Education Training News

TOTE Services, LLC and Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. marked a milestone in U.S. shipbuilding with the keel laying of the fifth and final vessel in the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program. Commissioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), the NSMV program is designed to provide top-tier training for future mariners while supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. The vessels are being built to replace aging training ships at five state maritime academies…

In a significant investment in Puerto Rico's education and workforce development, Saltchuk has partnered with both the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) and the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) to establish two programs focused on transportation and logistics. These strategic initiatives seek to develop skilled professionals, enhance industry research, and support long-term economic and social progress on the island.Saltchuk has entered into a Memorandum…

Heinemann Solutions GmbH has officially opened its new site at Mukran Port in Sassnitz. In the modern training hall “Im Fährhafen 1”, practice-oriented safety training according to the standards of the Global Wind Organization (GWO) will be offered starting in March 2025. These include “Working at Heights” (Basic & Refresher), “Advanced Rescue Training,” “Fire Awareness” (Basic & Refresher), “Manual Handling,” and “Enhanced First Aid” (Basic & Refresher).With more than 15 years of experience in practical safety training…

The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) has agreed on draft interim generic guidelines for training seafarers working on ships powered by alternative fuels and new technologies. These draft guidelines will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee for approval in June 2025.Meeting in London from February 10 to 14, the Sub-Committee agreed that such guidance should be provided through both:• generic interim guidelines applicable across the whole industry and relevant to all alternative fuels and new technologies…

It’s late in the season so Captain Duke Snider, sailing on a resupply voyage from New Zealand to Antarctica, is expecting virtually no sea, just glacial ice.Snider has been an ice navigator for decades, and he has seen the ocean change, not just here in the polar south, but in Arctic waters as well.“Variability is much greater than in the past when we could expect an ice breakup to occur within a calendar week, year after year, whether it was the Arctic or the Antarctic,” he says.

Lloyd’s Register's Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (The Decarb Hub) and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) have released a third report aimed at helping meet the upskilling needs of an estimated future 800,000 seafarers as the industry transitions to alternative fuels.While current frameworks outlined in the IMO STCW for seafarer training provide a foundation, they fall short of addressing the unique challenges posed by ammonia, says the organizations…

Some expert thoughts on AI in 2025:“In 2025, AI won’t just be a tool; it will be a collaborator.”“In 2025, the most productive employees will work alongside AI agents.”AI agents are an advance on large language models (LLMs). LLMs at present are popularly used as creative and conversational search engines. They can’t directly interact with external tools or data processing system or autonomously set up systems to monitor and collect ongoing data. AI agents can, and they can proactively track and collect data streams to refine their decision-making.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) needs to take action to help address workforce challenges.MARAD has about 800 employees, but the agency is facing staff turnover, high numbers of employees eligible to retire and vacancies in critical positions. And it doesn't have a strategic human capital plan to address how it will hire and retain employees.As of September 2024, MARAD had a 12.3 percent vacancy rate—116 vacancies out of 941 authorized full-time positions.

Seaspan has made a $2.5 million investment to create new skills training and apprenticeship opportunities for Indigenous People in Greater Vancouver.The five-year funding program is a continuation of a longstanding partnership with the non-profit Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services (ACCESS).The ACCESS program helps prepare Indigenous community members for a career in shipbuilding by providing industry-recognized skills training through local colleges, such as BCIT…

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LROO) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation, have agreed to explore the integration of seafarer certification systems and to develop a mobile phone app.The aim is to test the feasibility of a digital system where all seafarer certificates can be securely stored and consolidated, allowing real-time access for all key stakeholders.This would reduce administrative burdens associated with paper-based seafarer endorsement and verification…

Container ship operator CMA CGM is revising steering guidance across its fleet after ambiguous procedures contributed to one of its ships colliding with a navigational beacon in the Yarra River, Victoria, Australia, an ATSB investigation report notes.Departing the Port of Melbourne on 25 May 2023 under the conduct of a harbor pilot, container ship CMA CGM Puccini contacted the navigational beacon after swinging wide in a turn when its rudder began responding erratically to helm orders.The ship was slowed and returned towards the middle of the channel…

For all welding students who want to focus on education and training rather than the burden of paying for school, ESAB reminds students that the deadline to apply for AWS 2025 Foundation national, district, and section scholarships is March 1.The American Welding Society (AWS) awards more than $2.5 million in scholarships each year, including 12 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each made possible through ESAB’s Future Fabricators program and its collaboration with the AWS Foundation.The scholarships support students working towards welding certifications…

