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Executive insights: Maritime leaders on tariffs, workforce development and more
DONALD MILLS President and general manager, Mills Marine & Ship Repair, Suffolk Virginia Business: How did you move from being employed at Huntington Ingalls Industries and Newport News Shipbuilding to starting your own business? Mills: At HII, I gained extensive hands-on experience, comprehensive industry insights and valuable professional relationships. This tenure taught me critical technic[...]
Tariffs, politics drive uncertainty for shipping
Rising tariffs, Red Sea attacks, and labor costs create instability for shippers and could impact Port of Virginia operations and U.S. supply chain
The Port of Virginia at a glance
In fiscal 2024, the Port of Virginia moved 3.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (or TEUs), its second highest number in history, just below 2022’s 3.7 million record.
Virginia universities provide expansive maritime education
William & Mary launches Virginia’s first public bachelor’s in coastal and marine sciences, expanding maritime education and career options statewide.
Spire sells maritime business for $241M to Kpler
Vienna-based Spire Global announced last week that it completed its roughly $241 million sale of its maritime business to Belgian data and analytics company Kpler — bringing an end to a legal spat that arose when Kpler initially didn’t go through with the previously announced purchase.
If Trump tariffs linger, Va. maritime industry will feel pain, experts say
With President Donald Trump’s self-branded “Liberation Day” anticipated to bring a rollout of new tariffs April 2 that Trump says will free the United States of dependence on foreign-made goods, many businesses and citizens are wondering what will happen next, with skyrocketing consumer prices and supply costs among their worries. On Monday, the president said he […]
US trade war could raise prices, economists say
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau managed to separately negotiate a monthlong pause on Monday with U.S. President Donald J. Trump on a trade war that was scheduled to begin on midnight Tuesday. However, as of late Monday afternoon, the Trump administration was still prepared to impose a 10% tariff on […]
2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: Xavier Beale
Beale was promoted to his current position, overseeing the state’s largest industrial employer’s HR and trades department, in 2022. He is a second-generation shipbuilder and joined HII as a pipefitter in 1991, before working in other industries. In 2004, he returned to the shipyard and is vice chair of the Virginia Board of Workforce Development. […]
2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: Jeremy Bridges
In 2023, Bridges joined the HRSA, which represents shipping companies in negotiations with International Longshoremen’s Association leaders in Hampton Roads. He previously was vice president of labor relations at CMA-CGM America and worked for the Pacific Maritime Association on the West Coast. A James Madison University alum, he earned certification from the International Association of [&h[...]
Va. Ocean Plan taking shape for 2025
As coastal populations grow and traditional and novel maritime industries increase their use of the Atlantic Ocean, the state government is developing a comprehensive plan to support the coexistence of different uses of the ocean. A group of more than 100 stakeholders — including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Army Corps of Engineers, […]
Mind the gap
Margaret Abrams was studying engineering at Liberty University when she came across an online job advertisement from Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries. HII, Virginia’s largest industrial employer, was offering a $2,500 signing bonus to job candidates who successfully completed a 16-week computer numerical control training at the Navy’s Advanced Training in Defense Manufa[...]
Virginia 500: The 2024-25 Power List
Who are Virginia’s most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics and education this year? Find out in the fifth annual edition of the Virginia 500: The 2024-25 Power List. Read more about how we assembled the Virginia 500 from our editor. Executives are listed in alphabetical order by industry. Below you will find links […]
