Besides Annapolis, the Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the Maritime Administration currently supports several four-year schools that produce merchant and USCGR/USNR officers. These six schools include the California State University Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and the State University of New York Maritime College.
However, these schools have long used second- (or third- or fourth-) hand seagoing vessels that in some cases date back to the 1960s and do not reflect any modern merchant vessel afloat.
With that, there are changes afoot.
Behold the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV). Note the Seahawk on deck
MARAD last week announced the selection of Philly Shipyard, Inc. of Philadelphia to construct the newest class of training ship; the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), after a decade-long push.
“The shipyard will construct up to five new ships to provide world-class maritime training for America’s future mariners at the state maritime academies. The NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces and a full training bridge with space for up to 600 cadets to train in a first-rate maritime academic environment at sea. The NSMV will also be available to uniquely support federal government efforts in response to national and international disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.”
Principle Dimensions
• Length 159.85 m (524’-5”)
• Beam 27.0 m (88’-7”)
• Depth 16.8 m (55’-1.5”)
• Design Draft 6.5 m (21’-4”)
Range
• 11,000+ miles at 18 knots
Propulsion, Speed & Consumption
• Diesel Electric –4 main engines divided
between 2 engine rooms
• Total Installed Power –14,280 kW Main
Engines (four 4,200 kW);
• Plus one, 900 kW
• Full Speed –18 knots with 15% sea
margin –4 engines
• Cruising Speed –12 knots with 2 main
engines in one engine room
• Uni-fuel for simplicity and operation in
the US ECA –MGO only
Accommodation
• Training Ship Mode –600 cadets, 100
officer, faculty, staff & crew
• Surge capacity for Humanitarian
Assistance/Disaster Response missions
• Food Storage for 60 days
• Fresh Water Storage for 14 days
Upon completion, the first NSMV vessel will be delivered to MARAD who will then provide the ship to SUNY Maritime for use as a training ship.
Now to reboot the MSC and get some strategic sealift vessels made in this century on the list.