Science & Research

NASA Grant and Cushman Funding Support Robotics Class and Equipment

BY NICHOLAS RIGAS, PH.D.

ROBOTICS IS INCREASINGLY becoming an integral part of ocean studies and the marine industry, revolutionizing the way we explore, understand, and manage our oceans. Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, yet many of their mysteries remain hidden beneath the waves.

The introduction of robotics, including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and other advanced tools, has significantly improved the ability to study and navigate these vast and often treacherous environments. In the context of both scientific research and industrial operations, robotics offers solutions to longstanding challenges, providing enhanced capabilities for exploration, resource extraction, environmental monitoring, and safety.

It is important for students entering the ocean studies and marine industry to have a basic understanding of robotics systems and how they can be used safely.

Student launching Digger for the first time in the ocean.

Through funding from a NASA grant, a new technical elective course, Introduction to Marine Robotic Systems has been developed and was launched in the spring of 2025 here at Maine Maritime Academy.  This course is offered to engineering and ocean studies students, providing an introduction to robotic systems utilized in marine environments, covering topics such as design, control, data collection, data transfer, and system integration of autonomous and remotely operated marine vehicles.

As part of understanding the use of robotics in a marine environment, it was important for students to be able to study and operate a commercially available ROV. Through a generous donation from Betsy Cushman, the Academy was able to purchase a Deep Trekker Pivot ROV. The Pivot, named Digger, serves not only as a teaching platform but also provides students and faculty with state-of-the-art underwater robotic equipment to incorporate into their studies or research.

Betsy Cushman and her dog Digger, front left, with President Craig Johnson, Professor Nicholas Rigas, and students at Digger’s launch into the bay.

Digger can operate up to a depth of 1000 ft and in water temperatures ranging from 14 F to 122 F. Its carbon fiber and stainless-steel body makes it light weight and easily transportable aboard large and small vessels. It is equipped with a pivoting enhanced 4K camera and lighting allowing for a clear view of the ocean depths. ‘Digger’ is powered by two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries allowing it to be submerged up to 3 hours at a time.

There are a variety of attachments that can be added to ‘Digger’ allowing students to gather samples from the ocean floor, measure the thickness of hulls, collect water samples, or monitor dissolved oxygen levels in the water.  In the future, ‘Digger’ can be equipped with a Blueprint SeaTrac USBL positioning system allowing it to function autonomously. ‘Digger’ is a flexible and robust ROV that will allow Maine Maritime students to enhance their studies and prepare them for a changing world.

Ceremonies & Celebrations

Regimental Change of Command Ceremony

ON FEBRUARY 24, Maine Maritime Academy President Craig Johnson, along with Interim Commandant of Midshipmen, Commander Lonnie Christian, presided over the Academy’s Change of Command Ceremony, welcoming a new group of students into critical leadership roles within the Regiment.

The Regimental Staff, or Wedge as they are known throughout the Academy, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Regiment of Midshipmen. The annual Change of Command Ceremony honors the symbolic and physical transfer of authority and responsibilities between two classes of student leaders. Graduating First Class Midshipmen pass their leadership positions to Second Class Midshipmen, who will guide the Regiment until next year.

Midshipman First Class Ahren Myers, right, passes the Charlie Company guidon to incoming Charlie Company Commander, Midshipman Second Class William Chase, left, during the 2025 Maine Maritime Academy Change of Command Ceremony.

At the ceremony, Interim President Johnson said, “As you all are aware, the Regiment of Midshipmen is extremely important not only to this institution but to our nation. At the Academy, it is our fundamental mission to train officers for the ‘safe and efficient operation of the United States Merchant Marine at all times…’ Since our founding in 1941, our program has certainly expanded and broadened beyond the training of merchant mariners, but our Regimental program of study continues to provide our students, even those not seeking a Coast Guard license, with the leadership skills that enable them to be successful in their careers.”

In addition to performing traditional responsibilities as designated by their roles, the leadership of the outgoing class of 2025 was instrumental in overseeing pre-cruise familiarization of the Academy’s TS State of Maine for members of the freshman class, orchestrating a safe Regimental Preparatory Training evolution for incoming freshmen, and maintaining Regimental standards throughout the year. Additionally, they serve as mentors and role models for the Regimental student body.

President Johnson addresses Regiment.

As they settle into their roles, the new student leaders are preparing for a rigorous at-sea training schedule, including this summer’s sea term with Texas A&M Maritime Academy aboard TS Kennedy. They will also continue planning for the arrival of incoming Regimental students in mid-August, overseeing Regimental Preparatory Training, and handling the daily operations of the Regiment of Midshipmen.

Outgoing class of 2024-25 Regimental Commander, Midshipman 1/C Christian Cabrera, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Madison, Maine has turned over his duties as the 2025-26 Regimental Commander to Midshipman 2/C Odegaard Fields, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Mill River, Massachusetts.

Ceremonies & Celebrations

Graduation Day, 2025

Students at the Commencement Ceremony

Rear Admiral Philip E. Sobeck, Commander, U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, delivers the NROTC Commissioning Ceremony address.

The first graduates from the reinstated nuclear engineering technology minor.

U.S. Representative Jared Golden delivers the commencement address, urging graduates to pursue opportunities that provide a sense of purpose.

MMA Cadet experience

Cadet Shipping at Maine Maritime Academy

By Kathy MacArthur, Commercial Shipping Coordinator

CADET SHIPPING at Maine Maritime Academy is a hands-on, required experience offered as a part of the unlimited license USCG program for students majoring in Marine Engineering Operations, Marine Engineering Technology, Marine Systems Engineering (5-year program), and Marine Transportation Operations. This course is typically completed during the summer between the end of the sophomore year and the beginning of the junior year.

