Real-world Training in Environmental Compliance

In order to provide cadets with hands-on environmental compliance training with the latest technology, State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College will install a digital environmental compliance tool aboard the Training Ship Empire State (T/S Empire State) for Summer Sea Term 2018.

Ocean Guardian is a digitization tool developed by Total Marine Solutions to match a vessel’s location to a comprehensive regulatory database of international, national, regional, port and company regulations for discharge streams. The solution helps operators immediately understand what can and cannot be discharged, while instant access to digital copies of regulations increases operator competency and understanding of regulations.

SUNY Maritime says it is the first maritime college in the world to install Ocean Guardian on a training vessel.

“Protecting our oceans is a critical piece of a SUNY Maritime College student’s education,” said Lori Kie, director of communications at SUNY Maritime. “The college is proud to partner with Ocean Guardian to bring this technology to Training Ship Empire State VI.”

Total Marine Solutions will oversee the installation of Ocean Guardian and SUNY Maritime alumna Anna Silva (’98) will be on hand to deliver training to officers, instructors and approximately 740 cadets before the ship departs campus on May 7. This year, the ship will be calling on San Juan, Puerto Rico; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Glasgow, Scotland; Gaeta, Italy; and Ponta Delgada, Azores before returning to New York on August 10, 2018.

“The ship’s worldwide itinerary will really give cadets the chance to understand first-hand how complex the regulatory environment is,” said Total Marine Solution’s manager of business development and SUNY Maritime alumna Anna Silva. “Training with Ocean Guardian will give them a real-world understanding of how the latest technology can help vessels enhance environmental compliance operations.”

One of the requirements to earn a U.S. Coast Guard license (deck or engine) is to accrue 180 days of sea time prior to taking the USCG license exam to become a Merchant Mariner. The T/S Empire State and Summer Sea Term allow cadets to gain this time following their freshmen, sophomore and junior years. Through a combination of watch standing, classroom learning, maintenance and repair work rotations, cadets get hands-on experience in shipboard operations aboard the T/S Empire State.