Marine technology companies being attracted to P.E.I.

The P.E.I. government's plan to create a marine technology hub on the Island has attracted two new companies,Nautican Research and Development Limited and Breakwater Management Services, which haveopenedoffices inthe Atlantic Technology Centre in Charlottetown.

P.E.I. Economic Development Minister Heath MacDonald announced an incentive program in July, with the province offering a corporate tax rebate to marine companies.

I figured that everything was in place ...to develop a successful marine business cluster on Prince Edward Island.- Paul Jamer, Breakwater Management Services

Paul Jamer, the president of Breakwater, said the new program creates a community of companies on the Island that can work together.

"I had established the business originally in Nova Scotia and over the last bunch of years, I've been working with some companies in Prince Edward Island," explained Jamer.

"And I have been extremely impressed with the level of collaboration that there is between the industry, government, educational institutions and so on. So with the announcement this summer of the advanced marine technology sector, I figured that everything was in place you know to develop a successful marine business cluster on Prince Edward Island."

Breakwater, whichprovidesbusiness development and consulting services,employs two people now, with plans to expand to four or more over the coming months.

Nautican Research and Development Limited designs and manufactures equipment for the marine industry. Nautican currently has two staff in its Charlottetown office and has plans to grow in early 2016 to three to five employees.