Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Motto	Discipline, Knowledge, Leadership
Established	1891
Type	Public
Endowment	$7.1 million[1]
President	RADM Richard Gurnon, USMS
Admin. staff	full-time, part-time
Undergraduates	1100 cadets
Postgraduates	30 students
Location	Buzzards Bay, MA, USA
Athletics	Official site
Mascot	Buccaneer
Website	http://www.maritime.edu

Massachusetts Maritime Academy (also called Maritime, Mass Maritime or MMA) is a regionally accredited, coeducational, state college offering undergraduate degrees in maritime-related fields, as well as graduate degrees and professional studies. Established in 1891, Mass Maritime is the second oldest state maritime academy in the country. The Academy is located on Taylor's Point in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, in the United States and prepares students for careers in the maritime, engineering, emergency management and environmental fields. Originally established to graduate deck and engineering officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine, the academy has since expanded its curriculum. Though not required, some graduates go on to serve in active & reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Academy operates a training ship, the USTS Kennedy.

The Academy offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Marine Transportation, Marine Engineering, Marine Safety & Environmental Protection, Facilities & Environmental Engineering, International Maritime Business, and Emergency Management.

The Academy also offers a Master of Science in Emergency Management as well as Facilities Management and a wide array of professional/continuing education programs.

History

New MMA logo

Massachusetts Maritime Academy was founded by an act of the state legislature on June 11, 1891 as the Massachusetts Nautical Training School, the name was changed in 1913 to the Massachusetts Nautical School and took its present name in 1942. The school's first training ship was the USS Enterprise on loan from the Navy.

The school was located at a pier in Boston, MA until 1936. It then was moved to Hyannis, MA on Cape Cod, where it remained until after World War II. In 1946 the Academy acquired land at the State Pier on Taylors Point in Buzzards Bay, MA at the southern end of the Cape Cod Canal with a berth deep enough to accommodate the USS Charleston, the school's new training ship. A classroom building was built, but life and education at the school continued to revolve around its training ships for the next 25 years.

In 1972 the state legislature appropriated money to build brick dormitories, a cadet mess hall, the library, a second classroom building that also encompassed the school's administrative offices, a football and baseball diamond, and a gymnasium. At this time the structure of the Corps of Cadets shifted from ship-based watches and divisions to a platoon, company and battalion system similar to that of the Naval Academy better suited to the new dormitories.

Women were first admitted to the Academy in 1978, with the Class of 1981. At this time the existing battalion structure was expanded to become a two-battalion regiment as two additional company dormitories were completed. The most recently completed building was for the school's radar simulator trainer.

One unique off-campus program run by the Academy is the scale model shiphandling program (similar to the supertanker training school in France) that is run on a pond ten miles from the campus. It is the only program of its kind in the United States. Many types of 'ships' and several scale model 'ports' are set up on the pond. The quality of the training ship's officers receive from this program is such that the U.S. Coast Guard will remit a quarter of the sea time required to upgrade a deck officer's license from Chief Mate to Master upon successful completion of the course.

Mass. Maritime's traditional Marine Transportation or Marine Engineering majors were expanded to include many additional maritime-related majors in 1990 (see Academic Programs, below) in time for the school's centennial celebration. At the same time, for the first time the Academy began offering master's degree programs in various disciplines.

In 2008, the Academy acquired a Vestas 660 kilowatt wind turbine and began installation of solar power screens on top of the dormitories. As the windspeed across the campus averages 12 to 15 knots year round, the location is ideal for wind power. At present, 30% of the Academy's power needs are supplied by the wind turbine and solar power. The current administration hopes to eventually make Massachusetts Maritime Academy's campus self-sufficent in regard to electric power. As it is, the Academy is the 'greenest' of the twelve colleges in the state college system and one of the greenest colleges in the country.

Regiment of Cadets

All residential students are members of the Academy's Regiment of Cadets. Within the Regiment, cadets supervise other cadets in a broad variety of activities, including the orientation of freshmen, room inspections, sea term planning and shipboard responsibilities. Students who seek to enroll in the Facilities & Environmental Engineering or the Emergency Management programs as non-uniformed commuter students must apply in writing for admission to that status.

Academy freshmen, called "Youngies", arrive at the Academy in mid-August for Orientation, a two-week military-style indoctrination program that is physically and mentally demanding. It encompasses regimental training, military drill, and physical fitness. It also serves as an introduction to shipboard/maritime safety, nomenclature, and customs.

