The NSMV State of Maine is complete and preparing to make its journey to Maine Maritime Academy—marking a historic milestone for the institution and the future of maritime training. As anticipation builds for its arrival, a series of upcoming events will celebrate this next chapter and offer opportunities to engage with this state-of-the-art training vessel.
The $330 million NSMV State of Maine is the third of five commissioned by the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) being built at Hanwha Philly Shipyard with construction management by TOTE Services.
State of Maine, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art training vessel, will revolutionize the educational experience cadets receive as a part of the Academy’s unlimited license program. The vessel is equipped with a dedicated training bridge and navigation lab, two full-sized engine rooms, eight classrooms, laboratory space, an auditorium, and a helipad. Cadet capacity on State of Maine is increasing from 245 to 600.
On August 26, 2025, the vessel was christened during a ceremony with speakers including President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana, U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, and Acting Maritime Administrator Sang H. Li. Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao served as the ship’s sponsor.
All five NSMVs, part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, will be equipped to respond to and support major federal relief efforts in response to natural disasters. The NSMVs will be able to provide hospital facilities, helicopter landing capabilities, a roll-on/roll-off ramp, container storage space, and berthing for up to 1,000 people.
The NSMV is an important asset for the Academy, Castine, and the country. The NSMV is owned by MARAD and jointly operated by MARAD and Maine Maritime Academy. It is an advanced training vessel that will ensure MMA students receive the highest quality, hands-on educational opportunities available anywhere in the world. In addition to being an educational platform, the NSMV is a federal asset capable of responding to humanitarian disasters with the ability to provide emergency services.
The NSMV will be equipped with:
- Berthing for up to 1,000 people
- Hospital facilities
- Water desalination capabilities
- A helicopter pad
- Training spaces, including eight classrooms, a full training bridge, workshops, lab spaces and an auditorium
- Thrusters and a flap-type rudder to allow the ship to moor without tugs
- Roll-on/roll-off and container storage, with a cargo crane and side ramp for self-loading
| Master | Gordon “Mac” MacArthur |
| Chief Engineer | Aaron Coy |
| Chief Mate | Matthew Hofer |
| 1st Assistant Engineer | Nathan Boyan |
| 2nd Mate | H.W. "Bill" Erlanson |
| 2nd Assistant Engineer | Tyler Bowen |
| 2nd Assistant Engineer | Vacant |
| 3rd Mate | Meagan Doucette |
| 3rd Mate | Jose Valdez |
| 3rd Assistant Engineer | Antonio Bartalini |
| Bos'n | Matthew Logan |
| Logistics Coordinator | Wanda Wood |
| Plumber | Matthew Basile |
| Electrician | Vacant |
| Owner | U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) |
| Operator | Maine Maritime Academy |
| Call Sign | WDU2012 |
| IMO Number | 9929546 |
| Length Overall (LOA) | 160.05m |
| Length Between Perpendiculars (LBP) | 154.00m |
| Beam | 27.00m |
| Depth (Main Deck at Side) | 16.8m |
| Summer Load-line Draft | 7.35m |
| Load Line Displacement | 19,585mt |
| Tonnages | Gross - 25,985 Net-7,795 |
| Design Speed (15% Reserve) | 18 Knots |
| Machinery Component | Manufacturer (Power) | Quantity Installed |
| Main Diesel Generators | GE Wabtec | 4 |
| Main Alternators | Hyundai (4.05 mW 6,600 V) | 4 |
| Propulsion Motors | GE Energy (4.35 mW) | 2 |
| Bow Thruster | Kawasaki – Rexpeller | 1 |
| Stern Thruster | Hyundai | 1 |
| Main Propellor | Dia: 5.85m Pitch: 5.43m Weight: 18.3 mt | 1 |
| Total Installed Power | 16,800 kW – 22,520 hp | |
| Cadets | 600 |
| Crew, Faculty, Staff | 160 (100 in single berths) |
| Maximum personnel | 760 |
| Fresh (Potable) Water | 1323.7 m³ |
| Fuel (Marine Gas Oil) | 2166.8 m³ |
| Seawater Ballast | 3551.2 m³ |
Ship tours are being planned for prospective students, their families, and alumni during Summer Sea Term port calls.
Summer Sea Term port call dates:
- May 22 | Galveston, Texas
- June 5 | Charleston, South Carolina
- June 24 | Port Everglades, Florida
Registration links and additional information coming soon.
4/4/26 | The Maritime Executive – Maine Maritime Academy Welcomes Historic Arrival of T/S State of Maine
4/2/26 | News Center Maine “207” – New ship for Maine Maritime Has Dual Missions
3/30/26 | WABI – Maine Maritime Academy holds handover ceremony for new training ship
3/23/26 | WGME – State of Maine ship arrives in Portland Harbor ahead of transfer ceremony
3/22/26 | Bangor Daily News – Maine Maritime Academy’s new training ship arrives in Portland
3/21/26 | News Center Maine – Maine Maritime Academy training ship arrives in Portland
1/15/26 | Mariner Magazine – The Upcoming Delivery of the STATE OF MAINE
Press Inquiries should be directed to Michael Dickerson at michael.dickerson@mma.edu.
To berth the vessel, the Academy is building a new pier as a part of a larger $100+ million waterfront improvement project underway with its contractors Reed & Reed, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., and Colliers Engineering. The new pier, constructed of 354 twenty-four inch diameter steel pilings, will replace the old timber pile pier built in the 1960s, reinforced in the 1990s. The new pier will more than double the available dock space from 500 linear feet to over 1,100 linear feet.
Completion of the first phase of the project, at which point State of Maine will be able to be tied to the pier, is expected by in the summer of 2026. The next phase of construction, working inward toward the shore, is expected to conclude in 2027.
MMA Family, I would like to extend a congratulations to our ship’s crew, commandants’ staff, and faculty on a successful training cruise. Your hard work and dedication are appreciated by all of us. I also want to share some information on the training ship to be aware of while the ship settles in here.
On July 12, the training ship STATE OF MAINE successfully arrived at its new berth in Castine, marking an important milestone for Maine Maritime Academy and our maritime training mission. The vessel will remain fully operational through midday on July 16, while cadets from Texas A&M Maritime Academy and Maine Maritime Academy complete their training and disembark.
Throughout this transition period, we are actively working to minimize the impact of vessel operations on our neighbors by reducing ambient light and noise whenever possible. We are also conducting observations at multiple locations around the waterfront to better understand operational effects and identify opportunities for improvement.
Once the cadets have departed, our focus will shift toward implementing additional measures to further reduce lighting and sound impacts while maintaining the safety and security requirements of an active training vessel. Because the ship will continue operating until shore power becomes available in February or March 2027, establishing the appropriate balance between safety, regulatory compliance, and community considerations will require time and careful planning.
We are committed to being a responsible partner in the Castine community and look forward to working collaboratively with town officials, residents, and local businesses to achieve the best possible outcome for everyone while supporting the long-term success of STATE OF MAINE and its educational mission.
Sincerely,
Craig Johnson ’91
President, Maine Maritime Academy
Please email michael.dickerson@mma.edu for additional information.
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