Northern Ireland Maritime and Offshore (NIMO), supported by Belfast Harbour, has joined the Port Innovators Network (PIN), strengthening international collaboration and knowledge exchange across the maritime sector.

PIN is a global association spanning the wider maritime ecosystem, created to speed up the adoption of innovation within ports worldwide.

NIMO unites partners from industry, government and academia to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions that drive significant economic and environmental benefits across Northern Ireland's maritime and offshore sectors.

Belfast Harbour, a Trust Port and Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway, handles 70% of the region's seaborne trade and 25% of seaborne trade for the island of Ireland. It facilitates the flow of goods and supports £8.8bn in total Gross Value Added (GVA) to the regional economy.

Dr Kerry Muldoon, Executive Director of NIMO, said: "NIMO members bring strength in areas like autonomous systems, offshore renewables, and innovative port technologies, as well as technology transfer from aerospace into the marine sector. What excites us most about joining PIN is the two-way benefit it creates. Our innovative SMEs gain exposure beyond Northern Ireland, while other PIN members gain direct access to the capability and innovation we've built here. Through PIN's matchmaking network, those connections happen quickly, opening doors that would otherwise take years to find on their own. "At the same time, our own ports and harbours across the region can learn a huge amount from PIN's members, and we're looking forward to collaborating with fellow innovation hubs as they tackle many of the same challenges we face."

Mike Dawson, People and Digital Transformation Director, Belfast Harbour said: "Belfast Harbour is currently laying the foundation for the port's digital future as part of our 2025-50 Masterplan, which sets out long-term investment in port infrastructure. The objective is to create an integrated, data-driven operating model that improves safety, productivity and resilience.

"We've already invested in innovative solutions such as enhanced connectivity and live monitoring solutions to improve situational awareness and operational response; automated environmental and fuel monitoring to improve safety and compliance; and digitalised documentation to reduce administration time.

"The Port Innovators Network offers the opportunity for us to expand our connections around the world and we look forward to sharing our learnings from internal projects and connecting with our peers to discover how other ports and sectors have been planning for the future."

David Thomas, Executive Director, The PIER said: "As a founding member of the Port Innovators Network, The PIER welcomes NIMO and Belfast Harbour to the ecosystem. Building on connections formed through the Invest NI delegation "Atlantic Exchange" event we hosted in Halifax in 2025, we look forward to NIMO's innovators and Belfast Harbour's experience contributing to trialing new solutions across our growing global network."

To mark the start of their membership, NIMO and Belfast Harbour will attend PIN's plenary in Valencia in October, focusing on strategy, port resilience and a dedicated day at the Valencia Digital Summit's Port Entrepreneurship and International Congress (PEIC).