Page 28: of Marine News Magazine (March 2021)

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Feature

Education & Training

The U.S.’ First Purpose-built

Maritime Training Ships

By Tom Ewing or professional maritime training, the 2020 holi- As most people know, of course, announcements like day season was bright indeed. In a world clutch- these only come after years of hard work. Great programs ing for optimism, of? cials from the U.S. Mari- don’t just happen.

F time Administration (MARAD) made a series of It must be emphasized that the start of NSMV construc- announcements that will strengthen, expand and intensify tion re? ects shipbuilding newly and singularly focused on

America’s maritime academic programs—really the mari- training. The vessels will have capabilities for other duties, time industry—for at least the next decade, likely much but those are secondary. Training is the primary function longer. Consider this string of news: of these new ships.

On December 15, MARAD announced cutting steel The NSMVs represent the culmination of work un- for the ? rst new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel derway for over a decade, according to former MARAD (NSMV) at Philly Shipyard Inc., in Philadelphia, a criti- Administrator Mark H. Buzby. “The new ships, and the cal milestone for the series of purpose-built, state-of-the- programs they support,” Buzby said, “will further advance art training vessels for America’s state maritime academies, excellence in American maritime education and reignite vessels big enough for 600 cadets. the jobs engine that is America’s shipyards.” The NSMV

That shipyard work started just 19 months after construction will support 1,200 jobs at Philly Shipyard,

MARAD named TOTE Services, LLC, to be the Vessel and the yard will work with domestic mills for steel and

Construction Manager, a new and innovative approach to with U.S. equipment manufacturers.

federal shipbuilding. In April 2020, TOTE chose Philly In reality, the new ships can’t get here soon enough. Note

Shipyard to build up to ? ve NSMVs. the phrase above – “the ? rst purpose-built” training vessels.

The ? rst vessel, expected in 2023, will go to SUNY Training vessels heretofore have been, well, afterthoughts,

Maritime Academy. The second to Massachusetts Mari- if you will. Assets speci? cally needed to enhance teaching time Academy. And a third to the Maine Maritime Acad- and training could not be prioritized when older vessels emy. The NSMVs will replace training ships that are more were converted to training vessels.

than 50 years old. MARAD spokesperson Brije Smith said the NSMV is

On December 22, more good news. The 2021 Federal “a long-sought priority supported across several adminis-

Budget bill contained the following: “$390 million, to remain trations and Congresses.” It took time, she explained, “to available until expended, shall be for the National Security shift away from the century-and-a-half practice of adapting

Multi-Mission Vessel Program, including funds for construc- former Navy and cargo vessels to serve as training ships.” tion, planning, administration and design of school ships.” She noted other challenges: today there are fewer vessels

That same day the Maritime Academy at Texas A&M that can be adapted for training and there are high costs

University at Galveston announced it would receive the inherent in purchasing and retro? tting foreign-built ships.

fourth vessel, expected to be delivered in 2025. Importantly, the NSMVs will have a second operational

Stay tuned. In total, this is a $1.5 billion program. When mission. They will be owned by the federal government additional funding is set, a ? fth vessel will go to the Cali- and, as needed, can be pressed into service for emergencies, fornia State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, Calif. for humanitarian missions, say, for hurricane and emer- 28 | MN March 2021