The Academies

MarAd, OSG Sign Agreement

The Maritime Administration and Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc, yesterday signed an agreement that will provide training opportunities for American maritime academy cadets on board OSG’s international vessels. The public-private partnership is the first formal agreement to make available on-board training billets in the international fleet for U.S. maritime academy cadets. Under the terms of the agreement, cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and all six state maritime academies will be able to obtain work experience and training on board OSG vessels. Under international and national requirements, maritime academy cadets must serve at sea, for an average of 300 days, in order to obtain enough shipboard training for a merchant marine officer license. This agreement will allow American cadets to serve on OSG’s modern and diverse commercial fleet of U.S. and foreign registered vessels in order to obtain necessary at sea training. The signing ceremony was held at the Maine Maritime Academy, one of the state academies covered by the agreement, during the U.S. Maritime Academy Presidents’ annual meeting. The agreement was signed by Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton and Captain Robert Johnston, Senior Vice President and Head of Shipping Operations at OSG. In attendance were the Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the Presidents of the State Maritime Academies of California, Great Lakes, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas.

LNG Training Agreement To Be Signed

Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton, presidents of the major seafaring unions, and the heads of major maritime academies will sign an agreement on June 5 to implement a set of universal standards in training crews for tankers carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The standards were developed by an industry working group facilitated by the Maritime Administration. The agreement will help expand the pool of U.S

Malaysian Maritime Academy Upgrades

Malaysian Maritime Academy (Alam) is aiming to be a regional training hub specializing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum tankers, Business Times reported. The academy, wholly-owned by shipping giant MISC Bhd, recently invested about $3 million to install the latest versions of a ship-handling stimulator, liquid cargo stimulator and engine stimulator. The country's premier seafarers' training academy had undergone a corporate transformation exercise as part of its vision to position

Compton Made Assistant Dean

Dennis Compton, a licensed chief mate and an expert on STCW mandates, has been named assistant dean for Registration and Institutional Research at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The Academy located in Kings Point, Long Island and New York, trains young men and women as licensed merchant marine officers. Graduates receive Bachelor of Science degrees and U.S. Naval Reserve commissions. In his new post, Compton will oversee all registrar activities at the federal academy

DOT Unveils Plans for Kings Point

United States Merchant Marine Academy Begins Strategic Planning Process   The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today began work on a comprehensive strategic plan that will develop long-term objectives and institutional goals.  The USMMA will undergo its next accreditation evaluation in 2016 and a core requirement of American higher education accreditation is that an academic institution has a current strategic plan.   

MARAD: $2.3m for State Maritime Academies

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration announced that America's six state maritime academies will receive an additional $2.3 million total from a government program that recycles obsolete vessels.  "With the majority of our goods moved over water, well-trained merchant mariners are critical in supporting our nation's security and economy," said Secretary LaHood.  "This money will help ensure that the men and women at our academies get the

Maritime Academy Grads – Service Obligation

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an interim rule changing the service obligation reporting requirements for graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and graduates of state maritime academies who receive Student Incentive Payments (SIP). Such graduates must now file a report on March 31 following graduation and for six consecutive years thereafter. Comments on the interim rule should be submitted by April 1, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 9758 (HK Law).

Cummings Recognizes 100th Anniversary of USCG Academy

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) managed the passage of H.Con.Res. 258, Congratulating the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy and its staff for 100 years of operation of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The School of Instruction to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Academy was established at Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut, in 1910, and later became known as the Coast Guard Academy after the consolidation of the Life

Uruguay Navy Selects Transas

The Naval Academy of the Uruguay Navy has successfully completed the acquisition and installation of a simulator complex by Transas including navigation and maneuvering simulator NTPRO 5000, GMDSS Communications simulator TGS 5000 and Engine Room simulator ERS 5000 SOLO. The project acquired through international bidding, with the participation of five world leading manufacturers culminated in the award of the contract to Transas USA and its local representative Arnaldo C. Castro SA

DOT: KP Training Vessel Sent to Texas

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Transfers TV KINGS POINTER to Texas A&M University.   The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that the TV KINGS POINTER will be transferred to Texas A&M University in Galveston. The transfer facilitates the upcoming reconstruction of Mallory Pier, the Academy’s main ship docking facility. The Mallory Pier project has been in the planning stages for several years