This article examines the different forms taken by clusters in the maritime industry and compares six examples : two Canadian (the Québec maritime cluster and St. John’s, Newfoundland), and four European (Copenhagen (Denmark), Turku (Finland), Brest (France) and Tromso (Norway). Relying on recent documents describing each cluster and each region’s economic development, we attempt to draw out key elements surrounding the implementation of cluster development strategies and the functioning of these clusters.