From Shoreline to Skyline: Peter Robbins on the Rise of the Floating Economy
Description
When you think of the future, do you picture space—or water?
In this eye-opening episode, Jackie De Burca speaks with Peter Robbins, one of the world’s leading voices on the floating economy. From delivering fresh meals via jet skis to developing mega-scale coastal innovation projects in Korea and the US, Peter is building a blueprint for what he calls the next “mega-trend”: the floating economy.
More than a futuristic fantasy, this is a global movement gaining momentum across industries like logistics, hospitality, port infrastructure, energy, and even education. Learn how floating solutions are solving everything from workforce shortages to population crises, and how ports are being reimagined as launchpads—not limits.
Whether you're a policymaker, investor, engineer or just curious about where cities are headed, this episode dives deep into the possibilities of our water-bound future.
“We’re not just building floating solutions. We’re building the workforce, the policy awareness, and the investment appetite to support a floating future.” Peter Robbins
What You Will Learn In This Episode
The distinction between the floating economy and the blue/ocean economy
Why nearshore logistics could transform coastal commerce
How floating housing could solve affordability and flood resilience
Case studies: Busan, Rotterdam, Brisbane, and beyond
The urgent need to build a water-based workforce—starting in schools
How the private sector, governments, and NGOs can work together to scale floating infrastructure
About Peter Robbins
Peter began his career in Air Force intelligence, tracking global naval threats. He later held roles in defence recruiting, government operations, and private-sector training.
He helped scale startup operations before joining Homeland Security.
After relocating to South Korea, Peter built maritime education programmes and led training for government leaders focused on coastal business strategy.
Through his consultancy, he developed tools for U.S. companies in supply chain and nearshore logistics. Today, Peter leads The Floating Economy and is building The Floating Institute, a nonprofit focused on business and infrastructure at the water’s edge.
At The Floating Institute (TFI), we connect governments and private capital to partners who design and build floating logistics hubs, modular waterfronts, offshore business districts, floating neighbourhoods, defence applications, and more.
The Floating Economy spans logistics, defence, infrastructure, mobility, real estate, energy, aquaculture, industry, tourism, water services, and offshore commerce, creating entirely new markets beyond the limits of land.
We give governments the tools to expand offshore, investors the access to frontier industries, and entrepreneurs the platform to launch new businesses before the world catches up. The Floating Economy is a race, and the leaders are already pulling ahead.
Check out his website: https://www.floatingeconomy.com/
Other Resources
Here is Rutger de Graaf
Floating Futures: Living with Water, Not Against It With Rutger de Graaf
The podcast that features Jane Findlay can be found here:
S2, E7: Jane Findlay: When We Damage Nature We Damage Our Own Health
The mini-series that features Dr Nadina Galle is available at:
Dr Nadina Galle Podcast Mini-Series
United States
