Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline offer many easily accessible boat landing points, yet it plays a limited role in serving the state’s daily transportation needs.
To Flux Marine Ltd. CEO Ben Sorkin, that’s both a sign of the vast potential of the state’s evolving blue economy and a source of frustration.
“Why are there not more boats?” Sorkin asked March 11 during PBN’s 2026 Emerging Industries Summit. “There’s so much incredible coastline.” he said. “I would love to find a way to enable more people to use boats.”
“My dream,” he added, “is that, when people start talking about the Bay Area, the next question is, ‘which one?’ ”
Before the state can get in that conversation, it will need more investment in the marine industry and a skilled workforce to support attracting more innovators such as Flux.
The state’s Ocean Tech Hub has a pending application for up to $50 million in federal funding.
The hub, which also serves Massachusetts, has also attracted some private investment and is well-positioned to help jump-start efforts to grow the state’s water-based economy.