The Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory has been unveiled at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Centre in the US.

“We are investing in people and infrastructure that will support ocean engineering, advanced education and research, and grow Maine jobs," said Gregory Powell, chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation which announced a US$3.9M grant to the university to meet costs for the first three years.

The Ocean Engineering Laboratory will prototype coastal and offshore structures, including ocean energy devices, ships, aquaculture facilities, oil and gas structures under extreme wave, wind and current environments.