Maritime Schools News

Jennifer Carpenter joined The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association representing the inland and coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry, in August 1990 and became its president and CEO in January 2020. She highlights some of the greatest focus areas for the 80-year-old trade group—simultaneously looking at both the present day and the road ahead.The towboat, tug and barge industry is in a period of rapid evolution. How is AWO—now in its 80th year…

The shipping industry is facing a significant competence and capacity gap in the years to come with more advanced instrumentation, ships becoming more complex to operate, new regulations and requirements to fuel-types and sustainable operations. We also see that due to the pandemic there are challenges for seafarers traveling to training centers to keep their certificates current and many experienced seafarers are changing profession. The need for retraining and advanced training of crew in all vessel segments is therefore becoming increasingly important…

How many times have you heard someone say, “Oh, that person is a born leader; I could never do what they do as I am not a born leader”? That train of thought has recently come under increased scrutiny and debate as the U.S. Merchant Marine enters the 21st century. As part of this focus, the International Maritime Association (IMO) updated the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) with the 2010 Manilla Amendments.

The offshore wind industry in the United States is growing exponentially, with multiple projects in the development stages off of the Atlantic coast. The total megawatt capacity of U.S. offshore wind farms is anticipated to reach 22,000 by 2030 and 43,000 by 2050. To support this growth, U.S. Department of Energy reports estimate over 40,000 new jobs will be created by 2030.The new jobs anticipated to support the offshore wind industry include a wide range of types, including engineers, trade workers, surveyors, scientists, technicians, managers, and seafarers.

Rear Admiral Mark Buzby is the Maritime Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration.Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on August 8, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Buzby served as president of the National Defense Transportation Association, a position he has held since retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2013 with over 34 years of service. A 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Buzby earned his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate License. He was commissioned in the US Navy in June 1979, is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and holds master’s degrees from the U.S.

Merchant mariner numbers may be at a low in the U.S., but the men and women of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) have increased their operating days by 245 percent from Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 to FY 2017.This year’s missions have included some of the largest ammunition movements since the Vietnam War – which the RRF crane ships are exceptionally cut out for; unit resupply to various theaters around the world, and movement of rotating forces including supporting the Canadian military.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced that the establishment of MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy  in Salitran, Dasmariñas City, the Philippines — a joint project with Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC) — has acquired official approval from the Philippine government's Commission on Higher Education (CHED), clearing the way for the academy to open in August. MOL has offered training programs in Philippines with the goal of developing crewmembers who will uphold strict safety standards in vessel operation, such as onboard training program with its own instructors and crewmembers aboard its training ship, and the "3rd Year Program" targeted new seafarers from among third-year students at partner maritime schools in the Philippines…

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and the National Institute of Technology (KOSEN) agreed to collaborate in the fields of education and public relations for the purpose of human resources development in the maritime industry and the promotion of maritime affairs awareness. NYK has a number of programs to educate the next generation of seafarers, and one of those programs facilitates international student-exchanges between students at KOSEN maritime schools and the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy, which NYK operates in the Philippines. In addition to these overseas exchange programs and the promotion of maritime affairs awareness, NYK will boost its cooperation with KOSEN to include training in Japan and overseas for teachers and students. This training will begin this summer.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced the graduation of 88 students in the sixth class of the "3rd Year Program," which MOL introduced with the goal of developing crewmembers who will uphold strict safety standards in vessel operation. The 3rd Year Program targets new seafarers from among third-year students at partner maritime schools in the Philippines. MOL provides education and training at the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping (MIS), its training center in the Philippines. On hand for the graduation ceremony were Development Bank of the Philippines President, Cecilia C. Borromeo, MARINA, Deputy Executive Director for STCW, Atty. Maximo I.

The NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA), which NYK operates in the Philippines, successfully conducted an international short-term student-exchange program with maritime schools in Japan during the months of August and October 2016. The program was organized as part of the NYK Mirai Project. From August 31 to September 10, nine students from the Hiroshima, Yuge, and Oshima colleges of the National Institute of Technology travelled to the Philippines to participate in study and activities at NTMA. And four days from October 9, ten students from NTMA visited the National Institute of Technology’s Yuge College. During the visits, students attended classes and drill training together, interacting with one another in English, and left with greater stimulation and motivation.

