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 training they need to keep our country's economy moving forward today and well into the future."
Funding is being made available from the sale of obsolete vessels from the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet and budget savings generated by the Maritime Administration.
The Maritime Administration awarded $392,913 each to the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, Calif.; the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Mich.; the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine; the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Mass.; SUNY Maritime College in Fort Schuyler, N.Y.; and Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston, Texas.