Page 33: of Marine News Magazine (September 2016)

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OFFSHORE TRENDS more opportunity to witness and participate in both rou-

Shore Side Education & Experience tine and unscheduled maintenance activities on modern

One very unique aspect of this program involves the marine systems.

shoreside ? eet management responsibilities that may be

On the deck side of the equation, the tonnage require- assigned to students pursuing maritime business degree ments for deck cadets is the same as for any other mariner paths. Practical experience will extend beyond the class- seeking an unlimited license. All time must be acquired room into an industry environment as students actively aboard vessels of 100 GRT or more, and 50% of all time participate in the operations and management of indi- must be acquired on vessels of 1600 GRT or more. At the vidual vessels and the overall ? eet. Not only would cadets

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, cadets acquire more be active on board the vessels but they – as well as non- than 50% of their time aboard the T/S Kennedy, they can sailing, maritime business and management students – can serve aboard various tonnage vessels for their commercial likewise develop applicable management skills through shipping time (not to exceed 60 days), as long as those ves- involvement in the detailed aspects of ? eet management.

sels are over 100 GRT.

The Multi-Mission Maritime Education Fleet can of-

There are hurdles to overcome: a typical modern 225- fer students a one-of-a-kind, ? rsthand understanding of foot OSV might have berthing for less than 20 and a GRT the detailed aspects of ? eet management by being direct- of just 500 tons, enough for a cadet to garner 50% of his ly involved in ? eet logistics, moving vessels between the or her sea time, but not enough to get it all. On the other schools, scheduling maintenance and general upkeep, and hand, a 340-foot multi-purpose support vessel (now un- by marketing vessels for other commercial purposes.

der construction) will eventually be rated at almost 8,000

GRT and have accommodations for as many as 87 persons. “PartnerSHIPS” –

Hence, the academies would have to choose wisely – both

Government & Industry Collaboration in terms of berths to accommodate as many cadets as is pos-

When and if fully realized, the Multi-Mission Maritime sible, while also exceeding minimum tonnage thresholds.

Education Fleet would offer the industry a functioning

Photo: Jill Friedman www.marinelink.com MN 33

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