What a night! Over 150 seniors and alumni came together on Wednesday evening to celebrate MMA’s 57th Annual Senior Banquet. The purpose of the event is to connect the graduating class with the MMA Alumni Association and was made possible through the support of our alumni and lead sponsor, ...American Maritime Officers (AMO). President Johnson '91 shared welcome remarks, followed by AMO's National VP for Deep Sea, Jeff Richards '85. Faculty and staff also supported the fun on the casino game tables and a great time was had by all!

Photo credit: Joey Valliere

This week, Maine Maritime Academy welcomed representatives from Mokpo National Maritime University (MMU), Republic of Korea for discussions on the ROK-US Joint Strategic Maritime Professional Training Project.

Since 2010, MMA and MMU have partnered to advance maritime education and ...research. This collaboration is part of a larger effort to train the next generation of maritime professionals in cutting-edge fields such as autonomous ships, eco-friendly vessels, Arctic navigation, and LNG-powered ships.

Through programs like dual-license tracks and industry-linked internships, this initiative creates opportunities for students to earn both U.S. Coast Guard and Korean maritime certifications, preparing them for global maritime careers.

Strengthening the ROK-US maritime alliance, this partnership ensures the future supply of highly skilled engineers and supports international maritime innovation.

#mainemaritime #MMA #MMU #ROKUSMaritime #MaritimeEducation #GlobalMaritime #AutonomousShips #EcoFriendlyShipping #ArcticNavigation #MaritimeLeadership #STCW #USCG #SamsungHeavyIndustries #InternationalCollaboration #FutureMariners

🎖️ Join Us for the 2026 Regimental Change of Command! 🎖️

📅 Date: March 16, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Alexander Field House, Maine Maritime Academy

Witness the time-honored tradition as the Maine Maritime Academy Regiment of Midshipmen transfers ...leadership from the graduating First Class to the Second Class Midshipmen. This ceremonial exchange of authority marks a year of new leadership, responsibility, and pride.

Can’t attend in person? We’re livestreaming the ceremony so family, friends, and supporters everywhere can watch this special moment.

More information and livestream access at:
https://mainemaritime.edu/student-life/regimental-program/change-of-command-ceremony/

Celebrate leadership, tradition, and the spirit of the Regiment!

#mainemaritime #RegimentalChangeOfCommand #Leadership #Midshipmen #Tradition #MaritimeEducation #NavalTraining #StudentLeadership #CareerPath

🌊 Ever wondered what’s happening in the invisible world of the ocean?

Join LeAnn Whitney, Associate Professor of Oceanography at Maine Maritime Academy, for a 5-minute Genius presentation at the Maine Science Festival! 🧬✨

🎤 Talk title: Unveiling the Invisible Ocean: ...What Molecular Biology Reveals About Phytoplankton

LeAnn will highlight her research using molecular tools to understand how phytoplankton—microscopic, single-celled photosynthetic organisms—respond when their preferred nutrients become scarce.

A self-proclaimed phytoplankton nerd (her daughter agrees!), LeAnn grew up in Machias, Maine, exploring lakes and raking blueberries with her five older siblings. From a high school spring at Bigelow Laboratory to earning her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, she now turns her students into phytoplankton nerds too! 🌱🔬

- When & Where: Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:00 PM
- Location: Penobscot Theatre, Bangor, Maine
- Reserve your tickets: https://bit.ly/4aWZzRS

✨ Bonus: The Maine Maritime Academy Admissions team will also be at the festival Friday and Saturday, hosting a fun classification activity for attendees!

This event is open to the public—don’t miss your chance to dive into the hidden world of plankton and explore what the ocean’s tiniest organisms can teach us about life, science, and a changing environment.

#MaineScienceFestival #OceanScience #PhytoplanktonNerd #GeniusPresentation #MarineBiology #mainemaritime #OpenToThePublic

🎓 “Receiving a scholarship wasn’t originally part of why I attended Maine Maritime, but it became the reason I was able to continue.” – Margaret Archibald, Class of 2026, Oceanography & Marine Engineering Technology

For students like Margaret, scholarships are more than ...financial support—they’re a vote of confidence and an investment in their future. Through hands-on learning, leadership opportunities, and the support of generous donors, students are preparing to lead in the maritime industry and beyond. 🌊⚓

Join us at A Night by the Bay on March 27, 2026, and help make stories like Margaret’s possible. Your support helps Maine Maritime Academy students pursue their education and achieve their goals.

