MARAD Announces First ‘Centers of Excellence’ Designations for Maritime Training

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced the first “Centers of Excellence” designations to 27 academic institutions to prepare students for careers in the nation’s maritime industry.

The Centers of Excellence Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) program was first authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 and is designed to assist the maritime industry in gaining and sustaining a well-trained labor force, while also enhancing diversity and inclusion in the industry.

The CoE designations recognize the important role the institutions’ play in maritime training and education for the domestic maritime workforce.

“Our collaboration with these institutions represents an important expansion of MARAD’s role in supporting maritime education and will help form pathways to good-paying American jobs in our nation’s maritime industry,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

MARAD may now start working with the designated institutions to enter into cooperative agreements to help advance recruitment of students and faculty, enhance facilities, award student credit for military service, and potentially receive assistance in the form of surplus equipment or temporary use of MARAD vessels.

“The CoE designations recognize the high standard of maritime education and training provided by the designated community and technical colleges and maritime training centers. These institutions play vital roles in our nation’s maritime industry by providing the training and skills students need to begin and advance careers afloat and ashore,” said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley.

Information regarding the CoE program and the application process was disseminated through Federal Register notices. Successful applicants include accredited community colleges, technical colleges, and maritime training centers under State supervision.

A complete list of Center of Excellence designees, representing sixteen states and Guam, is below.

ALASKA

Alaska Maritime Education Consortium (AMEC) which include five universities: University of Alaska located in Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska Southeast at Juneau located

in Juneau, AK, Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) located in Seward, AK, University of Alaska Anchorage located in Anchorage, AK, and University of Alaska Southeast at Ketchikan located in Ketchikan, AK.

CALIFORNIA

Mira Costa Community College District (MCCCD) located in Oceanside, CA.

Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) located in Long Beach, CA.

Orange Coast College (OCC) located in Newport Beach, CA

FLORIDA

Star Center (STAR) located in Dania Beach, FL.

College of the Florida Keys (CFK) located in Key West, FL.

KENTUCKY

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) located in Paducah, Kentucky.

LOUISIANA

Delgado Community College (DCC) located in New Orleans, LA.

MARYLAND

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) located in Arnold, MD.

MM&P Maritime Advancement, Training, Education, and Safety Program (MITAGS) located in Linthicum Heights, MD.

Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) located in Baltimore, MD.

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) located in Perkinston, MS.

Hinds Community College (HCC) located in Raymond, MS.

NEW YORK

Kingsborough Community College (KBCC) located in Brooklyn, NY.

NORTH CAROLINA

Carteret Community College (CarteretCC) located in Morehead City, NC.

Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) located in Wilmington, NC.

OREGON

Clatsop Community College (ClatsopCC) located in Astoria, OR.

Pacific Northwest Maritime Industries Education Alliance (PAC Maritime) located in Portland, OR.

PENNSYLVANIA

Delaware County Community College (DCCC) located in Media, PA.

RHODE ISLAND

Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) located in Warwick, RI.

TEXAS

San Jacinto Community College District (SJCCD) located in Pasadena, TX.

VIRGINIA

Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy (MAMA) located in Norfolk, VA.

Tidewater Community College (TCC) located in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, VA.

WASHINGTON

Divers Institute of Technology (DIT) located in Seattle, Flagship Maritime LLC (Flagship) located in Tacoma, WA, MM&P Maritime Advancement, Training, Education and Safety Program (MITAGS) located in Seattle, WA, and Pacific Northwest Maritime Industries Education Alliance (PAC Maritime) located in Seattle and Mount Vernon, WA.

WISCONSIN

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) located in Green Bay, WI.

GUAM

Guam Shipyard (GSY) located in Tamuning, GU.