Why It Matters

Atlas Crossing LLC registered Seakeeper Inc. as a new client on August 13.

Seakeeper's lobbying push comes as Congress allocates Navy funding amid significant delays in major shipbuilding programs. The company employs over 150 people at its Pennsylvania headquarters and is expanding its manufacturing footprint, positioning itself to engage on policy decisions that could affect the broader maritime and defense sectors.

The lobbying team at Atlas Crossing includes three registered representatives: Bobby Parmiter as Principal, Chris Eddowes as Vice President of Government Affairs, and Sean Joyce as Founder and CEO of Atlas Crossing LLC.

Broader Context

The Navy's fiscal year 2026 budget request reached $292.2 billion, with Congress debating how to allocate funds amid significant program delays. The Pentagon announced a strategic shift from the Constellation-class frigate program in 2025 after exercising contract options valued at over $3 billion. Navy Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) procurement is targeted for fiscal year 2027.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association shared upcoming trade and tariff deadlines in October 2025 that could affect U.S. marine manufacturers and their supply chains, with the administration continuing to implement Section 301 actions related to foreign shipbuilding and marine components.

China's colossal maritime industrial base is one factor underpinning its rapid naval expansion, which has already begun to destabilize the fragile military balance in the Indo-Pacific. According to King & Spalding, if fully implemented, the "Restoring America's Maritime Dominance" measures could significantly reshape the operating landscape for U.S. shipbuilders, ship owners, ports, and marine manufacturers.

The Bottom Line

Seakeeper's entry into federal lobbying reflects the convergence of Navy budget pressures, maritime trade concerns, and strategic competition in shipbuilding. The company's team has deep ties to relevant congressional committees, positioning it to engage on defense spending and maritime manufacturing policy as those debates unfold.

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