📅 Tickets and more information: https://anbtb.mainemaritime.edu

#MaineMaritime #ScholarshipsMatter #ANightByTheBay #StudentSuccess

Today our students will have the chance to learn about another great opportunity available to them!

The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program is offering a briefing on the NUCLEAR PROPULSION OFFICER CANDIDATE PROGRAM (NUPOC) — an elite technical program overseeing the Navy’s nuclear-powered... submarines and aircraft carriers.

Students will discover how they can:
• Earn ~$6,863 per month until graduation + $30,000 sign-on bonus
• Receive high-level security clearance
• Gain technical training in operating naval nuclear reactors
• Step into an immediate leadership role with a guaranteed engineering job after graduation

This is an incredible chance to explore a career in nuclear engineering and leadership — right here at MMA!

Opening briefing at 4:00 PM (1600) in the Alfond 1954 Lecture Hall.

#NUPOC #NavalNuclearPower #EngineeringLeadership #FutureOfficers #STEMCareers #NavyCareers #mainemaritime

How long did it take you to fuel up last time? ⛽️

Bunkering 1,200 metric tons of Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil aboard the Training Ship State of Maine last Friday took about six hours, with fuel supplied by Vane Brothers aboard their DS-40 barge.

It’s one of many steps as the ...ship prepares for her delivery voyage to Maine. The crew has been hard at work getting everything ready, and you can feel the enthusiasm building across the team.

With each milestone completed, excitement continues to grow for the trip north—and for the cadets who will soon sail aboard during the upcoming Sea Term. ⚓️🌊

#TSSOM #MaineMaritime #SeaTerm #MaritimeTraining #ShipLife #Bunkering #VaneBrothers #DS40Barge #VoyageToMaine #CrewLife #MaritimeOperations #FuelingUp #ShipPrep #FutureMariners

Please join us for a blood drive at Maine Maritime Academy on Friday, March 13, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment.

A historic moment for Maine Maritime Academy!

We’re thrilled to share that TOTE Services LLC and Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. have completed the third National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), the State of Maine — and it’s on its way to us! This will be the fifth training ship ...in Academy history and the first purpose‑built vessel designed specifically for Maine Maritime Academy’s training and educational mission.

This month, the State of Maine will arrive in Portland, Maine for a formal handover and celebration before it becomes homeported here at MMA. Cadets and faculty will embark on its inaugural Sea Term in May 2026, training aboard a ship that sets a new standard for maritime education.

This vessel isn’t just impressive — it’s transformative. Cadets will train on a state‑of‑the‑art platform complete with eight classrooms, a dedicated training bridge and navigation lab, two full‑sized engine rooms, laboratory and workshop space, an auditorium, and even a helipad — all while gaining hands‑on experience with the technologies shaping the future of the maritime industry. Berthing capacity is vastly expanded compared with past training ships, and the NSMV also serves as a federal asset capable of supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions when called upon. 

“We are proud to deliver another state‑of‑the‑art training ship to MARAD,” said Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services. “The expertise of our new construction team and the strong partnership with Hanwha Philly Shipyard demonstrate how collaboration between the private sector and government can successfully deliver complex, mission‑critical assets for our nation.”

🌊 Get ready, MMA — the future of maritime training is coming!

#mainemaritime #NSMV #StateOfMaine #SeaTerm2026 #FutureMariners #MaritimeEducation #HandsOnEducation #CareerPath #TOTE #HANWHA

🎓 “The ability to come to school with a cost reduced because of scholarships definitely impacted whether or not I would continue to pursue my options here or look elsewhere.” – Joey Valliere, Junior, Marine Transportation Operations

Scholarships make a real difference in the lives... of Maine Maritime Academy students like Joey. 💙✨

Join us for A Night by the Bay on March 27, 2026, to support student scholarships and hear more stories like Joey’s. Every donation helps students achieve their dreams!

📅 Tickets and more information: https://anbtb.mainemaritime.edu

#mainemaritime #ScholarshipsMatter #ANightByTheBay #StudentSuccess