February 17, 2026 — The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) in collaboration with Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, will host a regional maritime gathering on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Houston Maritime Center & Museum beginning at 3PM. The meeting will center around Innovation, Infrastructure and Collaboration in Maritime.
The NAMEPA x Blue Sky Maritime Gathering will convene maritime industry leaders, port and terminal operators, educators, workforce partners, and regional stakeholders for an informal networking opportunity focused on relationship-building, information-sharing, and regional connection across the Gulf and Houston maritime communities.
The gathering will include a featured discussion led by Rich Byrnes, Chief Infrastructure Officer of Port Houston, focused on port-led collaboration, operational realities, and the practical considerations required to move innovative concepts toward implementation.
“This gathering is intended to create space for connections among organizations and professionals who are already active in the maritime space,” said Molly Dushay, Executive Director of NAMEPA. “By bringing people together in a regional setting, we can strengthen relationships, share perspectives, and identify opportunities for continued coordination that reflect the realities of maritime operations and workforce needs in Houston.”
Hosted at the Houston Maritime Center & Museum, the gathering will feature an interactive, structured program designed to encourage conversation and networking with discussions on regional initiatives and shared interests.
“We’re thrilled to bring together diverse voices from across the Gulf maritime community to advance infrastructure progress through innovation and collaboration,” said Megan O’Leary, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Blue Sky Maritime Coalition. “At Blue Sky, we aim to accelerate the transition to commercially viable net-zero solutions in waterborne transportation. Regional gatherings like this help to connect various stakeholders and build the relationships that turn shared goals into real action.”
The Houston gathering builds on NAMEPA and Blue Sky’s shared commitment to fostering coordination and information sharing across the maritime sector through relationship-driven engagement. The gathering is open to the broader maritime community, with special discounted registration for NAMEPA and Blue Sky members. Light refreshments will be available. You can register here!
The NAMEPA x Blue Sky Gathering will also serve as a lead-in networking opportunity ahead of NAMEPA’s Marine Operations Seminar: Precision in Practice – Operating Safely and Efficiently in Today’s Waterways event taking place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Houston Pilots. Together, the two events offer participants an opportunity to connect with colleagues and partners prior to a day of more in-depth operational discussions.
Media Contact: Molly Dushay, Executive Director (m.dushay@namepa.net)
About North American Marine Environment Protection Association
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a maritime industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. For more information www.namepa.net
About Blue Sky Maritime Coalition
Blue Sky Maritime Coalition is member-based nonprofit 501c3 committed to accelerating the transition of waterborne transportation in Canada and the United States toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more at www.bluesky-maritime.org