MN100: Texas A&M Maritime Academy
Dynamically Positioned for the Future, the Texas A&M Maritime Academy takes its place among our 2019 MN100 best of industry winners. It's 'no accident' that today's early adoption of DP curriculum puts the school and its students front and center when it comes time to man tomorrow's futuristic offshore energy support tonnage.Late last year, the Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority (OSVDPA) announced that the Texas A&M Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston was now the first maritime academy in the nation accredited to provide OSVDPA courses to its cadets.
Dynamically Positioned for the Future
OSVDPA accredits Texas A&M Maritime Academy to provide dynamic positioning (DP) training to its cadets.In early September, the Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority (OSVDPA) announced that the Texas A&M Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston was now the first maritime academy in the nation accredited to provide OSVDPA courses to its cadets. For any U.S. maritime academy, most if not all of them traditionally focused on sending out graduates ready for blue water, deep water service, this represents a sea change in training. On the other hand, what better place to start than the U.S. academy closest in proximity to the heart of the domestic offshore energy industry…
OSVDPA Accredits Texas A&M Maritime Academy
A&M becomes first U.S. Maritime Academy to teach accredited DP courses.The Offshore Service Vessel Dynamic Positioning Authority (OSVDPA) has announced that Texas A&M Maritime Academy (TAMMA) is accredited to provide OSVDPA courses to its cadets. TAMMA, in Galveston, Texas, is the first Maritime Academy in the United States to be accredited by a dynamic positioning operator (DPO) certification body.In announcing the accreditation, OSVDPA Executive Director, Aaron Smith, said, “The OSVDPA Board of Directors and our staff are very excited to issue this accreditation. Going in to the accreditation process we obviously knew of A&M’s reputation as a great maritime training institution, but they surpassed even those lofty expectations.
FMC Chairman Addresses US-China Regulatory Issues
Consolidation of shipping lines, realignment of carriers alliances, environmental improvements in the shipping industry and achieving supply chain efficiencies were all among topics addressed during the U.S.-China Bilateral Maritime Consultations held in Los Angeles last week. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Mario Cordero co-headed the U.S. delegation to the meeting with Deputy Maritime Administrator Michael Rodriguez. The consultations are organized by the Maritime Administration and the Chinese Ministry of Transportation and take place on a regular basis.
Marad Visits TX Maritime Technology & Training Center
United States Maritime Administration tours Maritime Technology and Training Center site. Administrators from the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), along with staff from United States Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, recently visited the construction site of the Maritime Technology and Training Center, where they received a glimpse of one of the region's only waterfront campuses being built specifically for mariner training and as a home to the state's first maritime transportation associate degree program. Michael Rodriguez, MARAD deputy maritime administrator; Shawn Ireland, MARAD director of Office of Ship Disposal Programs…
USMMA's Class of 2019 Arrives for Indoctrination
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) today welcomed its incoming Class of 2019, consisting of 255 plebe candidates representing 46 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. With 50 female candidates, the incoming class has the highest percentage of young women to enter the Academy in its history. Upon arrival, the future midshipmen began a rigorous, 20-day regimen of academic, military, and physical training known as Indoctrination, which will transform them from recent high school graduates into future leaders and licensed maritime officers. “The members of this incoming class represent some of our nation’s best and brightest, with almost a third having graduated in the top 10% of their class,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Superintendent.
House Hearing on Mariner Education, Work Force
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted an oversight hearing on Mariner Education and Work Force. As explained in the Summary of Subject Matter, the focus of the hearing was growing shortage of mariners and the challenges facing the maritime work force. Subcommittee Chair Elijah Cummings (D-MD) expressed concern that the maritime industry is no longer attractive for new entrants. Committee Chair James Oberstar (D-MN) discussed the importance of timely and relevant training. Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead, USCG, explained the role of the International Convention on Standards of Training…
Transas Simulators to Participate in EU Project Jamaica
Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) www.cmi.edu.jm, (located on the Polisadoes peninsula) has selected Transas to supply new marine simulation systems for their training center. As a result of this simulator upgrade project endorsed for financing by the European Community, the CMI will receive the most technically advanced training facility in the Caribbean region. This will be the first full mission simulator complex installed by Transas in this area. According to the contract, Transas will deliver a Navi-Trainer Professional 4000 navigational bridge simulator with 7 visualization channels with the potential to expand that number to 9 channels; ERS 3000 Engine Room simulator; LCH simulator and TGS 4100 GMDSS simulator.
