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Us Merchant Marine Academy News

19 Feb 2024

Insights: Catherine Gianelloni, MITAGS

Catherine Gianelloni, Director, MITAGS East Coast Campus (Photo: MITAGS)

Catherine Gianelloni sailed with the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (IOMM&P) for about 10 years after graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 2009. But in between times at sea, she would help out at the MITAGS (Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies). Operating simulators evolved into teaching opportunities, and Gianelloni took a full-time position in 2012. “Because we are the union school, I was allowed to take breaks—leave of absences—to go out and sail.

02 Feb 2024

St. Johns Ship Building Names Joe Rella as President

Joe Rella (Photo: St. Johns Ship Building)

St. Johns Ship Building announced it has appointed Joe Rella as president, succeeding Jeffery Bukoski, who left the role at the close of 2023.Rella brings over four decades of U.S. Navy and commercial maritime experience to his new position at the Palatka, Fa. shipyard. He was previously president and COO at Austal USA and has held executive roles at International Marine and Industrial Applicators. Rella received his undergraduate degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and earned an MBA from Spring Hill College.

26 Sep 2023

St. Johns Ship Building’s Jeff Bukoski to Receive USMMA’s Admiral McCready Award

Jeff Bukoski (Photo: St. Johns Ship Building)

Jeffery Bukoski, president of Palatka, Fla. shipyard St. Johns Ship Building, has been awarded the RADM Lauren S. McCready Award, which recognizes graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) who have made significant technical achievements in the marine industry or who have contributed organizational or managerial support to making such technical achievements possible.Bukoski, USMMA class of 1986, is a 35 year veteran of the U.S. marine industry, having worked at several government and commercial shipyards on the East…

25 Sep 2023

White House Appoints ARC CEO Eric Ebeling to King’s Point Board of Visitors

Eric P. Ebeling (Photo: ARC)

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) President and CEO Eric P. Ebeling was appointed by President Joe Biden to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Board of Visitors.The Board of Visitors provides independent advice and recommendations concurrently to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation, Congress, and Superintendent of the Academy on matters related to the state of morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs…

28 Aug 2023

14th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium to be Held Nov. 14-16 at SUNY Maritime

The 2023 Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS) will be held Nov. 14-16, 2023, as an in-person event, hosted by Maritime College, State University of New York (SUNY) at the Maritime Academic Center. The theme of the 14th annual event is â€śManaging Impacts of Supply Chain Disruptors, Renewable Energy, Emerging Technology on the Maritime Transportation System (MTS)” with a focus on offshore infrastructure risk and disruptors. Founded in 1874, Maritime College is the oldest maritime college in the United States, providing mariner training for 150 years.

16 Aug 2023

To Fight Sexual Assault and Harassment, Vessel Owners and Operators Must Comply with Heightened Reporting Requirements

© NAN / Adobe Stock

In response to increased awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) in the maritime industry — and following a widely reported account by a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet of sexual assault aboard a U.S.-flagged ship during her Sea Year training — Congress enacted into law the Safer Seas Act (SSA) in December 2022.Intended as a direct effort to prevent and punish SASH, the SSA, among other provisions:Requires the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to revoke the license…

19 Jun 2023

ECDIS is Not a Replacement for Terrestrial Navigation

Copyright AdobeStock/Ignacio

I guess it was only a matter of time. After years of debating whether or not Celestial Navigation should be taught it is now time to debate the relevance of Terrestrial Navigation. The argument is same: why do I need to know this if there is technology available to do it for me?The answer is also the same. If you want to be a professional mariner than your knowledge base and skill sets should far exceed that of a weekend boater that follows the direction of their chart plotter…

25 May 2023

US Coast Guard Ready to Move New Anti-SASH Policy

(Credit: Deven Leigh Ellis / U.S. Navy)

In May, the U.S. Coast Guard will start a strengthened and pointedly direct anti-SASH campaign that will extend across the maritime industry. SASH is an acronym for sexual assault/sexual harassment, and this new effort adds muscle to Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB Number: 1-23) "Reporting Sexual Misconduct on U.S. Vessels" released in February. The new bulletin supersedes a previous one from late 2021.USCG personnel will be very deliberate in making sure that all maritime operators are aware of MSIB 1-23. The core message: report all sexual misconduct and harassment.

