The City of Portsmouth has a wonderful port and expanding terminal operations. The Maersk Corporation is making a major investment of roughly $450 million to open a new container terminal, and that creates significant new opportunities. The City has initiated long-term planning aimed at leveraging its strengths as a port city to expand economic development.  William and Mary has agreed to assist in that planning process.  A key component to the planning process is the Maritime Summit.  This annual meeting of public and private leaders in the maritime industry facilitates knowledge sharing and developing goals and objectives for the World Class Maritime Center project.

Click HERE to view a powepoint overview of the Portsmouth Project.

William and Mary project goals for 2007-2008 include the following: 

• Successfully implement the second year of a contract with the City of Portsmouth to provide support for the "Port City of the Future" strategic planning process through the W&M Technology & Business Center, including faculty in business and public policy.  Conduct planning sessions including City of Portsmouth staff members and interested faculty.

• Provide staff support for continuing meetings among the City, Maersk (APM) and the Virginia Port Authority.

• Coordinate the City's third annual Maritime Summit.

• Identify grant opportunities and faculty research projects in support of the WCMC workgroups.  Continue projects that have been identified in transportation modeling and simulation (School of Business), terminal construction and harbor impacts (VIMS), and management of the strategic planning process and environmental impacts (Public Policy).