Cal Maritime Receives Challenge Grant from TK Foundation

The California Maritime Academy, a campus of California State University, is one step closer to having the most advanced training ship in the United States. The campus has been awarded a $215,000 dollar-for-dollar matching challenge grant from the TK Foundation. Every dollar donated in support of the Navigation Lab by a company, foundation or individual will be matched by the TK Foundation.

The gift will support Phase 2 of the construction of a Navigation Lab onboard Cal Maritime’s Training Ship Golden Bear. Each cadet at Cal maritime participates in at least one, two-month training voyage onboard the ship as part of their education. During the cruise, students sail to various ports in the Pacific Rim while taking courses and running every element of the 24-hour vessel operations under the supervision of faculty and staff.

The Navigation Lab will incorporate a multi-function simulation bridge and an onboard classroom simulator, complete with 20 cadet workstations. Once finished, Cal Maritime will have the only training ship in the United States equipped with a state-of-the-art simulation facility that complements the ship’s traditional operating bridge.

“We are thrilled with the TK Foundation’s support of this important project,” said Dr. William Eisenhardt, President of Cal Maritime. “We hope that their matching challenge grant will inspire other companies to follow their lead in a way that will directly benefit the maritime industry by enhancing the training provided to their future workforce.”

“The Training Ship Golden Bear’s Navigation Lab will have the latest radars, display screens and consoles, including radar, automatic radar piloting, chart radar and electronic chart displays,” said Captain Harry Bolton, Captain of Cal Maritime’s Training Ship Golden Bear. “While students won’t be able to actually steer the ship from this position, in every other respect it will give them a complete experience in navigation and pilotage once the ship is underway.”

Bolton added that the Navigation Lab will have the capability of operating in real or simulated modes, which will allow students to practice an approach to a harbor several days before the ship arrives so the actual event is much more familiar and comfortable.