Regimental News

Massachusetts Maritime Academy conducted its annual regimental Change of Command Ceremony in conjunction with the celebration of National Maritime Day on Wednesday, May 24.The Change of Command Ceremony is both the symbolic and physical transfer of leadership responsibilities from the graduating senior class to members of the junior class. During the ceremony, held at the Clean Harbors Athletic Stadium on the Academy’s campus, the outgoing Regiment of Cadets Commander 1/C Abigail Pope of Falmouth, Mass., passed her responsibilities to 2/C Cole Francavilla of Stoneham, Mass.

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.

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 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) will celebrate 75 years since initial dedication in 1943, at homecoming this weekend. Events scheduled include a 75th anniversary dinner, the season’s first home football game for the 2-0 Mariners, a parade by the Regiment of Midshipmen, and the ceremony of Beating Retreat.“We are pleased to welcome alumni classes, families and friends for a jam-packed homecoming weekend at USMMA, especially the 75th anniversary events,” said George Rhynedance…

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA) welcomed 280, Class of 2022 “plebe candidates” for initial training today. The nearly 20-day orientation period known as Indoctrination, or Indoc, teaches plebe candidates the basics of maritime and regimental life at USMMA. Training will emphasize military discipline, daily regimental routine, physical fitness, basic seamanship, and an introduction to college-level academics. The incoming Class of 2022, consists of 280 plebe candidates, representing 45 states and Panama.

Four U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets were awarded with 2017 Thomas B. Crowley Memorial Scholarships during yesterday’s Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards luncheon in Newark, N.J. Jenny Terpenning, supervisor, marine recruiting at Crowley Maritime Corporation, presented the scholarships to Midshipmen (MIDN) Joshua Cann, Vincent Policastro, Rebecca Snyder and Benjamin Starr while also formally recognizing 2016 recipient Chandler Chiappe, all of whom were chosen based on their academic performance…

Crowley Maritime awarded six U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets with Thomas B. Crowley Memorial Scholarships during  the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards luncheon in Newark, N.J. Crowley’s Jenny Terpenning, supervisor, marine recruiting, presented the scholarships to Midshipmen (MIDN) Stacee Glass, Connor Sexton, John Terselic, Tanner Evans, Dylan Rabbitt, and Chandler Chiappe, all of whom were chosen based on their academic performance, financial need and interest in pursuing a career at sea after graduation.

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships have helped to further educational opportunities for four students of Maine Maritime Academy (MMA). The four recipients, J.T. DiGuglielmo, Jordan Harmon, Sean O’Connor and Luke Olson, were chosen based on their excellent grades, demonstrated financial need and plans to pursue careers in the maritime industry. DiGuglielmo, from Milton, Del., is a junior in the marine transportation operations program, seeking a career as a maritime pilot. Upon graduation, he looks forward to a career at sea and hopes to gain hands-on sea piloting experience prior to graduation. Harmon…

New York State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) will address and preside over SUNY Maritime College’s Indoctrination (INDOC) graduation on Saturday, August 22, the college announced today. Senator Klein will address new students, their parents, family members, friends and supporters of the college, as 340 MUGS (Mariners Under Guidance) participate in graduation exercises marking the completion of their INDOC period. The swearing-in ceremony and Pass-in-Review by the incoming class will take place at Reinhart Athletic Field.

Crowley Maritime Corporation recently presented U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Midshipman Kevin Berto with the Maritime Security Enhancement Award during the Academy’s award convocation. Berto received the award, which was established by Crowley in 2003, in recognition of his strong interest in a port, maritime or transportation security career and high grade point average both in class and at sea as a cadet. Berto is a logistics and intermodal transportation major from Lake Forrest, Ill.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point informs it recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Mallory Pier. The pier was completely reconstructed as part of USMMA’s overall $71 million dollar Capital Improvement Plan. Faculty, staff and guests were welcomed by the Regimental Band’s Fanfare Trumpets, who were then followed by a greeting from Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Superintendent. Helis thanked those who played a role in the pier’s completion, including the Capital Improvement Team, engineers, administrators, the Waterfront staff and the contractor, Russell Marine. “The new Mallory Pier is a major accomplishment and a concrete (pun intended) symbol of our ongoing efforts to renovate and modernize the Academy’s facilities…

The State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College announced Friday that two student cadets, Julia Paxton of Sebastopol, California, and Brandon Baranyar of Fairfield, Connecticut, have been selected as recipients of the 2014 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Paxton and Baranyar both are members of the College’s Regiment of Cadets, and both are scheduled to graduate from SUNY Maritime next week. In a ceremony held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center last month, SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher honored the more than 300 college students from campuses throughout the state, presenting 274 SUNY students with the 2014 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, and 68 awards from Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society.