10 May 2023

US Forms Council to Advise on USMMA Improvements

(File photo: USMMA)

The U.S. Department of Transportation has formed a new advisory council to help drive improvements at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), a service academy in Kings Point, N.Y.According to the DOT, establishment of the USMMA Advisory Council fulfills a key recommendation from the National Academy of Public Administration’s (NAPA) November 2021 report entitled “Organizational Assessment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: A Path Forward.” Specifically, NAPA’s report recommended…

10 Apr 2023

Critical Thinking Matters on the Bridge

Image courtesy USMMA

One of the most important skills a ship’s officer should possess is their ability to recognize when something is out of place. If you don’t apply a lot of thought to what you are doing, recognizing your mistakes becomes nearly impossible. Thought is required in every step of every process performed on the bridge.With all the modern appliances we use for navigation and collision avoidance today, it is very easy to fall into the trap of being reactive to the wishes of the machines without giving much thought to the outcome of our actions.

12 Nov 2022

Rear Adm Nunan First Woman Appointed USMMA Superintendent

Rear Adm. Joanna Nunan stands for a portrait, Sept. 27, 2017.U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Steenson.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Joanna M. Nunan (U.S. Coast Guard, Ret.) as the next superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). Nunan, who spent more than three decades in the U.S. Coast Guard, has commanded units at every level both afloat and ashore. She will begin work at the Academy in a few weeks.Rear Admiral Nunan retired earlier this year as the Coast Guard’s Deputy for Personnel Readiness.

02 Nov 2022

US Mid-term Elections Bring Changes, Uncertainty in Congressional Maritime Leadership

© chris / Adobe Stock

Regardless of whether the Republicans seize or the Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate, there is a guarantee that changes in leadership will occur in some of the key Congressional leadership positions that will impact the maritime industry. Two of the most significant Congressional committees of jurisdiction are the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (House T&I) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate Commerce). Both committees have jurisdiction over the U.S.

14 Jun 2022

'Midshipman-X' Revealed, Files Suit Against Maersk

Hope Hicks is Midshipman-X. (Photo courtesy Sanford Heisler Sharp)

A U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) midshipman who shook the maritime industry last year when, under the moniker "Midshipman-X," publicly described how she was raped by her superior officer while serving as an engine cadet aboard a Maersk cargo ship, has been revealed as Hope Hicks.Hicks is one of two USMMA students being represented by Sanford Heisler Sharp and Maritime Legal Solutions, who said Tuesday they filed two related complaints in New York state court against Maersk Line, Limited alleging that company, a subsidiary of Danish shipping giant A.P.

19 May 2022

Ann Phillips Sworn In As MARAD Administrator

Ann Phillips (Photo: MARAD)

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Rear Admiral (Rear Adm.) Ann Phillips, USN, Ret., has been confirmed and sworn in as the 20th Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD). Nominated by President Biden on October 21, 2021, Rear Adm. Phillips was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 10, 2022. She is the first woman to lead MARAD as administrator.“From her distinguished naval service to her leadership on coastal infrastructure, Rear Admiral Ann Phillips has championed America’s maritime sector throughout her career,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

16 May 2022

EMBARC: Changing Course - from Coarse to Enlightened

Midshipmen from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, fix the ship's position using a sextant aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65). (Photo: Deven Leigh Ellis / U.S. Navy)

“Until every employee, and every midshipman, and cadet, and every trainee trusts the system and until all allegations are handled properly, abuse will continue to occur, it will continue to go unreported, and people will continue to suffer alone—and that is simply intolerable,” said Lucinda Lessley, Acting Maritime Administrator, presenting at the Connecticut Maritime Association Shipping Expo and Conference, in February.On March 30, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) released…

04 Mar 2022

USMMA Superintendent to Step Down

Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Vice Adm. Jack Buono (Photo: USMMA)

Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Vice Adm. Jack Buono announced his retirement after a maritime career that has spanned more than 45 years.Vice Adm. Buono, a 1978 Kings Point graduate, has spent the past three and a half years at the Academy helm, and will relinquish command at a ceremony in June 2022. His successor has not been announced.“For Ginger and I, serving as the Superintendent and First Lady of the Academy has been the honor of a lifetime,” Buono said. “The young women and men who come here are truly the best and brightest America has to offer.

