Page 60: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2022)

Tech Files

Vessels

Funds Secured for Cal Maritime’s Training Ship

By Eric Haun

U.S. President Joe Biden signed the $1.5 billion Fiscal Year cation, and speci? cally the need for updated training ships.

2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package that includes “The bipartisan support of the new vessel underscores the a funding provision for the California State University Mari- support of Cal Maritime and the other state maritime acad- time Academy’s new state-of-the-art training ship. emies,” Cropper said. “I send a special thank you to the dele-

The newly funded ship, which has yet to be named, is the gates in the House of Representative and Senate from Alaska, ? fth in a series of 524.5-foot-long National Security Multi- California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington in backing the

Mission Vessels (NSMV) designed speci? cally for America’s state maritime academies. It will replace Cal Maritime’s ag- ing training ship Golden Bear and is expected to be delivered within the next three to ? ve years.

“We are grateful for the funding of this new ship,” said Cal

Maritime president Tom Cropper. “This moment is remark- able – it culminates eight years of work by the Consortium of State Maritime Academies and for the ? rst time, provides brand new training vessels for our cadets.”

The new highly capable, modern and versatile NSMVs will be a major upgrade from the retired and retro? tted naval ves- sels currently used to train state maritime academy cadets. “The training ship Golden Bear is a former oceanographic research vessel within the Navy ? eet and has been retro? t- ted for cadet training. The ship requires continuous repairs, remodeling, upgrading, and improvements to best serve those aboard,” Cropper said.

According to Cropper, a key advantage of the NSMV is that it is purpose built with brand new and current technology, sim- ilar to what is found on modern merchant ? eets. He noted the ships will feature diesel electric engines and diesel generators.

“The new NSMV will feature numerous instructional spac- es, a full training bridge and accommodations for up to 600 cadets to train in a ? rst-rate maritime academic environment at sea,” Cropper said. “In addition to providing additional bil- let space to educate our cadets the NSMV will provide them the opportunity to train on a state-of-the-art vessel.”

As an added bene? t, the ships are also designed to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions globally when needed. “The NSMV will have a helicopter deck and will have space to provide as a hotel service ship for ? rst re- sponders and medical trailers for humanitarian purposes. Up- grades for the ship also include thrusters, which reduces the need for a tug as well as roll on/roll off capability. The versa- tility of this ship is boundless,” Cropper said.

The new series of vessels is ultimately the result efforts made by U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) adminis- trators, state maritime academy presidents and legislators—all recognizing the critical need for excellence in maritime edu-

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