Long trek to Lone Star State sparked plan for SC maritime academy

The Citadel in Charleston would be home to the nation’s eighth maritime academy under a proposal by state Rep. Tom Hartnett Jr. of Charleston. (Photo by Ed Wray/provided by The Citadel)

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, […]

Crowley Tug Repowers Boost Maritime Readiness in America’s Busiest Ports

The Master and Leader were originally delivered in April 1998, built to last by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, Washington state (CREDIT: Crowley)

By VOICES Staff. Two of the hardest-working tugboats on the West Coast are back in action—smarter, cleaner, and more powerful than ever. Crowley has completed full repowers of the Master and Leader, its ship assist and escort tugs serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. These modernizations are helping ensure the ports — […]

U.S. Shipyards Set the Standard for Safety: SCA Honors 14 Facilities for 2024 Excellence

By VOICES Staff.  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) has announced its annual Safety Awards, honoring 14 U.S. shipyards for their outstanding safety performance in 2024. The awards recognize facilities that met rigorous standards in promoting safe work environments across the shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance sector. This industry plays a vital role […]

Michael Lind: A libertarian radical sank America’s maritime industry. It needs to be restored.

Portrait of Martin Anderson Assistant to the President for Policy Affairs (ORIGINAL IMAGE: White House Photo Collection Galleries / Ronald Reagan Presidential Library)

By Michael Lind, Economics Editor at Commonplace. Ironically, it was the administration of President Ronald Reagan, an ardent Cold Warrior, that crippled American shipbuilding and America’s merchant marine. The individual most responsible for the destruction of America’s commercial ship construction industry was Martin Anderson, who served in the Reagan White House as assistant to the […]

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 […]