Massachusetts Maritime Academy has welcomed its new training vessel, Patriot State, to Buzzards Bay. This arrival signifies a major milestone in the US Maritime Administration’s National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) programme aimed at enhancing maritime training and disaster response capabilities.
Delivered by Philly Shipyard in September, Patriot State, of around 18,000 gross tons, is the second of five state-of-the-art training ships commissioned for the five state maritime academies in the US. The NSMV programme, led by the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), is designed to provide training for future mariners and support humanitarian and disaster relief missions.
Patriot State replaces the Academy’s previous training ship, Kennedy, which was transferred to Texas A&M Maritime Academy in 2023. The new ship is equipped with instructional spaces and a full training bridge, and can accommodate up to 600 cadets. She also boasts modern hospital facilities, a helicopter pad, and can house up to 1,000 people during humanitarian crises.
The new training ship measures 159.85m by 27m, and can reach speeds of 18 knots. Its roll-on/roll-off and container storage capacity further enhances its utility in disaster relief missions.
Utilizing a public-private partnership, TOTE Services, the vessel construction manager, oversaw the building of these new vessels, ensuring cost-effective delivery. With the first two ships already delivered, construction is ongoing for the remaining vessels, which will serve Maine Maritime Academy, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and California Maritime Academy.