10 Feb 2022

Eric Friend Named MITAGS Executive Director

Eric Friend (Photo: MITAGS)

On behalf of the MM&P MATES Program, The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and Maritime Conference Center (MCC) announce the appointment of Eric Friend as the new executive director.“The trustees’ decision to select Friend as the next executive director has made the transition much easier. Friend has been running the Academic Division for several years, and has been involved in most major decisions,” said Glen Paine, former executive director, now retired. “Eric is smart, dedicated, and respected by the trustees, students, and industry.

08 Feb 2022

Rodriguez Appointed Interim Director of MITAGS

Mike Rodriguez (Photo: MITAGS)

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) announced it has appointed Mike Rodriguez as interim director."I am pleased that Mike Rodriguez has agreed to take on the day-to-day administration of MITAGS' academic programs and courses as we begin the process of bringing onboard a new director,” said Eric Friend, MITAGS executive director. “Mike brings a wide range of experience and skills to our crew as we move our organization forward.”“I have been fortunate throughout my career to work with great people in education, labor, government and the military.

20 Jan 2022

Eagle Bulk CEO Gary Vogel Named CMA Commodore

Gary Vogel, Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Photo: Eagle Bulk Shipping)

Gary Vogel, chief executive officer of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., has been named as the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Commodore for the year 2022.The 2022 Commodore Award, given each year to a person in the international maritime industry who has contributed to the growth and development of the industry, will be presented on March 31, at the Gala Dinner marking the conclusion of the annual Connecticut Maritime Association conference and expo, in Stamford, Conn..Vogel has served as CEO and director of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ: EGLE) since September, 2015.

16 Dec 2021

Crowley Awards Scholarships to Four USMMA Cadets

USMMA cadets Frank, Mathes, Poznanski, and Roberts. (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley recently honored four U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets with Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships during the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards on December 6 in Newark, N.J.Cadets Breanna Frank, Nathan Mathes, A.J. Poznanski and Erin Roberts were awarded the memorial scholarship based on their interest in pursuing a career at sea, as well as their service during their sea year aboard a Crowley-owned or -managed vessel.Midshipman First Class Breanna Frank, from Sidney, Mont., is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in maritime logistics and security.

16 Dec 2021

USMMA Set to Resume at Sea Training

File photo: Two students from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy train aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold in 2016. (Photo: Leigh Ellis / U.S. Navy)

Students from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) are set to resume at sea training with new safety measures in place following a temporary pause due to sexual assault and harassment concerns. The U.S. federal maritime academy’s Sea Year training program, which typically consists of a sailing period during a cadet’s sophomore year and a longer sailing period during a cadet’s junior year, was put on hold in early November as lawmakers and the U.S. Department of Transportation…

08 Dec 2021

USCG Says Sexual Assault Offenders Will Be Held Accountable

© Alex Stemmers / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday issued a statement expressing its commitment to crack down on sexual assault offenders in the maritime industry.The statement comes as the Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) and lawmakers grappled with a raft of new sexual assault and harassment allegations revealed online by current and former cadets at America's federal and state maritime academies. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) recently…

09 Nov 2021

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Announces Leadership Change

(Photo: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding)

U.S. shipyard Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding announced a change of leadership. Todd Thayse, who began working at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding more than 37 years ago and he has spent the last 10 years as the vice president and general manager, has decided to retire.“The timing of one’s retirement is not an easy decision,” Thayse said. “Especially when you enjoy what you do and the people you get to work with every day.”Thayse will remain at FBS through mid-January to help enable a smooth transition with the incoming VP and GM, Craig Perciavalle.

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