Funding Secured for Cal Maritime's New Training Ship

U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed the $1.5 billion Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package that includes a funding provision for the California State University Maritime Academy's new state-of-the-art training ship.

The newly funded ship, which has yet to be named, is the fifth in a series of 524.5-foot-long National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) designed specifically for America's state maritime academies. It will replace Cal Maritime's aging training ship Golden Bear and is expected to be delivered within the next three to five years.

“We are grateful for the funding of this new ship,” said Cal Maritime president Tom Cropper. “This moment is remarkable – it culminates eight years of work by the Consortium of State Maritime Academies and for the first time, provides brand new training vessels for our cadets.”

The new highly capable, modern and versatile NSMVs will be a major upgrade from the retired and retrofitted naval vessels currently used to train state maritime academy cadets. “The training ship Golden Bear is a former oceanographic research vessel within the Navy fleet and has been retrofitted for cadet training. The ship requires continuous repairs, remodeling, upgrading, and improvements to best serve those aboard,” Cropper said.

https://www.marinelink.com/news/funding-secured-cal-maritimes-new-495046