Maritime employers, thirsting for quality employees in numbers sufficient to run their far flung businesses, continue to struggle to recruit and retain talent despite lingering high unemployment across the other sectors of the economy. On the waterfront, there are many models for producing marine professionals; some quite new and others, time tested. Brad Lima is the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. As a 1974 graduate (BS; marine engineering) of the nation’s oldest continuously operating academy…

The Center for Maritime Policy and Strategy will host an academic workshop, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, at the U.S. This one-day workshop will bring together a diverse group of scholars, practitioners and stakeholders from across the country to discuss how to achieve resilient ports and marine transportation systems in an era of extreme storms, rising seas and the melting Arctic ice sheet. The workshop features two panels that highlight research currently being conducted by postdoctoral fellows at the center.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum’s Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), Director, Chuck Meide, made some key discoveries recently in London, England. Meide spent January 14-17, 2013 examining documents in the United Kingdom’s National Archives (formerly the Public Records Office), in an attempt to learn as much as possible about a shipwreck believed to be a British Loyalist Ship that was fleeing Charleston, South Carolina in 1782, currently referred to as Storm Wreck, which St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeologists have been excavating offshore. “Once entrenched in the Archives, I was hard at work each day,” said Meide.

Will the American University System Follow in the Wake of our Merchant Fleet? Everyone who came to America knew that the most reliable path to financial success and status was hard work and higher education. That formula even worked for those born here. The rush to higher education started in 1947 when the GI Bill sent millions of Americans to college. In fact, for years, almost half of all those entering college were veterans (note: Merchant Mariners were not included in that benefit.) Higher education was seen by the public as both affordable and valuable.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy unveils new simulation facilities in newly opened American Bureau of Shipping Information Commons Building. Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) recently hosted the grand opening ceremony for the start-of-the-art, American Bureau of Shipping Information Commons Building, which houses the Academy’s new cutting-edge Full Mission Ship Simulator, supplied by Transas USA Inc. The 42,000 square foot academic building combines maritime tradition with the latest technology in maritime training…

Crowley Awards Three United States Merchant Marine Academy Cadets with Scholarships at the Connie Awards Luncheon. Continuing in its tradition of supporting academic excellence, Crowley Maritime Corporation awarded Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to three deserving cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, N.Y., during Monday's Containerization and Intermodal Institute (Connie Awards) luncheon in Newark, N.J. The USMMA cadets, Benjamin Faulter…

Crowley continued to reward exemplary students at maritime schools around the country this week, presenting Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to four deserving midshipmen from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at the Containerization and Intermodal Institute's Connie Awards dinner in Newark, N.J. The USMMA cadets Christina Becker, David Irish, Lesley Walz and Gregory Otto were recognized with Crowley scholarships for their strong academic records, leadership capacity and financial need.

Just over six months after the official opening of Austal’s new Module Manufacturing Facility (MMF) in November 2009, Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama on July 22, to signify the erection of the first modules on the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). This is part of a 10-ship program potentially worth over $1.6b. Keel Laying is the formal recognition of the start of the ship’s module erection process.

1917- An Executive Order extended the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service to the non-contiguous territory of the American Virgin Islands. 1942-The Herald-Tribune of July 20, 1942, carried the following story: "A new Coast Guard regiment, made up of tough, hand-picked men, all heavily armed and with the headquarters company mounting machine guns in speedy jeep cars, has been organized for extra protection of the Port of New York, it was announced yesterday. Regimental offices of the commando-like outfit, led by Captain Francis V. Lowden, will be in the Barge Office at the Battery. There will be five battalion headquarters -- one each in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jersey, and a floating one set up a harbor patrol craft.

Crowley's commitment to provide scholarship opportunities to deserving students continued on Dec. 7 as four U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadets were presented Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships at the Containerization and Intermodal Institute's Connie Awards luncheon in Newark, N.J. Cadets John Buehler, Patrick Delargy, Andrea Morrison and Kyle O'Connor were awarded with Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial scholarships based on their exemplary academic records and financial need. Midshipmen Marie Ebers was also awarded the Containerization & Intermodal Institute's Richard A.

In an effort to ensure the next generation of career mariners is the best in their fields, Crowley presented four exemplary United States Merchant Marine Academy students with Thomas B. Crowley, Sr., scholarships Monday at the Containerization & Intermodal Institute's (CII) annual Connie Awards luncheon in Newark, N.J. The event, attended by approximately 300 guests, provided the backdrop for the scholarship presentations to Midshipmen Patrick Showell, Donald ("Buddy") Finnie, Joseph Gaudiano and Bradford Lawhon.