Efforts have been underway since 2014 to procure government funding for new training vessels for the State Maritime Academies (SMA). Pending bills in Congress at this time would provide $300 million for the construction of the first of four training vessels for the SMAs with a total of $1.2 billion for the proposed four vessel package. Domestic maritime stakeholders have other options, however. These alternatives are attractive for more than one reason. Separately, the U.S. offshore energy sector has experienced a significant decline in demand and production…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that on March 8, it held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new merchant marine academy in Salitran, Dasmariñas City, the Philippines. It will be jointly established with Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC) (*1), MOL’s partner in the Philippines, and is scheduled to open in June 2018. A large audience was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony, including special guests from the city of Dasmariñas and from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); from MOL, Chairman Koichi Muto and Senior Managing Executive Officer Masaaki Nemoto. Everyone in attendance prayed for the safe completion of the construction project.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced the graduation of 105 students in the fourth class of the "3rd Year Program," which MOL introduced with the goal of developing crewmembers who will uphold strict safety standards in vessel operation. The 3rd Year Program targets new seafarers from among third-year students at partner maritime schools in the Philippines. MOL provides education and training at the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping(MIS)(*1), its training center in the Philippines. On hand for the graduation ceremony were Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr, Development Bank of the Philippines Executive Vice President and Chief Development OfficerBenel D.

Transas Marine has installed the ECDIS simulator class at the Constanța Maritime University (CMU), one of the first maritime schools in Romania to launch simulator-based courses to train bridge watchkeeping officers and other personnel in safe and efficient use of ECDIS in full compliance with the STCW 2010. The newly installed simulator is based on the Transas Navi-Sailor ECDIS Multifunction Display MFD 4000 with inbuilt Navi-Planner voyage planning software, both fully compliant with the latest performance standards for shipborne navigation equipment.

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, announced that he, along with 25 bipartisan members of Congress, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget urging the agencies to develop and support a plan to design and replace the ships used by the United State’s six State Maritime Academies (SMAs). “The maritime industry continues to be a key part of our nation’s economy,” said Rep. Crowley. In the letter, the lawmakers expressed concern over the aging multi-mission vessels being used to train future generations of maritime workers and 70 percent of new U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers each year.

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled its latest generation ship’s bridge simulator, K-Sim Navigation, which meets the requirements of the most demanding navigation training for merchant, offshore and naval vessels. Designed for the future of advanced and integrated simulation training, K-Sim Navigation is based on a new cutting-edge technology platform enabling more realistic training scenarios and enhanced user benefits for both instructors and students. K-Sim Navigation features an advanced physical engine and state-of-the-art hydrodynamic modelling…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) donated vessel photographs to nine maritime educational institutes in Japan in commemoration of the 130th anniversary of its foundation. On September 25, MOL Managing Executive Officer Takaaki Inoue presented a vessel photo to Yuji Hayashi, Head of the Faculty of Maritime Sciences at Kobe University. Hayashi responded, “Students will be captivated by the sight of this merchant vessel and set their life goals. On September 30, in a donation ceremony at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology…

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.

Transas has held a series of Simulation User Seminars in France. The events gathered more than 60 participants from maritime schools, pilot associations, navy and coast guard of the region. To make the seminars more efficient and closer to the users, Transas said it decided to split them across two locations. The first two days took place in St-Nazaire at the SAR association SNSM (Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer) training center. The SNSM is a long-term Transas partner and…

VSTEP won a contract to install FMB and Tug simulators at all three FIDENA Maritime Schools in Mexico. The contract was won by VSTEP and its Mexican partner Edutelsa through an official competitive tender procedure and enables FIDENA to replace its old simulator technology with DNV certified NAUTIS simulators. FIDENA is the educational institution in charge of formal and comprehensive education of all seafarers in Mexico. It is the only institution in Mexico that offers higher level study programs in the maritime field and has wide international recognition. FIDENA has three nautical schools located in Mazatlan, Tampico and Veracruz and its Headquarters in Mexico City.

Our global economy and the maritime community have been greatly impacted by the implementation of the International Convention on Standards and Training, Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) 2010 Manila Amendments that went into force on January 1, 2012. Although it has been 18 years from the prior revision of the Convention and Code in 1995 and 35 years since they were adopted in 1978, the maritime industry was not fully prepared for the far reaching changes and implications to operations, training and technology.

Mass. Maritime responds to industry demand, reloads with cutting edge Transas equipment, and moves to the head of the brown water training queue. It was a dark and stormy night with choppy seas. I didn’t hit anything, but I did run aground twice while at the helm of the tug boat simulator at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) in Buzzards Bay. But then that’s the point – to let students safely make mistakes and get the closest thing to the real-life experience they need – and would have a limited shot at otherwise on the equipment they’ll be handling where the jobs are today…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) inform of the graduation of 126 students in the third class of the “Third Year Program,” which targets new seafarers from among third-year students at seven partner maritime schools in the Philippines. MOL explains that it provides education and training at the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping(MIS), its training center in the Philippines. The program received accreditation as the equivalent to university-level education under the Academe-Industry Linkage Program promoted by the Philippine government.