Capital Ship Management Corp and FORCE Technology have partnered up to create Europe’s first Extended Reality (XR) Full Mission Bridge simulator, designed to support maritime training.The simulator will be housed at Capital Group’s state-of-the-art training facility at the port of Chios Island in Greece, which is slated to open in 2025.Designed to enhance seafarers' skills, this modern center of excellence reinforces Capital Group’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and…

The Port of Oakland is excited to announce the kick-off of its 2025 paid Summer College Internship Program.Qualified applicants can competitively apply for summer internships in a variety of professional fields at the Port including Aviation, Communications, Engineering, Environmental Programs & Planning, Governmental Affairs, Human Resources, Technology & Innovation, Legal, Maritime Logistics, and Utilities.The Port has proudly supported internship opportunities for college students for nearly 20 years.

Cadets Anna LaDue and Odegaard Fields from Maine Maritime Academy have been awarded the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship. These students were selected based on their performance during the cadet training periods aboard Crowley-operated or -managed ships and their intent to pursue maritime careers.LaDue, a junior from Canterbury, New Hampshire, is studying marine transportation operations, with a minor in sail training. She has served as the Assistant Officer in Charge…

Houston-based Noble Corporation contracted with Kongsberg Digital for the delivery of navigation, engine and dynamic positioning (DP) simulators based on Kongsberg Maritime’s K-Pos DP system. The simulators will be tailored and integrated with Kongsberg Maritime’s Riser Monitoring System (RMS) and electronic Well Specific Operating Guidelines (eW-SOG) to meet Noble’s training needs.Noble will be the first company globally to implement such an advanced DP drilling training solution for in-house Nautical Institute-accredited training.

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program, partnered to host a two-day recruiting event to offer students a direct career path to a job in the shipbuilding industry. The event attracted over 120 students from across 20 states who interviewed for positions in key trades, including welding, electrical, and machining. By the event’s conclusion, 68 students received job offers to begin their careers at HII.The recruiting event began on Fri., Dec.

Kongsberg Digital announced a significant agreement with Transnet SOC Ltd (Transnet) to deliver state-of-the-art simulator technology to the Transnet Academy in Durban, South Africa.Transnet plays a role in the South African economy by providing infrastructure and fostering economic growth through port operations. Scheduled for delivery in June 2025, the suite of Kongsberg simulators will support Transnet’s mission to enhance trade facilitation, sustainability, and economic growth by boosting training capacity and staying ahead of industry demand.

Today, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) completed the formal transfer of the Robinson Bay tugboat to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy during a ceremony at Snell Lock.This celebrated vessel, originally built in 1958, will now serve as a training platform for the Academy’s maritime students, fostering the education of future mariners. At the ceremony, GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Great Lakes Maritime Academy Superintendent Jerry Achenbach, and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jon Hickey made remarks.

The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) celebrated the signing of a historic agreement between Columbus University and Kobe University, marking a pivotal step toward strengthening maritime education and research in the country.“We are witnessing a strategic alliance that will not only facilitate the training of highly skilled professionals but also promote research on key maritime topics, solidifying Panama’s position as a global leader in this sector,” said Maryluz Castillo, Director…

AET, owner and operator of maritime transportation assets and specialised services and a member of the MISC Group, and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop Singapore’s maritime talent pool.Under the MoU, AET will sponsor four scholarships and two internships per year from 2025 to 2027, continuing its support for the AET-MaritimeONE partnership. The scholarships and internships will be managed by SMF, with both parties jointly selecting the candidates.

The school year at the Ushuaia Merchant Marine Training and Education School for Embarking Personnel (EFOCAPEMM) has concluded, with the graduation of 60 students, in training provided by the Argentine Naval Prefecture.The event was chaired by the School Director, Prefect Cristian Alejandro Sarasua, who was accompanied by National Deputy Carolina Yutrovic, Councilor Dr. Daiana Freiberger and the Secretary of Government of the Municipality of Ushuaia, Dr. César Molina Olguín.The graduates specialized in various disciplines: nurse, sailor, engine assistant, professional motorcyclist captain of the second and third special zones, and special zone sailors.In addition…

MPT announced the addition of Dr. Crystal Allen Craft as Vice Principal of Academic Affairs. Dr. Craft brings extensive maritime, engineering, and leadership history to this role, contributing to MPT’s position as the U.S.’s largest private maritime training school.Dr. Craft began her professional career at New York Maritime College (SUNY), earning a dual degree in engineering and humanities in 2001. Her early years at sea saw her managing complex engineering operations as a licensed unlimited engineer with the American Maritime Officers (AMO).