A keel laying March 5 marked the start of the fifth and final vessel in the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program. The Maritime Administration’s NSMV program is delivering a new generation of training ships for U.S. maritime academies that can also support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
The NSMVs are being constructed to replace aging training vessels at SUNY Maritime College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and with the final ship in the series intended for the California State University Maritime Academy.
TOTE Services LLC and Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. hosted the keel laying ceremony Wednesday in Philadelphia. “Laying the keel is a longstanding maritime tradition in which the first grand block of a vessel is placed in the building dock,” according to a statement from the companies. “This ceremonial event is believed to bring good fortune to the ship during construction and throughout its service life.”
Working under the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) acquisition model, TOTE Services and Hanwha Philly Shipyard have already delivered the first two NSMV’s (Empire State and Patriot State) with the third vessel scheduled for delivery later this year.
“The VCM approach allows for the application of commercial best practices in design and construction, increasing efficiency and accelerating vessel deliveries to the U.S. Government,” the shipbuilders say. “All five NSMV keels have been laid over the past 39 months, demonstrating the speed at which the commercial sector can move under this contracting model.”
“We are proud to celebrate the keel laying of NSMV V, marking another key milestone in this groundbreaking shipbuilding program,” said David Kim, CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard. “This program is a testament to the strength of the U.S. maritime industry, and we are honored to work alongside TOTE Services and Marad in delivering these advanced training vessels that will benefit generations of cadets to come.”
The NSMV feature advanced training facilities and accommodation for up to 600 cadets and 100 faculty. Graduates from the state maritime academies make up over half of all newly commissioned U.S. merchant marine officers each year.
"As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to Marad and the future of U.S. maritime education and shipbuilding," said Jeff Dixon, president of TOTE Services. "The VCM model executed by TOTE Services has demonstrated its ability to reduce costs, accelerate delivery timelines, and provide state-of-the-art vessels that will serve our country for decades to come."
"California State University Maritime Academy is honored to be part of a distinguished fleet of purpose-built training ships, each designed to meet the evolving needs of America’s maritime education while also providing the U.S. with ships that can support disaster response and other critical national needs,” said Vice Adm. (ret.) Michael J. Dumont, Interim President of Cal Maritime.
“This vessel stands as a testament to innovation, resilience, and the nation’s unwavering commitment to preparing the next generation of mariners. It will be proudly operated by the crew, cadets, and faculty of the only state maritime academy on the West Coast.”
