Small Vessel Operations

The Vessel Operations and Technology curriculum is designed to prepare students for positions of responsibility in the operation and management of a variety of private and commercial vessels. The program is organized in a two-plus-two format offering a two-year Associate of Science degree in Small Vessel Operations (SVO) and a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Vessel Operations and Technology (VOT). A range of limited-tonnage U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner licenses are also associated with these degree programs. Four academic semesters, plus a cooperative work experience during the summer following the first year, lead to an Associate of Science degree. Four additional academic semesters plus two additional cooperative work experiences and the VOT training cruise, lead to a Bachelor of Science degree.

A student successfully completing the first two years of the program, including an appropriate cooperative work experience, and meeting all the applicable USCG requirements may receive a USCG license as mate of vessels not more than 200 gross tons, Near Coastal (200 miles offshore). A comprehensive license exam, administered by MMA, is a requirement to earn this USCG license and is a prerequisite for both the mate 500-ton and mate 1600-ton licenses.

A student successfully completing the Bachelor of Science degree requisites, two additional cooperative work experiences on appropriately-sized vessels, the VOT training cruise and meeting all the applicable USCG requirements, will be eligible to sit for the USCG License examination either as mate of vessels not more than 500 gross tons or as mate of vessels not more than 1600 gross tons.

Depending on specific USCG sea-service and vessel tonnage requirements students will be eligible for either a Near Coastal or Oceans endorsement on their license. This program also satisfies the training and assessment requirements to meet the STCW Code for both Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch and Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch.

Participation in the Regiment of Midshipmen is optional when enrolled in this program. However, students electing to participate in First Year Cruise on the Training Ship State of Maine are subject to the Priority for Course Registration policy, must have been in the Regiment for the year and meet the following prerequisites: 4/C Maintenance; Ship’s Orientation; Ocean Survival (PE114), Fire Training, and NS101.

In addition to meeting the college requirement for graduation with at least a 2.0 grade point average for the A.S. and B.S. degrees, graduating students are required to have a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in the VOT/SVO program core courses. For the VOT program, core courses are defined as courses with the prefix CO, CR, and NS.

The following table outlines the normal sequence of courses taken by students majoring in Small Vessel Operations.