workforce.
Our region is defined by a concentrated expertise in maritime construction, maintenance, and the manufacturing of critical vessel components:
We aren’t just expanding our waterfront—we’re engineering the future of the Gulf Coast. Northwest Florida is synchronizing world-class infrastructure with a specialized m
Maritime Manufacturing Employee
1,500+
Maritime Manufacturing Industry Employers
30+
Contracts Awarded to Regional Shipbuilders During the Past Decade
$1.6 Billion
Talent is the backbone of Northwest Florida’s maritime industry, and our region’s pipeline is skilled, available, and cost-effective. From naval architects and mechanical engineers to master welders and pipefitters, we are training and retaining the people who power the world’s most sophisticated production lines. Our talent pipelines, your future workforce, are fed by:
And we don’t just train—we retain. Competitive wages, low cost of living and strong employer engagement mean your investment in talent stays put.
Rethinking your high-cost, high-traffic location? Northwest Florida has invested in maritime infrastructure to move goods and vessels more efficiently and affordably.
Our region features three deep-water ports—Pensacola, Panama City, and St. Joe—offering direct global access via the Intracoastal Waterway and a high-capacity barge network. Since 2018, over $329 million in Triumph Gulf Coast funding has fueled transformative projects, including terminal expansions at the Port of Panama City and the American Magic maritime innovation hub at the Port of Pensacola.
With utility rates below the national average and nearly 20 industrial sites ready for development—many with direct water access—our infrastructure is designed to accelerate your timelines and reduce logistics costs. We aren't just building bigger berths; we are giving your maritime project a permanent competitive edge.
Northwest Florida is a premier maritime R&D hub, offering a seamless path from conceptual design to full-scale prototyping. This ecosystem is anchored by the University of West Florida’s Watercraft and Vessel Engineering (WAVE) project, which accelerates innovation in vessel construction, hull design, and advanced composites. Completing this pipeline, the Suzuki Marine Technical Center USA in Panama City provides a 20-acre waterfront environment for testing sustainable marine propulsion and advanced outboard technology.
Cape Horn is a family-owned and operated business steeped in tradition. Thirty years of refinement and innovation and a no-nonsense approach to offshore fishing has made Cape Horn the preeminent fishing boat company in Florida.
Established in 1983, Glasstream Powerboats, Inc. has a strong dealer network in the US and internationally. The company is a proven world leader in designing and creating advanced fuel-efficient center console boats with the dual inverted stepped hull. This unique low-drag design increases operational efficiency and stability.
Micro Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is an AS9100 Rev. C and ISO 9001:2008 certified company. It is a world leader in high performance Air, Land, and Sea Surface vehicle control. It offers a broad range of products including Unmanned Vehicle Control Systems, Autopilots and Mission Computers, Radar Tracking and Command Data Link Transponders, Scoring Systems, Custom Test Equipment, and Flight Termination Systems.
Since 1977, the PATTI family has been producing award-winning ships. The company has built Ferries, Quarters Barges, Galley Barges, Research Vessels, Clam Vessels, Long-liners, Dinner Vessels, Trawlers, Anchor Tenders, Drift Collectors, Floating Machine Shops and River Towboats.
Scandy-White Boats is a custom boat manufacturer specializing in aluminum fabrication. The company also builds custom parts for automotive and recreational uses.
Florida’s Great Northwest is here to enhance Northwest Florida’s competitive position through industry diversification and quality job growth. Whether you’re a company executive, site selector, or Northwest Floridian, contact us to learn how we can work together.
