Fort Schuyler Magazine - Spring 2022

CAMPUS NEWS

Keel Laying of NSMV I Marks Historic Milestone for U.S. Maritime Industry & Maritime College

In an event that brought together maritime industry officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD), Philly Shipyard Inc., TOTE Services, Inc., government officials from Philadelphia, and higher education leaders from several State Maritime Academies, December 10 proved to be a historic and memorable day for the U.S. maritime industry and for Maritime College. The milestone event was covered by numerous maritime trade publications and outlets including, The Maritime Executive, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, Work Boat, Marine Log and Trade Winds, to name a few. The keel laying ceremony for the first National Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV I) was held in Philly Shipyard. Attendees witnessed the keel laying firsthand at the shipyard while countless others viewed the milestone event via livestream. In attendance were Acting MARAD Administrator Lucinda Lessley; Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon of Philadelphia’s 5TH District; Philly Shipyard President and CEO Steinar Nerbovik; TOTE Services Inc. President Jeff Dixon; and four State Maritime Academy Presidents, RADM Thomas A. Cropper of California State University Maritime Academy, RADM Francis

X. McDonald of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, RADM Michael Fossum of Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and RADM Michael Alfultis of SUNY Maritime College. “That we would all be gathered here on this particular day to celebrate this event is somewhat serendipitous,” stated RADM Michael Alfultis. “December 10 holds a historic and significant meaning for two

of American mariners and provide a new disaster response capability for the Nation,” said Acting MARAD Administrator Lucinda Lessley. The keel laying was a realization of a vision many years in the making involving conceptualization, discussion, collaboration, letter writing campaigns, meetings, visits to Washington, D.C., and testifying before

reasons. First, it was on this day in 1874 that the St. Marys arrived in New York harbor to serve as the first training ship for the College, then known as the New York Nautical School. Second, today we celebrate for the first time in U.S. history, the design and construction of a U.S. Government owned class of multi-purpose ships for training U.S. mariners and supporting national security missions.” “Today’s first NSMV keel laying is a critical milestone in an innovative effort that is producing state-of-the-art vessels in an American shipyard that will both train the next generation

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