After Orientation the academic year begins. For the rest of their first academic year as fourth class cadets, Youngies continue to be required to adhere to stringent rules affecting many aspects of their daily life.

Second class cadets, or juniors, are designated Squad Leaders and are in charge of the training of the Youngies. First class cadets, or seniors, hold cadet officer positions within the regiment and/or training ship.

Academic programs

Vestas V47-660kW wind turbine at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering

Prior to the expansion of its offered majors in 1990, the Academy was exclusively a merchant marine college, tasked with the training of future cargo ship officers. The Academy only offered majors in the ship transport subjects of Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering.

Marine Transportation (or Deck) students are in training to become deck officers and learn seamanship, ship navigation, cargo handling, navigation rules and maritime law. Marine Engineering (or Engine) students learn the functions, operation, and maintenance of the ship's propulsion engines (steam and diesel) and other shipboard systems.

In addition to completing all shore-side college classes, students in these two majors must sail on four Sea Terms (the third may be as a cadet on a U.S.-flag commercial cargo ship) and pass a 4-day professional exam administered by the U.S. Coast Guard in the latter part of senior year. These students earn a Merchant Marine Officer's License upon graduation. Marine Transportation students earn Third Mate licenses while Marine Engineering students earn Third Assistant Engineer licenses.

Marine Safety and Environmental Protection (MSEP)

This major prepares students for positions in the fields of environmental protection, environmental management and marine safety. Students receive a multi-disciplinary, integrated education in sciences, management, law, communications and safety as related to environmental issues.

These students must be members of the Regiment and must sail on at least one Sea Term. MSEP students also supplement their college classes with independent studies and internships.

Facilities and Environmental Engineering

This major prepares students for the safe and economical operation of the variety of equipment found in industrial plants, office buildings, hospitals, power plants, and all facilities requiring heat, air conditioning, and electrical power.

The curriculum also includes one sea term and three, six-week co-ops with industry.

International Maritime Business

This major prepares graduates to enter the maritime shipping and transportation industry as a business professional. The program includes elements of international business, logistics, and transportation.

The curriculum includes introductory courses in vessel familiarization and computer applications; cognate courses in such areas as marine safety and port terminal operations; and courses in economics, finance, accounting, business of shipping, global logistics,chartering and brokerage, marine insurance, international business, negotiations and organization management. It also includes a capstone seminar in international maritime business during the senior year.

The practical component of the curriculum includes one sea term and two internships.

Emergency Management

This major's curriculum encompasses the three key concepts of hazard, risk, and disaster in emergency management. The program teaches risk management concepts including Risk Assessment, Control Analysis, Strategy Section and Implementation and Evaluation. In the case of disaster, the students will study the different time stages in a disaster cycle: Mitigation or Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

The Academy hosted a summit of faculty of Maritime Academies on April 17, 2009, in order to address the need to respond to pirate attacks.^[2][3][4]

Sea term

USTS Enterprise in 2005

Sea Terms are conducted between the two academic semesters, in January and February. Cadets register soon after the New Year holiday, and prepare the USTS Kennedy for sailing, including loading provisions in the freezers and dry stores spaces. The ship sails for foreign ports of the Caribbean Sea three out of four years, and one in four formerly traveled to the Mediterranean Sea, unfortunately the school can no longer afford the trip. At least one of the Caribbean voyages includes the Panama Canal and an Equator crossing.

The voyage lasts about 52 days on average, and during that time a cadet will rotate through class and laboratory training at sea, ships operations including deck and engine watches, maintenance and emergency drills. Port visits offer a time to relax, but still include watch responsibilities and ship's maintenance.

