MMA Grant from Royal Caribbean Cruises

Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) is pleased to announce that its Marine Safety and Environmental Protection program has received a $25,000 marine conservation grant from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s Ocean Fund for a second year in a row. The Academy will use its award to underwrite cooperative education opportunities in training five future maritime safety and environmental officers. On their way to becoming future stewards of our oceans, these cadets will spend their cooperative program aboard cruise ships and commercial ships as assistants to the environmental officers.

“We are proud to continue our collaborations with the Academy’s cooperative training program for maritime safety and environmental officers. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was the first cruise line to place environmental officers onboard our ships and we believe investing in the education and training of future officers is critical to the protection of our marine environment,” said Jamie Sweeting, vice president of Environmental Stewardship and Global Chief Environmental Officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

According to Admiral Richard Gurnon, President of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, “The Ocean Fund grant continues to provide wonderful opportunities to MMA cadets who serve aboard cruise ships and put into practice the marine safety and maritime protection techniques they have learned in the classroom. It is the classic win-win for both MMA and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.”.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. established the Ocean Fund in 1996 to support marine conservation organizations in conserving the world's oceans. The mission of the Ocean Fund is to support efforts to restore and maintain a healthy marine environment, minimize the impact of human activity on this environment, and promote awareness of ocean and coastal issues and respect for marine life. In the twelve years since its launch, the Ocean Fund has donated over $10m on behalf of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, to several dozen organizations around the world that are working to protect the marine environment.