The State of Maine represents a modern, world-class vessel built to train the future mariners of the United States and to ensure America's maritime readiness for generations to come.
The arrival of the State of Maine for Maine Maritime Academy is the result of 20 years of hard work. This is the first true investment in the maritime industry in some ages. This is a honest game changer for our industry.
I know firsthand the profound value of the maritime industry and the critical importance of training the next generation who will carry it forward. This ship represents a lot more than just steel and engineering. It stands as a symbol of American commitment to dominance, economic strength, and national readiness.
Having a brand new ship will be helpful in getting us familiar with all the new technologies that are out in the industry. So when we get out there, we've seen it before and we know what we're doing and we're ready to roll.
There was a great sense of pride in building these ships, knowing that thousands of future officers are going to get their start on this ship.
I think this ship does three things that are cutting edge, unique, and really helpful not only to the cadets but also to the contract crew. The first is right here in the training bridge. This is one of the only vessels in the world that has a dual bridge operation purely played for training and learning. The second is the advanced power management system, which will take a far step up from the previous opportunities that were able to be seen by the cadets either in the commercial fleet where they were sailing with active Jones Act companies or in their own training ships. And the third would be the safe return to port compliance that comes out of the drop down forward bow thruster and the availability for the ship to limp home upon a catastrophe.
A lot of opportunities with the training spaces that we have that we didn't have on our previous ship. A second bridge, a second engine room, all of the things that we need to really do a lot more hands-on and individual training with our cadets.
From a learning standpoint, there's... this is the trend that ships are being built to, is the diesel electric, high voltage diesel electric with drives and motors to propel a ship. We're putting you into a... into the real world, but we can also pull you back, go into labs, do our hands-on stuff there to learn how to do it. So when we get you back down into here, that you'll understand what you're doing.
I think training on this ship changes the confidence about my future because we have a lot more improved and modern technology that we get to learn on. Life on a ship is a little bit different than what we do here at school. So it's really nice to get experience and get these sea days in.
Their training can actually be on a bridge too. It adds a layer of a comprehension that I don't think that we had before just because of resources, you know? It really doubles the opportunity for them.
And in 2005 Hurricane Katrina of course devastated the Gulf Coast, and the school ships for the first time were utilized for a humanitarian relief mission. And that kind of spawned the idea of a purpose-built training ship that could also be used for other missions.
It positions Maine Maritime Academy as the world's leader in providing maritime engineers and deck officers to the industry with a world-class vessel, world-class crew, and a world-class college.
Having this resource, having this platform will change the future of American seafarers. And Maine Maritime is part of that process and that's a really special thing for all of us to be part of.