Training ships

• USS Enterprise (17 October 1892 – 4 May 1909)^[5]
• USS Ranger (26 April 1909 – 29 October 1917) rechristened to Rockport
  • Rockport (30 October 1917 – 20 February 1918) rechristened to USS Nantucket during World War I
  • USS Nantucket (21 February 1918 – 1920s) rechristened to Bay State
  • Bay State (1920s–1941) rechristened to TV Emery Rice upon her transfer to the US Merchant Marine Academy^[6]
• Keystone State (1942) former USCGC Seneca, borrowed from Pennsylvania Maritime Academy
• American Pilot (1943–1945) former Empire State
• American Mariner (1946) former George Calvert
• Yankee States (1947) former USS Sirona, shared with Maine Maritime Academy
• SC 1321 (1946–1948)
• USS Charleston (1949–1957)
• USTS Bay State II (1957–1973) former USS Doyen
• USTS Bay State III (1974–1978) former Empire State IV, former USS Henry Gibbins
• USTS Empire State V (1979) former USNS Barrett, borrowed from SUNY Maritime
• USTS Bay State IV (1980–1981) former Barrett class USNS Geiger, destroyed by fire, December 1981
• USTS State of Maine (1982–1983) former Barrett class Maine Maritime Academy
• USTS Empire State V (1984) borrowed again from SUNY Maritime
• USTS State of Maine (1985) borrowed again from Maine Maritime Academy
• USTS Patriot State (1986–1998) former Santa Mercedes
• USTS Empire State VI (1999–2003) borrowed from SUNY Maritime
• USTS Enterprise (2003–2008) former Velma Lykes^[7]
  • USTS Kennedy (2009–Present) rechristened from Enterprise in honor of the Kennedy family^[8]

Athletics

Sports teams for Massachusetts Maritime Academy compete as the Buccaneers and currently include baseball, crew, cross country, football, lacrosse, rifle, sailing, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. These teams compete in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference, New England Football Conference, Pilgrim Lacrosse League, Mid Atlantic Rifle Conference, Intercollegiate Sailing Association and the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance.

• 2005 Mens Cross Country: The Buccaneers earned the school's first MASCAC conference championship in over 20 years. The team placed 2nd in 2003 and 2006.

Notable

Alumni

• Emory Rice, Commander, USNR, MMA, Class of 1891. Quartermaster of USS Olympia at the Battle of Manila Bay; while in command of a freighter in World War I, attacked, rammed and sank a German U-boat, for which he received the Navy Cross.

• Christine M. Griffin deputy director of the United States Office of Personnel Management.
• Lee Van Gemert, MMA, Class of 1940. Author of Stability and Trim for the Ship's Officer, the Merchant Marine standard textbook on the subject.
• Maurice J. Bresnahan Jr., Rear Admiral, USN, MMA, Class of 1959. President of Massachusetts Maritime Academy from 1998 to 2004.
• Captain Shane Murphy was Chief Mate durning the of the MV Maersk Alabama.
• Robert K. Coughlin, member of the Mass. House of Representatives from 2002 to 2007.

References

1. ^ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2009_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values.pdf. Retrieved February 2, 2010. 
2. ^ Ray Henry (2009-04-18). "Maritime academies try to learn from recent attack". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2009-04-20. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhostednews%2Fap%2Farticle%2FALeqM5gxjLaYOPMUcalLhudPNd1VJf5SjQD97KHB800&date=2009-04-20. 
3. ^ "MMA hosts piracy summit". Cape Cod Online. 2009-04-18. Archived from the original on 2009-04-20. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.capecodonline.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D%2F20090418%2FNEWS%2F904180325%2F-1%2FNEWSMAP&date=2009-04-20. 
4. ^ "Mass Maritime weighs additional anti-pirate training". Boston Herald. 2009-04-19. Archived from the original on 2009-04-20. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bostonherald.com%2Fnews%2Fregional%2Fview%2F2009_04_17_Mass_Maritime_weighs_additional_anti-pirate_training%2Fsrvc%3Dhome%26position%3Drecent&date=2009-04-20. 
5. ^ "Massachusetts Maritime Academy History". p. 9. Archived from the original on February 20, 2004. http://weh.maritime.edu/campus/schoolships/. 
6. ^ "Emery Rice T. V. Engine (1873)". The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. September 28, 1985. http://files.asme.org/ASMEORG/Communities/History/Landmarks/5539.pdf. 
7. ^ "Massachusetts Maritime Academy History". p. 2. Archived from the original on December 24, 2002. http://weh.maritime.edu/campus/tse/. 
8. ^ "7 - Steam in the Civil War Era". Voyages of the Enterprise. Sandcastle VI. January 12, 2009. http://www.sandcastlevi.com/sea/enterprise/voych07c.htm. 

External links

• Wind turbine monitor 660 kW
• Solar panel monitor 81 kW
• Pictures and history of training ships (including borrowed ships)

Coordinates: 41°44′23″N 70°37′27″W / 41.73972°N 70.62417°W / 41.73972; -70.62417