Marine Trades
Charting a course for success in the marine trades.
The marine trades have been a part of Eastern North Carolina's economic fabric for more than 300 years. Today, the Eastern Region ranks among the nation's leading boat building locales, with world class manufacturers and the resources to support their continuing success. The Eastern Region offers the industry a number of important advantages:
- An established industry infrastructure - Forty boat building and marine trade firms are located in the Eastern Region, employing approximately 3,300 people. More than 100 boat builders are within a two-hour drive. Major employers in the category include Hatteras Yachts, Jarrett Bay, Parker Marine, Grady-White Boats and World Class Catamarans.
- Affordable and experienced workforce - The Region has a large pool of skilled workers, many with experience in boat building and marine trades. Wages-and the cost of living-in the Region are below national and state averages. In addition, North Carolina is a Right to Work state with minimal union presence.
- The perfect location - You couldn't ask for a better location - right in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, with year-round ice-free waterways and excellent access to coastal boating markets from Florida to New England. Four Eastern Region counties have navigable waters within their boundaries with direct access to the Port at Morehead City and the Intracoastal Waterway, which runs the entire length of the North Carolina coast - where many upscale retirees and executives create a ready market for boats built in the Region.
- Unsurpassed training resources - Our Marine Training and Education Center (NCMARTEC) is a state-of-the-art training facility located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Morehead City. NCMARTEC offers customized and curriculum training in maritime trades, including marine propulsion, boat manufacturing, composite and fiberglass technologies, marine electrical and plumbing systems, marine coatings, boat maintenance, repair and restoration, rigging and welding.
- Governmental support - North Carolina is the only state with a program dedicated to supporting the success and growth of the maritime industry. Via the state's Small Business and Technology Development Center's marine trade specialists, maritime companies can receive help with marketing and business plan development, leadership training, marketing to government agencies and many other needs. A program is in place to promote networking between boat builders and product suppliers. Further, North Carolina companies pay no inventory or intangibles taxes, and no sales tax on raw materials.
The following links offer you more information on the Marine Trades in the Eastern Region:
