[EXTERNAL RELEASE] Statement of the Consortium of State Maritime Academies on Announcement of Shipyard to Build NSMV    

"The Consortium of State Maritime Academies applauds yesterday's announcement that the Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, PA has been selected to build the nation's new National Security Multi-mission Vessel (NSMV) fleet.

The NSMV's will replace the aging fleet of training ships being operated today by the State Maritime Academies to train future mariners. These ships are the first purpose built maritime training ships in the world. The vessels will be owned by the federal government and operated by the State Maritime Academies during training cruises. They will be operated by the federal government when used to serve their dual role as disaster response vessels.

The first two NSMV's will replace the oldest training ships at the SUNY Maritime College and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Subsequent NSMV's will be based at the Maine Maritime Academy, the Texas A&M Maritime Academy and the California State University Maritime Academy.

The Consortium is particularly grateful to the Administration champions, Congressional supporters, and many others who have made this construction announcement possible. It would be impossible to thank them all in this statement, but their collective work is a shining example of bipartisan governmental cooperation at its best.

The training of merchant mariners is essential to the strength of the U.S. economy and to our national security. We are proud to produce more than 70% of the licensed officers each year. 

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The six SMA's are California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA; Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, MI; Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME; Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, MA; State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College in Throggs Neck, NY; and Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston, TX.