Center For Maritime Training News

Seafarers International Union President Emeritus Michael Sacco died December 28, 2023, in St. Louis, surrounded by family members. He was 86 years old and passed away from natural causes.Mike was the longest-serving president in SIU history, having led the organization from 1988 until his retirement in February 2023, a period spanning nearly 35 years.The Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters, AFL-CIO, represents professional United States merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea…

SIU Piney Point building dedicated in honor of the late Thomas B. Crowley Sr. The Seafarers International Union (SIU) recently honored the late Thomas Crowley Sr. during a dedication ceremony that named a new administration building in his memory. The new Thomas Crowley Sr. Center for Maritime Services, located at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., commemorates the legacy of Crowley, who owned and operated Crowley Maritime Corp. until his death in 1994.

Education for the next generation, employment for life. A new source of talent emerges for maritime stakeholders everywhere. Primary and secondary maritime schools are sprouting up across the country, inspiring K-12 students to learn about the exciting, yet sometimes obscured domestic waterfront. The goals of these maritime school programs are many and multifaceted, but at the core they motivate and engage students by bringing something new and exciting to the classroom while giving teachers an effective means for capturing the attention of their classes.

Paul "Chip" Jaenichen, Acting Administrator at the Maritime Administration (MARAD) draws attention to a recent Military 2 Maritime information and recruiting session, hosted by the American Maritime Partnership in Jacksonville, Florida, to help steer veterans toward the opportunities available in the maritime industry. "We at the Maritime Administration (MARAD) are proud to be associated with an industry that doesn't just open its doors to America's veterans, but actively helps them navigate the transition to civilian careers. Through licensing and certification information, support for maritime academies, and our work with stakeholders, MARAD is actively engaged in making this transition easier.

VERITAS Maritime Training Center  in Manila has joined the FURUNO NavSkills network of training centers. Since December 2012, VERITAS MTC has provided FURUNO type specific ECDIS training to navigators under the FURUNO NavSkills training contract. Under the NavSkills agreement VERITAS MTC will accommodate a total of six training workstations: Four ECDIS FEA-2107 workstations and two next generation, state-of-the-art FMD-3200 workstations with three training instructors certified by FURUNO to conduct FURUNO type specific ECDIS training. VERITAS MTC is a part of Epsilon Hellas (Overseas) Ltd. and was established in January 2012. The company is engaged in providing training to Philippine shipboard personnel on seagoing vessels.

Florida Maritime Training Academy has announced that they are now part of the U.S. Coast Guard's National Maritime Center's (NMC) Maritime Training and Assessment Data Program (MTAD) that was rolled out earlier this month. "We actually had the opportunity to help the USCG with testing by signing up late last year and enter data through the Homeport. Our last STCW Basic Safety Training class of 2011 had their course completing information at the NMC before they got home after the last day of class,” said Roberto Valletta, Director of Training at Florida Maritime.

The commander of U.S. Transportation Command honored U.S. merchant mariners, past and present, May 19 during Military Sealift Command's (MSC) annual National Maritime Day memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. National Maritime Day, officially May 22, was established by Congress in 1933 and is observed each year to honor the contributions and sacrifices of U.S. merchant mariners in defense of the nation. These dedicated men and women are frequently considered the unsung heroes of the nation's defense. MSC is the largest employer of U.S. merchant mariners with more than 7,000 civil service and contract mariners deployed worldwide providing critical support to U.S. and allied warfighters around the world.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Center for Maritime Training, Research and Development will host the 2009 International Conference on Marine Simulation and Ship Maneuverability (MARSIM) August 17-20. For the first time, MARSIM will be held in Panama City, Panama, where maritime industry leaders, academics and researchers will come together from across the globe to share the latest developments in marine simulation, safety and ship maneuverability, and discuss the progress and anticipated benefits of the Panama Canal Expansion Program. “The ACP uses simulation technology to enhance the safety of vessel navigation through the Canal and streamline transits for our customers,” said ACP Captain Rogelio Altafulla.

Texas State Maritime Program (TAMUG) has selected the Buffalo Computer Graphics and Transas Marine USA team for the contract to replace their existing ship simulator. The new simulator complex will consist of a Transas Navi-Trainer Professional 3000 full mission ship simulator system with integrated GMDSS communications simulation capabilities, as well as full integration with the existing BCG PCS100 five-station ARPA/Radar simulator. Using Transas Marine's combination of simulation software, dedicated hardware (real ship controls) and commercial-off-the-shelf components, the simulator will be an ideal tool in the training and certification of United States Maritime Service Cadets.

Texas State Maritime Program, a component of Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) has selected the Buffalo Computer Graphics and Transas Marine USA team for the contract to replace their existing ship simulator. The new simulator complex will consist of a Transas Navi-Trainer Professional 3000 full mission ship simulator system with integrated GMDSS communications simulation capabilities, as well as full integration with the existing BCG PCS100 five-station ARPA/Radar simulator. Using Transas Marine's unique combination of simulation software, dedicated hardware (real ship controls) and commercial-off-the-shelf components, the simulator will be an ideal tool in the training and certification of United States Maritime Service Cadets.