Ship Repair USA 2026 draws record crowd to Jacksonville

Marine Log‘s fourth annual Ship Repair USA conference welcomed a record crowd of nearly 300 maritime professionals to Jacksonville, Fla., on June 23–24, underscoring the growing demand for a dedicated forum focused exclusively on the U.S. ship repair and maintenance industry.

As North America’s only conference devoted solely to ship repair, Ship Repair USA 2026 brought together shipyard executives, vessel owners and operators, government leaders, naval architects, suppliers, and technology providers for two days of practical discussions on the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector. From workforce development and government policy to supply chain resilience, safety, digital technologies, and shipyard modernization, the program reflected the industry’s increasingly strategic role in strengthening America’s maritime industrial base.

SNAME once again served as the event’s official association sponsor.

“We’re very grateful to the Jacksonville community and everyone in the industry who supported this year’s Ship Repair USA,” said Gary Lynch, publisher of Marine Log. “By any measure, our speakers, program, sponsors, and attendee engagement created an extraordinary conference experience for all involved, and we look forward to returning to Jacksonville in 2027.”

The conference featured a broad range of expert-led panels and technical presentations examining many of the issues currently facing U.S. ship repair. Sessions explored logistics and supply chain dynamics, government funding and naval repair priorities, workforce recruitment and retention, cybersecurity in shipyards, safety culture, contracting and risk management, vessel modernization, advanced technologies including electrostatic painting, and the economics of infrastructure investments such as shiplifts. Industry leaders also discussed how evolving regulations, changing customer expectations, and emerging technologies are reshaping repair strategies across both commercial and government fleets.

“Marine Log Ship Repair 2026 was an outstanding success,” said first-time attendee Jonathan Parmet, commercial shipping business development manager for Sauer Compressors USA, Inc. “The event provided the opportunity to connect with numerous key industry contacts and strengthen relationships that I have been cultivating for quite some time. The quality of conversations and networking opportunities exceeded expectations, and I am already looking forward to returning for next year’s event”

Networking remained a central component of the event, with attendees connecting throughout the conference and during dedicated receptions and exhibit hall activities. Additional networking included an event hosted by conference sponsor Hylant on June 23 aboard the USS Orleck, a Gearing-class destroyer that served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1982. The strong engagement among speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees highlighted the collaborative nature of the ship repair community and reinforced the conference’s role as a valuable venue for sharing best practices and addressing common challenges.

Building on its record-setting attendance and enthusiastic industry support, Ship Repair USA will return to Jacksonville in 2027, continuing its mission of providing the ship repair sector with a focused platform for education, collaboration, and innovation.