INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
partners, and public relations sup- port. These resources help companies demonstrate that their technologies work in real-world conditions while reducing barriers to broader adoption. The program has produced meas- urable results. According to Giffen’s presentation, the BEI had launched 15 pilot projects, provided $3.4 million to support sustainable, ocean-positive initiatives and leveraged an additional $9.1 million in external research and grant funding. The Port had also received more than 429 inquiries from organizations seeking partnerships and pilot opportunities. Several projects illustrate how the approach works. ECOncrete developed an eco- engineered concrete solution designed to improve shoreline protection while enhancing marine habitat. Following a two-year pilot supported by $200,000 in 2019, the Port helped the company navigate California’s complex permit- ting process. By 2021, 160 linear feet of its COASTALOCK units had been installed at two San Diego Bay loca- tions, replacing conventional rock riprap. In 2026, the Port approved a further 1,060 linear feet of expansion. The company’s experience demon- strates how a successful pilot, com- bined with permitting assistance, can support wider deployment. MarineLabs is using sensor technol- ogy to collect wind, wave and vessel- wake data throughout San Diego Bay. Five buoys were already installed, with additional sensors planned for Coast Guard navigation buoys. The resulting information supports climate-risk assessments, infrastructure planning, operational safety and more informed decisions about coastal hazards. Other projects address different waterfront needs. VoltSafe is testing smart marina shore-power technology and management software intended to improve electrical safety and charging
Examples of the projects supported by the Port through their Blue Economy Incubator program.
navigate regulatory and commer- cial challenges, the Port can sup- port innovation while advancing its environmental objectives. For ports throughout the Pacific, San Diego’s experience offers a prac- tical model for linking economic development with sustainability. Rather than limiting innovation to research facilities or technology dem- onstrations, ports can use their own waterfronts as living laboratories, helping promising solutions progress from pilot projects to commercially viable applications.
performance. Lux Bio is developing naturally bioluminescent, biodegrad- able alternatives to conventional chem- ical glow sticks. Sunken Seaweed has used its pilot work in San Diego Bay to advance sustainable seaweed aquaculture, secure further funding and expand operations elsewhere in California. The BEI also strengthens the Port’s role as a connector among entrepre- neurs, researchers, public agencies and industry partners. By providing access to real operating environments and helping promising technologies
Esther Ada, Commonwealth Ports Authority presents Giffen with a speaker’s gift.
October 2026 — PACIFIC PORTS — 21
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