Report on North Carolina’s Marine Industry and Sustainable Development

North Carolina’s extensive coastline has historically anchored a significant marine industry, which is increasingly aligning its operations with global sustainability benchmarks. The state’s waterways are a critical economic asset, fostering industries that contribute to both local and national economies. This report examines how key players in this sector, exemplified by Regulator Marine, are integrating principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their business models through innovation, workforce development, and strategic partnerships.

Case Study: Regulator Marine’s Contribution to Sustainable Economic Growth (SDG 8)

Regulator Marine, a boat-building company in Edenton, North Carolina, serves as a prime example of sustainable economic development. Founded in 1988, the company’s growth from a small startup to a world-renowned manufacturer demonstrates a commitment to creating high-quality employment and fostering local economic resilience, directly supporting SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Workforce Development and Quality Education (SDG 4 & SDG 8)

A skilled workforce is fundamental to the company’s success and its contribution to sustainable development. Regulator Marine has established a robust framework for employee training and retention, which aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

• Local Skills Heritage: The company built upon a pre-existing local talent pool of craftsmen from former boat manufacturing operations in Edenton.
• Educational Partnerships: A critical collaboration with the College of the Albemarle, part of North Carolina’s community college system, provides access to small business seminars, on-the-job training, and hiring assessments to identify and develop promising candidates.
• State-Sponsored Training: The company utilizes North Carolina’s NC Edge program, which provides state funding for customized training delivered through the community college system, ensuring the workforce’s skills remain relevant and competitive.

Fostering Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure (SDG 9 & SDG 11)

Regulator Marine’s operations are characterized by continuous innovation and a strong, symbiotic relationship with local infrastructure, reflecting the objectives of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Technological Advancements

The company’s commitment to innovation is evident in its product development and manufacturing processes.

1. Pioneering Hull Design: Regulator Marine reinvented the deep-V hull design, setting a new standard for performance and craftsmanship in the sportfishing boat segment.
2. Advanced Stabilization and Power: The company was the first boat manufacturer to integrate Dometic’s DG3 Gyro Stabilizer, powered by a clean-energy lithium battery bank that also operates the boat’s house systems.
3. Hydrogen Propulsion: In a landmark partnership with Yamaha and Roush, Regulator developed the world’s first hydrogen-powered outboard boat, a significant step towards decarbonizing the marine industry.

Community and Infrastructure Partnership (SDG 11)

The company’s growth has been supported by a strategic partnership with the Town of Edenton, a public power community. This collaboration exemplifies how public infrastructure can support sustainable industrial growth.

• Expansion of essential municipal services, including water and sewer lines, to accommodate factory growth.
• Assistance in implementing energy-saving measures, such as enabling peak savings through the use of external generators.
• Active participation in securing state and regional grants for building reuse and technology upgrades.

Advancing Clean Energy and Protecting Marine Ecosystems (SDG 7 & SDG 14)

Regulator Marine’s technological initiatives directly contribute to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). By pioneering cleaner energy solutions, the company is helping to mitigate the environmental impact of the marine industry.

Key Initiatives for Sustainable Marine Practices

• Hydrogen Power: The development of a hydrogen-powered outboard engine is a transformative innovation aimed at reducing the industry’s reliance on fossil fuels. This directly addresses the need to minimize marine pollution and conserve marine ecosystems for sustainable development.
• Efficient Energy Systems: The adoption of lithium battery power banks for onboard systems represents a shift towards more efficient and cleaner energy management, reducing emissions and improving the sustainability profile of their products.

The Power of Collaboration: Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The success of Regulator Marine and its alignment with the SDGs is underpinned by a multi-stakeholder collaborative model, as championed by SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This approach demonstrates that achieving sustainable development requires concerted action from various sectors of society.

A Multi-Stakeholder Approach

The company’s progress is a result of a network of strategic alliances:

• Public Sector: The Town of Edenton and the State of North Carolina, through grant programs and the NC Edge initiative.
• Education Sector: The North Carolina Community College System, specifically the College of the Albemarle.
• Private Sector: Technology and engineering partners such as Dometic, Yamaha, and Roush.
• Business and Leadership Organizations: Engagement with groups like C12 to foster ethical and effective business management practices.

