Annual Training Cruise: Training Ship State of Maine

Summer Training Cruises are required for students enrolled in majors that have an Unlimited USCG License associated: Marine Engineering Operations, Marine Engineering Technology, Marine Systems Engineering (5-year), and Marine Transportation Operations. These Training Cruises provide the opportunity for the student to experience shipboard life, and to focus on hands-on training. Training cruises are designed as 4-credit courses with corresponding academic projects, called sea-projects, and successful completion of all three are required for graduation.

First year students (4/C Midshipmen) will complete a Summer Training Cruise on the training ship.  This experience will teach them the basics of life at sea, introductory seamanship, operation of ship’s machinery, and shipboard safety regulations & procedures.  This training cruise is designed to give the students basic experience in both deck and engineering areas.

Second year students (3/C Midshipmen) will complete Cadet Shipping.  This is similar to a co-op or internship at other colleges.

Third year students (2/C Midshipmen) will complete a second training cruise on the training ship, taking an active role in the daily operation of the training ship and supervising 4/C Midshipmen.

Candidates for the USCG 3^rd Assistant Engineer Unlimited Horsepower license or the USCG 3^rd Mate Unlimited Tonnage license are required to complete one year’s worth of sea-time.  Sea-time requirements are met through Training Cruises, Cadet Shipping, Regimental Requirements, and special labs.

Upcoming Port information:

2025 – TBD

* Ports are always subject to change

Recent Training Cruise itineraries include:

2024 – Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Oporto (Leixoes), Portugal; Newfoundland, Canada; Portland, Maine
2023 – Philadelphia, PA; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Vigo, Spain; Kiel, Germany; Belfast, N. Ireland; Boston, MA
2022 – Charleston, SC; Port Everglades, FL; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Reykjavik, Iceland; Portland, ME
2021 –

• Cruise A: Castine, ME; Port Canaveral, FL; New York, NY; Castine, ME
• Cruise B1: Castine, ME; Port Canaveral, FL; Castine, ME
• Cruise B2: Castine, ME; Charleston, SC, St. Croix, USVI, Port Canaveral, FL; Castine, ME

2020 – Castine, ME; Searsport, ME; Castine, ME
2019 – New York, NY; Vigo, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Southampton, England; Tallinn, Estonia; Oslo, Norway; Searsport, ME
2018 – Cadiz, Spain; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Lisbon, Portugal; Civitavecchia, Italy; Alicante, Spain; Boston, MA
2017 – Charleston, SC; Tenerife, Spain; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Portland, ME; Edinburgh, Scotland; Cobh, Ireland; New York, NY
2016 – Charleston, SC; Tampa, FL; Galveston, TX; Portsmouth, NH; Cobh, Ireland; Antwerp, Belgium; New York, NY
2015 – Charleston, SC; Cadiz, Spain; Portland, ME; Cobh, Ireland; Norfolk, VA; Searsport, ME
2014 – Trieste, Italy; Reykjavik, Iceland; Kiel, Germany; Portsmouth, NH
2013 – Tampa, FL; San Juan, PR; Quebec City, Canada; Baltimore, MD
2012 – Galveston, TX; Curacao; Bermuda; Charleston, SC
2011 – Norfolk, VA; Valletta, Malta; Civitavecchia, Italy; Cobh, Ireland