Long trek to Lone Star State sparked plan for SC maritime academy
by David Wren, SC Daily Gazette, August 8, 2025. With more than 1,100 miles to think while driving from Charleston to Galveston, Texas, three years ago, state Rep. Tom Hartnett Jr. found himself asking the same question again and again. Why doesn’t South Carolina have its own maritime academy? Hartnett was taking his son, Rhett, […]
Scholarships expand opportunities for prospective mariners
By Patricia McCarthy, Professional Mariner. Offering scholarships to students interested in maritime careers has become a major component of workforce development efforts by industry organizations, private companies and others trying to address the maritime workforce shortage. The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) — a coalition that represents the U.S. domestic maritime industry, including shipping companies, mariners, […]
The Impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on the Jones Act and U.S. Maritime Growth
By VOICES Staff. On July 4th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB), a massive reconciliation package that includes significant provisions for the maritime industry. The bill delivers critical funding to enhance U.S. maritime security, shipbuilding, and defense capabilities, while fostering economic growth and job creation in maritime-related sectors. The […]
How USVs Are Transforming U.S. Maritime Safety and Efficiency
By VOICES Staff. Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) are already rapidly transforming the defense sector, assisting in everything from offshore inspections to port security and beyond. However, as USVs become more prevalent in American waters, the question remains: how do we integrate this technology while upholding the principles of the Jones Act, ensuring that American mariners […]
Texas A&M Maritime Academy Features New Mate Of Towing Vessels Endorsement
By Taylor Bounds, Division of Marketing & Communications. At the end of the spring semester, the very first cohort of Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets will complete the requirements for their Mate of Towing Vessels Endorsement. This valuable qualification is for those interested in working on towing vessels and expands the career pathways cadets can […]
Training ship Patriot State introduces Puerto Rican students to maritime careers
By Maria Miranda. Patriot State, a training ship that is part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program, will host more than 100 Puerto Rican high school students on Saturday for an orientation about maritime careers and educational opportunities. Staff from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) will guide students on programs […]
Crowley Announces California State University Maritime Academy Recipients of Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship
By Crowley. California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) deck cadets Jake Jacobsen and Jan Johnson have been awarded Crowley’s Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships. The scholarship recognizes the cadets’ success and their dedication to a career in the maritime industry. Jacobsen, entering his final year at Cal Maritime, is studying marine engineering technology […]
Historic Robinson Bay Tugboat Transferred to Great Lakes Maritime Academy
By the U.S. Department of Transportation. Massena, N.Y. – Today, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) proudly 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 […]
From Classroom to Shipyard: USMMA Midshipmen Gain Hands-On Experience at Detyens
By VOICES Staff. At Detyens Shipyards in North Charleston, South Carolina, the future of America’s maritime industry is being built one midshipman at a time. Through a unique partnership with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Detyens Shipyards hosts up to 20 midshipmen each year as part of the academy’s Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management […]
Father And Son Together On Summer Sea Term
By Taylor Bounds. This summer, James P. (Jim) Gompper, Texas A&M Maritime Academy commandant, and James H. (Jim) Gompper ’21, Texas A&M University at Galveston former student and summer sea term deck watch officer, are sailing together on TS Kennedy as part of the academy’s annual summer sea term. The pair are father and son, each […]