This integrated partnership model has been instrumental in building a resilient company that contributes positively to the economy, the community, and the environment, serving as a blueprint for sustainable industrial development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article highlights the importance of education and vocational training in supporting the marine industry. It mentions partnerships with educational institutions to provide relevant skills for the workforce.
2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses innovation towards cleaner energy sources in the marine sector, specifically mentioning the development of a hydrogen-powered boat and the use of lithium battery power banks.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The core theme of the article is the economic vitality and growth of North Carolina’s marine industry, exemplified by the success and expansion of Regulator Marine, which creates jobs and contributes to the local economy.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The article focuses on industrial growth, technological innovation in boat manufacturing, and the development of supporting infrastructure like water and sewer lines, which are crucial for the industry’s success.
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • As the article is about the marine industry, it is inherently linked to the use of marine and coastal resources. The move towards cleaner technologies like hydrogen power suggests an effort to reduce the industry’s environmental impact on marine ecosystems.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article repeatedly emphasizes the role of collaborations. It details public-private partnerships (with the Town of Edenton), private-private partnerships (with Yamaha and Roush), and partnerships with educational and civil society organizations (College of the Albemarle, C12).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” This is addressed through the partnership with the College of the Albemarle for “on-the-job training opportunities,” “hiring assessments,” and “workforce development programs, ranging from technical skills to leadership growth.” The state’s “NC Edge” program also provides “customized training through the community college system.”
2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The article points to this target by highlighting the partnership to build the “world’s first hydrogen-powered outboard boat,” which represents a shift away from traditional fossil fuels in marine propulsion.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” Regulator Marine’s story, from its innovative “deep-V hull design” to its expansion and adoption of new technologies, directly reflects this target.
   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…” The support from the Town of Edenton, which included “expanding water and sewer lines” and assisting with “building reuse grants,” exemplifies policies that foster business growth and entrepreneurship.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.2: “Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization…” The article describes the growth of Regulator Marine from an “old A&P grocery store” to a major manufacturer, showcasing industrial development in the region.
   • Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies…” This is demonstrated by the company’s adoption of cleaner technologies, such as the “lithium battery power bank” and the development of a “hydrogen-powered outboard boat.”
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds…” The development of a hydrogen-powered boat directly contributes to this target by aiming to reduce pollution from marine vessels, which is a significant source of marine pollution.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article is a case study for this target, citing partnerships with “the Town of Edenton” (public-private), “Yamaha and Roush” (private-private), “the College of the Albemarle” (public-private), and “C12, a faith-based organization” (civil society).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 4:
   • The existence of specific training programs like “on-the-job training,” “workforce development programs,” and “customized training” through the “NC Edge” program serves as a qualitative indicator of progress towards Target 4.4.
2. For SDG 7:
   • The creation of the “world’s first hydrogen-powered outboard boat” is a concrete indicator of innovation in clean energy (Target 7.2).
3. For SDG 8:
   • The physical expansion of the company, specifically the “55,000 square feet” manufacturing footprint expansion in 2019, is a quantitative indicator of economic growth (Target 8.2).
   • The “customer satisfaction index score of over 95%” is a key performance indicator reflecting economic viability and productivity.
4. For SDG 9:
   • The use of “technology grants” and “building reuse grants” indicates investment in industrial upgrading (Target 9.4).
   • The development of innovative products like the “Dometic DG3 Gyro Stabilizer” and the hydrogen-powered boat are indicators of technological innovation within the industry.
5. For SDG 14:
   • The development of the hydrogen-powered boat is a leading indicator for reducing marine pollution (Target 14.1), as its adoption would lead to measurable reductions in emissions.
6. For SDG 17:
   • The article explicitly lists multiple partnerships with public, private, and civil society entities, serving as a direct indicator of the formation of effective partnerships (Target 17.17).

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: businessfacilities.com