Thomas Carlyle famously remarked, “The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.” Our purpose in Connecticut must be to win global markets, and that depends on working together to advance our maritime economy. For in today’s world, prosperity is linked to success in trade and the global marketplace.

Yet when it has come to one of our most valuable resources, the maritime economy, Connecticut has lacked a group to coordinate, along with the dozens of local harbor commissions and municipal port authorities, the development and implementation of a strategic plan to advance the maritime economy of our state.

That has now changed with the launch of the Connecticut Port Authority.

Since 1921, New York and New Jersey together have had a robust maritime operation of maritime facilities and commerce. They leveraged their assets into one of the largest owners of infrastructure and greatest facilitators of trade and commerce in the world − the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Port Authority has since 1956 overseen trade and infrastructure in the Commonwealth. In Rhode Island in 1994, a nonprofit, public-private partnership was formed to manage Providence’s prot facilities.

Almost a century after the partnership of New York and New Jersey, and over two decades since the last neighboring state restructured the management and teamwork of its ports, Connecticut now has an accountable and dedicated body in the new Connecticut Port Authority. We must take advantage of our state’s full potential by updating our infrastructure, leveraging state and local resources to fullest effect, build positive partnerships between business and labor and forge a long-term bipartisan alliance to encourage trade and economic growth through our maritime economy.

The charge of the new Connecticut Port Authority as set forth by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislature is to coordinate the state’s maritime policy and serve as the governor’s principal maritime advisor. This means involving local, state and private entities to understand, implement and fine tune strategies to harness the full economic potential of our ports and harbors.

Our mission is to create jobs and opportunity for the people of Connecticut in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Prior to the onset of the Great Recession, Connecticut's maritime industry contributed more than

$5 billion annually to the state's economy and employed more than 30,000 people, according to a study published in 2010 by the Connecticut Maritime Coalition. In 2007, according to the same study, average wages in the maritime industry were 15 percent higher than the state average. According to a recent analysis by state economists, the industry has rebounded from the impact of the recession, again employing slightly more than 30,000 people.  

The challenge is to significantly boost those economic benefits. We started this mission in February. Since then we have met with officials from a dozen port communities, assumed responsibility for Connecticut’s dredging program, taken on control and custody of State Pier in New London and secured funds for marketing Connecticut ports and harbors.

For coastal communities to prosper, waterways must be dredged, adequate infrastructure must be installed, operated and maintained, and financial resources must be brought to bear. We will work with these port communities to place the maritime economy at the center of statewide efforts to create jobs and investment in Connecticut.

A 21st century plan means understanding and planning for conditions of the future, and our economic development strategy will include energy and environmental planning to keep Connecticut both competitive and sustainable. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from our neighboring states, while setting up Connecticut for success in a new century with a new organization dedicated to growing the maritime economy.

Our ports and harbors are central to our shoreline economy, to our heritage, and to our identity. What I intend to do along with my colleagues is lead an effort committed to restoring and better employing our ports to regain Connecticut's competitiveness in the region and the global marketplace

Only when we’re all pulling together will we be the most efficient and effective in helping Connecticut navigate its way through the 21st century world of increased connection, opportunity and economic competition, and realize our ultimate goal of making this a bettter state for future generations.

Scott Bates is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Port Authority, and executive director of the nonpartisan nonprofit think-tank Connecticut Institute for the 21st Century. He and his family reside in Stonington.