Page 41: of Marine News Magazine (January 2018)

40 42

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

In Extremis: all options on the table

CMA’s President Cropper grimly summed up the loom- ing crisis. “We’re in extremis now. People want to know, ‘what’s plan B?’ We’re in ‘plan B’ now. Maine’s ship needs a serious engine overhaul. Texas has no ship and Mass and

New York’s ships are quite old. People say it will cost a lot of money. Well, it will require that kind of investment.”

As the academies and Marad battle for the funds to build the NSMV, other options have emerged. One solu- tion involves having more than one academy leverage one hull for training purposes. It has been done before, but in practice greatly accelerates the wear and tear on these aging vessels. This option merely moves the timeline forward as to when the real crisis will occur.

Still another option is being tossed around. Sales of sec- ond-hand ships reached a 10-year high in 2017 on optimism that one of the shipping industry’s deepest recessions was are a phenomenal asset to the federal government.” nearing an end.’ More than 1,600 ships worth $19 billion

At the California Maritime Academy, CMA President were sold, the highest number since 2007. Fueled by grow-

Tom Cropper gave a similarly ominous account. He told ing con