New Bedford

Ocean Cluster

The New Bedford Ocean Cluster (NBOC) is a newly established 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to serve the maritime business community in the greater New Bedford region. The NBOC’s mission is to leverage New Bedford’s coastal position, marine knowledge base, and landside capacity to drive employment and wealth creation for New Bedford residents. This shall be done through a dynamic approach combining recruitment of targeted businesses, creation of unique economic infrastructure, workforce development, and support for homegrown ocean economy companies.

The NBOC has four pillars that reflect the blue economy in New Bedford:

Aquaculture

Commercial Fishing & Processing

Innovation & Technology

Offshore Renewable Energy

Mission & Vision

NBOC will work collaboratively with a range of private sector, public sector and academic partners to establish New Bedford as the leading ocean economy on the East Coast. The NBOC will:

1. Create a New Bedford maritime business network by serving both as a clearinghouse for business-to-business interaction and the leading convener of the maritime businesses, leveraging the networks, the port’s unique infrastructure and maritime know-how to attract investment and support the formation and growth of ocean economy businesses.

2. Make the Port of New Bedford the first port of call of the offshore wind industry in the United States

3. Become the model for other ports to facilitate commercial collaboration between port industries and companies

4. Develop strategies to create more value for our community from our natural ocean resources including fish, wind and aquaculture