URI and US Maritime Resource Center–a nonprofit organization with a niche focus specializing in navigation safety, maritime risk mitigation, human capital development and raising awareness of international shipping, maritime trade and transport—signed a five-year MOU at the beginning of 2016. The MOU outlines the goals and objectives of a fellowship program. During the summer of 2016, two MAF students became the first URI/USMRC fellows. The program coordinator received ten applications and in collaboration with the USMRC, awarded two fellowships. Emily Tradd, class of 2016 and Aislyne Calianos, class of 2018 were this summer’s fellows working on maritime-related emissions and ballast water management, producing the following two studies: (1)“Understanding Emissions Control Regulations on Global Shipping: An Observation of Stakeholder Responses to Emissions Control Policies”, and (2) “Impeding Ballast Water Management Regulations: An Analysis of Their Implications for the International Shipping Community”.