Help Wanted: US Maritime Industry Struggles to Fill Key Gaps
Admiral Ann C. Phillips, Maritime Administrator, said during a House committee hearing in May 2023. “Both of these developments have negatively impacted mariner retention.”In a recent interview for Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander of U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), addressed an across-the-board shortage of civil service mariners (CIVMAR) to man MSC ships.“Our shortfall is in the middle to senior positions within our licensed mariners, but we need to attract the junior people now, those third-class mariners with the certifications they
No Shortage of Good Ideas to Address the Mariner Shortage
. maritime industry is confronting manpower shortages that create a national security risk. Merchant Mariner readiness requires continued assessment to ensure an adequately trained supply of merchant mariners to crew our surge fleet while minimizing impacts to commercial industry. USTRANSCOM and Military Sealift Command depend on the U.S.-flag merchant marine fleet, with the security benefits of American crews, to move sensitive defense materials. Unfortunately, due to a confluence of factors including complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, the workforce is shrinking.”Both Administrator Phillips
US Forms Council to Advise on USMMA Improvements
to ensure that the USMMA’s curriculum is keeping pace with the technological advances in the maritime industry.Appointees are drawn from academia, the maritime industry and maritime labor, the senior ranks of the U.S. military, and five federal agencies—including the Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, Naval War College, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. They include experts in administering institutions of higher learning; sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and response; infrastructure and facilities management
Austal USA Names Kruger VP of Global Services and Support
Institute.Austal USA significantly expanded the company’s Services business in late 2021 with the establishment of a waterfront repair facility in the Port of San Diego adjacent to Naval Base San Diego. The 15-acre site will focus on ship repair for small combatant-size U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, and U.S. Coast Guard ships. The facility will be centered on a newly-built dry dock designed to efficiently dock small surface combatants and similar sized ships. The dry dock will have a 9,000 light ton lifting capacity. It will be 531 feet (162 meters) long, 154 feet (47 meters) wide
Rodriguez Appointed Interim Director of MITAGS
on issues related to the Deepwater Horizon casualty.As a Navy reserve officer, Rodriguez served in several billets supporting military sealift and maritime security, including a deployment in 2006 to support special operations at sea, and service as a commercial maritime subject matter expert at Military Sealift Command.In 2014, Rodriguez was appointed as the deputy administrator at the Maritime Administration (MARAD). In 2017, he became the 15th superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy (TAMMA).Rodriguez retired from the Navy reserve in 2019 at the rank of Captain and returned to his home in
Vigor, MHI Acquired and Merged
widely known for building ferries, it also builds high-performance military craft for the United States and other allied foreign governments.MHI Holdings LLC, owned by Stellex Capital, is a leading provider of full-range ship maintenance, repair, and modernization services to the U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command in Norfolk, Virginia. MHI also provides hull cleaning, ship husbandry services, underwater painting and inspections, wastewater treatment, and chemical cleaning services globally. MHI is one of the only private shipyards in Norfolk that can service large surface combatants and amphibious ships
USMMA Class of 2022 Sworn into USNR
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point welcomed the Class of 2022 into the U.S. Navy Reserve Saturday in a parade and ceremony at Tomb Field on the Academy grounds. The Class was sworn in on behalf of the U.S. Navy by Capt. Steven Urwiller, USMMA ‘94, the Director of Military Sealift Command’s Reserve Affairs and Military Manpower.The parade and ceremony marked the end of formal activities for Parents Weekend 2018, with eligible Plebes and Midshipmen heading off the Academy for liberty. This is especially important to the Class of 2022 because it is the first time they
Military to Maritime Digital Career Platform Launched
vessels. The U.S. military, the most powerful military in the world, relies on U.S. flag vessels crewed by U.S. civilian mariners,” said Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration. “As part of our coordinated effort across the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the commercial maritime industry, the Maritime Administration is working to make it easier for transitioning veterans to obtain their mariner credentials based on their service experience. In addition, MARAD supports all educational and training resources to support
Crowley Scholarships to Four USMMA Cadets
security. He is involved in the O'Gara Academic Honor Society, Acta Non Verba Club, and is currently training to be a Company Academic Officer. He is involved in rigorous academic courses, for which he maintains a 3.9 GPA. He has spent over 300 days at sea as a deck cadet including stints for Military Sealift Command (MSC), during which time he earned his Person in Charge endorsement; Tote Services; and most recently Crowley, aboard the company-managed Horizon Reliance and Horizon Pacific. Policastro plans to sail as a third officer on a commercial vessel upon graduation. Rebecca Snyder, is
SUNY Maritime Graduates 17 to US Navy
day at the commencement ceremony. He was one of the three Seaman-to-Admiral 21 program selectees graduating from SUNY Maritime College this year to receive his commission. During the ceremony, which was held under sunny skies in St. Mary’s Pentagon, Rear Adm. Dee Mewbourne, commander of Military Sealift Command, addressed the midshipmen and their families. “You are joining an impressive naval heritage. Men and women of courage and commitment have gone before you, making our U.S. Navy the great institution it is today,” Mewbourne said. “As a nation, we treasure personal freedom
DiCianna Joins Choice Ballast Solutions
in the development of water discharge regulations; recently working with them on the upcoming 2018 Vessel General Permit revisions. Prior to joining Choice Ballast Solutions, DiCianna was an Environmental Consultant and has provided services to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Military Sealift Command. She was the Senior Principal Environmental Engineer to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) responsible for assessing performance and failures of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS), reviewing BWMS designs to ensure compliance with applicable environmental standards and regulations
BAE Systems to Expand San Diego Shipyard
surface ship repair, maintenance and modernization, and will accommodate cruisers, destroyers, amphibious assault ships, mine countermeasures ships and both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship. The expanded facilities may also service other ships and vessels under contract, including those for Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration. The new Pier 4, at 415-feet long and 64-feet wide, replaces a 52-year-old pier and includes new services such as fresh water, electrical, sewage, and storm water containment. The new drydock will measure 950-feet
Great Lakes Towing Announces Two New Hires
, in Honolulu Hawaii as Director of Maritime Operations where he was responsible for management of the company’s 22-vessel operation. He also managed the day-to-day operations of the shipyard that serviced its fleet as well as Federal and Commercial Clients. Delventhal spent 19 years at Military Sealift Command as Construction Representative and Project Officer. As a Project Officer for the Navy’s Auxiliary Fleet, he was responsible for the life cycle maintenance and operations of the T-AFS, T-ATF and the ARS transfer program as well as harbor assist tug and port operations tug contracts
Crowley Wins Military Sealift Command Contract
Military Sealift Command operation and maintenance contracted awarded to Crowley Maritime Crowley Maritime Corp.’s global ship management group has been has been awarded the contract for the operation and maintenance of the T-AGOS/T-AGM fleet for the Military Sealift Command. This fleet of seven ships supports the Navy’s Surveillance Towed Array Sensor Systems (SURTASS) operations; the U.S. Air Force's dual-band, phased array and parabolic dish radars; and other government research missions. The contract covers the operation and maintenance of five T-AGOS and up to two
MSC Consolidates HQ in Norfolk
Military Sealift Command (MSC) received approval Oct. 30 to officially begin geographically consolidating at Naval Station (NS) Norfolk, Virginia, a single headquarters that since 2012 has been physically split between the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., and NS Norfolk. The consolidation is scheduled to be complete by the end of Fiscal Year 2019. Consolidating MSC headquarters staff in Norfolk helps streamline processes, maximize customer service with our Navy, and cut costs associated with maintaining two geographic headquarters' locations. Additionally, it collocates MSC with the other U.S.
