New Data Shows Demand for Trained Merchant Mariners

Only months after graduation ceremonies were held on campuses across the nation, approximately 85 percent of 2008 graduates with merchant marine licenses from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and six state maritime academies have found employment afloat in the maritime industry or in the U.S. military, according to data released by the Maritime Administration.   

“This data indicates that the job market for merchant marine officers remains robust.  There is a growing, worldwide demand for fully-trained merchant marine officers and licensed mariners. Excellent training combined with ongoing global trade expansion will continue to make the graduates of maritime colleges among the most qualified and employable mariners in the world,” said U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton.

Total employment for 2008 licensed graduates is already more than 95 percent.  This number includes those who have found shoreside employment in the maritime industry.  One of the academies, Great Lakes in , has placed 100 percent of its 2008 graduates in maritime afloat employment. 

The Maritime Administration operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and provides funding and training ships to , , , , , and the State University of New York Maritime College.  The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy, and the state maritime academies are all part of their respective state higher education systems.