Over the summer, Marad celebrated the completion of the third newly constructed national security multimission vessel (NSMV) from Hanwha Philly Shipyard. The State of Maine, which will call home at Maine Maritime Academy, now joins the Empire State VII (State University of New York Maritime College) and Patriot State (Massachusetts Maritime Academy) as the latest completed vessel in the five-vessel fleet. The series’ remaining two vessels will serve Texas and California maritime academies in the coming years.
Now that we are over the halfway hump in the construction of these vessels, the broader maritime industry is poised for significant change. This transformation will begin at our maritime academies, where future U.S. merchant mariners will gain firsthand experience with modern vessel operations. Over the next two to three years, the industry will see a wave of graduates entering the workforce who will have had direct exposure to state-of-the-art vessels — unlike their predecessors, who often began their careers aboard outdated training ships.
These next-generation graduates from maritime colleges and academies will be well-positioned to help shape the future of the U.S. Merchant Marine. They bring with them not only fresh energy but also a deeper understanding of modern maritime technologies, strengthening the overall pool of U.S. mariners. The success of any maritime operation begins with its most critical asset: a skilled and knowledgeable crew. With the introduction of these vessels, the U.S. is beginning to see the initial return on its investment — an investment not just in ships, but in the future of its maritime workforce.
As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and with the U.S. government’s commitment to maritime education and the introduction of the NSMV fleet, there is hope that the trajectory of U.S. shipping will continue to rise.