For many students, Cadet Shipping is their first opportunity to experience working within the maritime industry. It is a completely immersive experience where the cadet boards a vessel and is expected to perform tasks as assigned by the officers of the ship, in addition to completing a substantial “sea project” as assigned by their deck or engine professor. This course is designed to prepare students for real-life experiences at sea while providing them with opportunities to learn more about their chosen profession.

The students’ course of study dictates how many days they must complete for their requirements to be fulfilled. Deck students (Marine Transportation Operations) must complete 90 days aboard their vessel per Maine Maritime Academy’s program approval with the USCG. Engine students (Marine Engineering Operations, Marine Engineering Technology, and Marine Systems Engineering (5-year program)) must complete 60 days aboard their vessel to satisfy their requirements.

Photo Courtesy of Midn. Eva Schulz

MMA has been fortunate enough over the years to create partnerships with companies in the maritime industry to offer our students challenging, commercial experiences. Companies we are currently partnered with for the summer of 2025 are: Alaska Tanker Company, American Seafoods, American Steamship Company, ARC, Cabras Tugs, Crosby Tugs, Crowley Maritime, Edison Chouest, Fairwater, Glacier Fish, Grand River Navigation, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, Hornbeck Offshore, Interlake Steamship, Kirby Offshore, Laborde, Matson Navigation, Moran Towing, Military Sealift Command, Norwegian Cruise Line, O’Hara Corporation, OSG, Otto Candies, Pasha Hawaii, Polar Tankers, Reinauer, Seaward Services, Stabbert Maritime, Transocean, Trident Seafood, University of Hawaii, US Ocean, USMMI, Valaris, and Weeks Marine.

For many companies, participating in the Cadet Shipping program is an opportunity to help shape and train the next generation of mariners. Offering Cadet Shipping billets is the chance for the company to interview students for future employment by way of field experience, gauging a student’s aptitude for life at sea, and watching the growth of the student from day one through day 60 or 90. Additionally, while this is an opportunity for companies to “interview” students for future employment, this is an opportunity for students to “interview” the company, determining if it may be somewhere they want to apply for a job upon graduation. After successfully completing their time at Maine Maritime Academy, jobs are waiting for many students from the company with whom they Cadet Shipped.Maine Maritime Academy was the trailblazer in the creation of this Commercial Shipping experience, as the first Academy to incorporate this invaluable experience into its curriculum. The program was created in the 1960s to prepare students for the challenges of life at sea, giving students a taste of the profession before launching into the industry. Because of the program’s value, success, and popularity, other maritime academies have adopted the program into their curricula, resulting in increased competition for available opportunities. Our Cadet Shipping program has stringent requirements and processes in place which are expected to be followed by our students. It is vitally important that students are aware of their requirements, so they don’t fall behind in their academic programming.

Industry partnerships and participation in our Cadet Shipping program continues to impress me. Companies are not required to provide Maine Maritime Academy with Cadet Shipping opportunities. In fact, it is quite an expense that companies undertake when they agree to take students onto their vessels. Many companies not only pay the students’ wages, but they pay for their travel to and from the vessels, no matter where they are in the world, and they provide our students with room and board. Though it can’t be put into a monetary formula, the time, energy and expertise our industry partners share with our students is the most valuable part of the equation. We wouldn’t be able to put out the exceptional mariners that we do without our partnerships.

MMA Cadet experience

The Cadet Experience: More Than Just Sea Days

By 2/C MIDN Odegaard Fields, Marine Transportation Operations ‘26

This past summer I sailed as a cadet aboard the M/T American Pride, a Jones Act petroleum product tanker operating in the waters once known as the Gulf of Mexico. I was fortunate to join the vessel with a fellow MMA cadet, stepping into the maritime industry with the foundation of our education and training thus far. Even more fortunate was the opportunity to sail with officers who prioritized mentoring and saw value in investing time in the next generation of mariners.

We spent the summer sailing between ports in Florida, Texas, and along the Mississippi River, participating in every operation expected of a tanker mate. One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was the crew’s practical advice on how to manage our responsibilities on board while maintaining a balance as people.

The American Pride ran a demanding schedule, often completing cargo in Florida within twenty-four hours only to embark on another fifteen-hour transit upriver. As cadets, we were constantly on call for pilotage, anchoring, pre-cargo operations, mooring, cargo transfers, deck maintenance, inspections, loading stores, or wherever an extra set of hands was needed. As cadets, we weren’t assigned cargo or navigational watches, meaning we technically had no designated job, which made us available for every job.

Once the crew recognized that we understood the gravity of tanker operations, we were welcomed as part of the team. We matured quickly from the training grounds of Castine and the State of Maine to the professional arena of commercial shipping. In this rapid development of trust between crew and cadets, my friend and I had to find the balance between diligently working the task at hand and positioning to effectively contribute to the next one.

Eager to contribute meaningfully and gain the crew’s trust, we proposed a structured work schedule to the Chief Mate. With his approval, we built space into our routine for healthy activities like talking with crew, playing cards, or going to the gym.

We’d complete a full day of work—securing hoses, conducting inspections, and more—then cool off or tackle academic projects. I initially worried this might come across as lazy or soft, especially compared to the saltier sea stories often told in the industry. But instead, the crew respected our initiative. They knew that we would show up safe, rested, and ready to go when needed.

When I returned to Castine, I discovered that effectively advocating for oneself while maintaining professionalism was a skill many of my peers had also developed during their cadet shipping experiences.

Having recently completed my junior year, I’ve had the chance to step into leadership roles within my curriculum and the Regiment of Midshipmen. The application process created the opportunity to appreciate the strong personal growth of my peers and I during our time here.

My friends and I have come a long way in this program, and we are honored to help create that same transformative experience for our underclassmen and those yet to join us.