Maritime Industry Briefing: Federal Contractor Recognition and Critical Mineral Processing Partnership

## Maritime Industry Briefing ### Akima Recognised for Veteran Employment Practices Herndon, Virginia-based Akima, a provider of mission-focused solutions to the federal government, has been named a 3 Star Employer in the 2026 VETS Indexes Employer Awards, according to a PR Newswire release dated June 11, 2026. The recognition highlights Akima's commitment to hiring, supporting, and advancing military veterans within its workforce. For maritime and defence-adjacent contractors operating within the federal supply chain, veteran recruitment and retention programmes are increasingly viewed as a competitive differentiator, particularly as agencies prioritise workforce diversity and mission-readiness among their service providers. The VETS Indexes awards are an established benchmark for evaluating employer commitment to the veteran community across industries, including those supporting naval and coast guard operations. --- ### Strategic Partnership Targets Domestic Critical Mineral Refining In a development with potential implications for shipbuilding and marine technology supply chains, Momentum Technologies and Aquatech have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate domestic critical mineral refining in the United States, PR Newswire reported on June 11, 2026. The collaboration combines Momentum's and Aquatech's proprietary technologies and engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) capabilities, with the stated goal of delivering what the companies describe as 'America's first end-to-end critical mineral processing platform.' Critical minerals — including rare earth elements and metals such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel — are essential inputs for advanced marine propulsion systems, battery storage technologies, and naval defence equipment. Reducing dependence on foreign sources of these materials has become a strategic priority for both the US government and domestic manufacturers. Carrollton, Texas-based Momentum Technologies has positioned itself as a leader in critical mineral recovery, while Aquatech brings water and resource recovery expertise to the partnership. The combined platform is expected to strengthen domestic supply chain resilience at a time when geopolitical pressures continue to highlight vulnerabilities in global mineral sourcing. --- *Sources: PR Newswire Heavy Industry feed, June 11, 2026.*