MMA President's Watch
So, what are purpose-built training ships?
academies, it would be impossible to meet the
The purpose-built ships, also known as National
demand for licensed mariners needed to support
Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV), would
our national defense and economy. For example,
replace the hodge-podge of aging training
according to the U.S. House of Representatives,
vessels the state maritime academies presently
"Each year, the U.S. maritime industry accounts
operate to train the next generation of maritime
for over $100 billion in economic output and
professionals. The average age of these ships,
employs over 1.5 million Americans. Beyond
which embark thousands of cadets each year, is
the important contributions to our economy, a
37 years. While our ship is more than 25 years
healthy merchant marine is vital to our national
old, the oldest, Empire State at SUNY Maritime
security." According to Darren W. McDew, GEN
College, is 53 years old.
(USAF), Commander, U.S. Transportation Com-
Back in March, we reached out to alumni
mand, our overwhelming success in Operation
MMA President
asking that they contact their Senators and
Desert Shield was due in large part to "...the
DR. WILLIAM J. BRENNAN
Representatives in Washington, DC to support
10,000 U.S. mariners who sped 220 shiploads
the effort to have Congress include funds within
of decisive U.S. combat power throughout the
I
the Department of Transportation's budget for
buildup." And our training ships are often called
n this issue of the Mariner, we include a brief
design work associated with the NSMV. Since
into service to provide disaster response and
history of the 14 Training Ships used from
then, Congress is working to add $6 million to
humanitarian assistance as was the TS State of
1942 to 2016. Reflecting on that history while
the $5 million it appropriated last year. Thank
Maine following Hurricane Katrina, and the
aboard the Training Ship State of Maine (IV)
you to al who took the time to learn more about
Massachusetts Maritime Academy ship the TS
departing Castine on May 9, I realized that,
the initiative and convince your Congressional
Kennedy following Super Storm Sandy, which
while I've been on the current training ship (the
representatives to vote for the appropriation.
devastated the Mid-Atlantic region.
former USNS Tanner) many times while under-
The Consortium has also been active in seek-
As many of our alumni can attest, time aboard
way, I also sailed aboard the previous two State
ing an increase in federal support for ongoing
our training ship is the hallmark of our hands-on
of Maine training ships in my youth. As a boy, I
operations at the SMAs. Over the last 6 years
education and the importance of the ship in this
sailed on the former USS Ancon to Montreal, and
appropriations for the six State Maritime Acade-
regard cannot be overstated. Our form of educa-
in my 20s, I worked aboard the former USNS
mies has doubled. When I began as President of
tion is also relatively expensive and that is why
Upshur in 1977. Little did I know then that I
MMA in 2010, appropriation was $14.5M where-
our partnership with the Maritime Administra-
would later find myself involved in an initiative
as last year, a total of $28.6M was appropriated
tion is so critical to our success. Maintaining the
to build new purpose-built training ships for the
to support the maintenance and repair of the
financial stability of the Academy is a complex
State Maritime Academies (SMAs).
training ships, fuel assistance for their operation,
task as we derive our revenue from a variety
As Chairman of the Consortium of State
payments to students, and other direct support
of sources including tuition, State and Federal
Maritime Academies, which includes Maine,
for each of the academies.
appropriation and, importantly, from our alumni
Massachusetts, New York, Texas, California,
We operate very closely with the federal
and friends. Thank you for the many ways
and the Great Lakes academies, I work with my
government; what I refer to as a maritime
you stay connected, informed, and inspired to
colleagues from the other SMAs to guide the
education and training partnership with the
advance an exceptional education for our young
advancement of federal issues that affect al of
Maritime Administration and the United States
students.
the academies. As you might imagine, this takes
Coast Guard. The SMAs produce 70 percent
up a bit of my time.
of our nation's licensed mariners. Without the
mainemaritime.edu
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