Federal Training Ship Empire State VII Ordered to Norfolk Ahead of U.S. Navy Mission

SUNY Maritime College’s training ship Empire State VII has been ordered to depart New York on September 30 for Norfolk, Virginia, where it will undergo a month-long activation and flight deck certification ahead of follow-on operations supporting the U.S. Navy.

The sailing order provides the clearest indication yet of what lies ahead for the vessel after the U.S. Maritime Administration ordered its activation last month for an undisclosed federal mission.

SUNY Maritime President Rear Admiral John Okon told the college community that Empire State VII is scheduled to arrive in Norfolk on October 1 and remain there through October 30 under an extended MARAD Maintenance and Repair Activation.

The work will include certification of the ship’s flight deck “in preparation for follow-on operations supporting the U.S. Navy,” Okon said.

The destination and exact nature of those follow-on operations remain undisclosed.

MARAD previously said Empire State VII was needed for a classified national security mission tied to an urgent Military Sealift Command requirement. An August 28 decision memorandum reviewed by gCaptain said no other suitable vessel was available within the required timeframe and described the activation as a “compelling strategic necessity.”

The memorandum contemplated federal use of the ship for approximately 170 days.

Okon made clear in his latest message that SUNY Maritime did not make the decision to deploy the vessel.

“The decision to deploy Empire State was made by the Maritime Administrator in support of a national mission,” he said. “It was not a decision made by SUNY, the College, or the College administration.”

At the same time, Okon acknowledged that losing the school’s primary training ship for much of the academic year will create significant challenges for students.

“Empire State is a vital part of the Maritime College experience and a critical component of our training environment,” he said. “Its absence creates challenges, and we should be honest about that.”

The college is working across its academic, training and waterfront programs to limit disruptions and ensure students can meet required training and graduation requirements.

Okon also demanded a firm target for the ship’s return. “I have been very clear with MARAD, and remain on record, tha Empire State needs to return to campus on or about February 12, 2027, to keep SST 2027 on schedule,” he said.

The timeline would keep the ship away from Fort Schuyler for more than four months following its September departure, assuming it returns as requested.

Empire State VII is the first of five purpose-built National Security Multi-Mission Vessels developed by MARAD primarily to train future U.S. Merchant Marine officers while also giving the federal government additional capability during emergencies and national missions.

The federally owned vessel was delivered in 2023 and assigned to SUNY Maritime College. Its capabilities include accommodations for hundreds of cadets, roll-on/roll-off cargo capacity and a helicopter flight deck.

The ship is also part of MARAD’s National Defense Reserve Fleet.

The latest order marks a significant shift from the vessel’s normal training role and will provide an early real-world test of the broader national-security mission envisioned for the NSMV program. Military Sealift Command provides logistics, strategic sealift and specialized maritime support to the Navy and other U.S. military forces worldwide.

What Empire State VII will do once its Norfolk work is completed, however, remains unclear.

Unconfirmed reports surrounding the initial activation suggested the vessel could ultimately support military logistics connected to Diego Garcia amid heightened U.S. operations in the Middle East. gCaptain has not independently confirmed those reports, and neither MARAD nor SUNY Maritime has publicly identified the ship’s ultimate destination.

For now, the new sailing order disclosed by SUNY Maritime confirms that Empire State VII will head first to Norfolk, with follow-on operations supporting the U.S. Navy.

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