Welcome to the 2026 Virginia Maritime Guide

As usual, we are checking in on the Port of Virginia, but this time with a bit more historical context as the port is at an exciting stage. In February, it officially became the deepest and widest port on the East Coast with the completion of the six-year dredging process. Only 12 years after the port was losing money, the Port of Virginia has become one of the state’s economic drivers, producing more than $100 billion in total spending and contributing to nearly 1 in 10 jobs in Virginia.

The port also is in the midst of a leadership change, as Virginia Port Authority CEO Stephen Edwards stepped down at the end of 2025. While the port continues its search for Edwards’ permanent successor, Sarah McCoy, the port’s chief administrative officer, is serving as interim CEO.

In freelance writer Jim Morrison’s feature on the port’s capital projects and its history and future, McCoy updates us on how the port is competing in today’s geopolitical and financial environment, including unpredictable tariffs and Middle East warfare impacting costs and consumer attitudes. Chris Suarez, another freelance writer, goes deeper into how the Strait of Hormuz’s shutdown to most traffic has affected shipping, particularly with skyrocketing fuel costs.

Writer Elizabeth Cooper gives us an in-depth look at Dominion Energy‘s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which began producing power in late March and is expected to be in full operation in early 2027, according to utility officials. As Cooper notes in the story, CVOW’s progress was briefly halted at the end of 2025 following the Trump administration’s stop-work order directed at five East Coast wind farms under construction. Dominion went to court, suing the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and won a court order in January that allowed it to resume construction. Still, the project’s cost went up about $300 million, placing the total at $11.5 billion, Dominion notes, and despite the federal government’s setback in court, the lawsuit continues.

As usual, the 2026 Virginia Maritime Guide includes insights from maritime executives and updates on industrial real estate, the shipbuilding and repair industry, workforce training and education trends, and more. We wish to express thanks to the Port of Virginia, the Virginia Maritime Association and other state organizations and maritime businesses for their participation and knowledge — and to you, the readers, for your attention.

Kate Andrews
Virginia Business Deputy Editor