Great Lakes Maritime Academy
Encyclopedia
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College
is located on West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan
. The academy was established in 1969 to train men and women to be licensed mariners on ships of unlimited tonnage or horsepower; including research vessels, cruise ships, freighters, tankers and more. One of only six state maritime academies in the United States, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy is unique in that it is the only freshwater maritime academy. In addition, it is the only maritime academy in the United States that offers graduates the opportunity to obtain licensing on both the Great Lakes
and the oceans along with an additional credential of First Class Great Lakes Pilot.
.
Originally dedicated on October 23, 1972, the Academy harbor was next on the list for improvements and reconstruction began in 2004. The harbor was completely rebuilt and expanded to better accommodate the T/S State of Michigan and the Academy’s three smaller vessels. Appropriately named the “Alumni Light”, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy Alumni Association provided funding to place a large green harbor light atop the 40 feet (12.2 m) former aftermast of the T/S State of Michigan at the northwest corner of the Academy’s harbor.
The harbor was completed in 2005, and concluded the construction of the modern campus now home to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy where the T/S State of Michigan is moored only 150 feet from the buildings rear.
, provides cadets their needed maritime credentials and also a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. The dual-degree program is believed to enable graduates to be better prepared for management level positions aboard ship or shore side.
Individuals who are admitted to the Academy with a previously obtained Bachelor’s degree are not required to complete the four-year Business Administration degree, (but may choose to do so). Instead, they will enroll in a three-year maritime curriculum in either Deck or Engineering. This program integrates two years of maritime curriculum and three semesters at sea.
Upon completion of course work and sea projects, Deck Cadets write the U.S. Coast Guard examinations for licensing as a Third Mate Great Lakes and Oceans Unlimited Tonnage and First Class Great Lakes Pilot. Engineering cadets write the U.S. Coast Guard examination for licensing as a Third Assistant Engineer, Steam and Motor Vessels of any Horsepower. Graduates are fully compliant with STCW
'95 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping).
The college is approved by the U.S. Maritime Administration
, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Michigan Department of Education
. A new class begins each year in mid-August (fall semester).
Deck cadets who wish to pursue an oceans license in addition to the Third Mate Great Lakes and First Class Great Lakes Pilot licenses will complete one of their sea projects aboard a commercial ocean vessel. It is not required for Engineering cadets to complete an ocean sea project, but they may choose to do so.
The T/S State of Michigan is used for the first sea project to educate cadets of shipboard etiquette and the lifestyle aboard ship. Time spent aboard the T/S State of Michigan does count towards the necessary sea project time required for each program. Two additional sea projects are spent aboard commercial ships to best prepare cadets for the real life occupation of a merchant mariner. The first hand experience while underway utilizes the hands-on instruction the cadets receive in classroom and lab environment at the Academy. Cadets must also complete in-port sea days with the T/S State of Michigan. Tasks for in-port sea days include necessary vessel inspection to ensure continued STCW ’95 compliance.
Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (TAGOS). She was built as an ocean submarine surveillance vessel to tow highly sensitive sonar arrays to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War. In the 1990s, when the Soviet threat was no longer a concern, the Navy opted to decommission the T-AGOS fleet. In 1998, the USNS Persistent and her sister ship, the were transferred to the United States Coast Guard to be used in drug regulation. Even after overhauls to the USNS Persistent, she was determined to be too slow to keep up with the drug policing and became available to other government agencies.
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The Great Lakes Maritime Academy worked with the U.S. Maritime Administration to negotiate a transfer of the vessel to the Academy harbor. In the summer of 2002, the USNS Persistent underwent maintenance and additional overhaul to prepare her for her new freshwater home. In August 2002, the vessel, whose name was changed to the T/S State of Michigan by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, departed for the Great Lakes by way of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The training ship is now used as a daily laboratory environment and is also used underway allowing cadets to put into practice the theory and skills they have learned prior to their commercial sea projects.
Ship specifications
3,200 hp, 2 motors, 1,600 hp; 2 shafts; bow thruster; 550 hp
sailboats on West Grand Traverse Bay and participates in intercollegiate regattas across the country. Within close proximity to the Academy are a number of recreational harbors and yacht clubs that organize additional sailing events throughout the season allowing the cadets to improve their skills.
Northwestern Michigan College
Founded in 1951, Northwestern Michigan College, known as NMC to local residents, is a community college in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. Its annual enrollment is around 5,100 students...
is located on West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
. The academy was established in 1969 to train men and women to be licensed mariners on ships of unlimited tonnage or horsepower; including research vessels, cruise ships, freighters, tankers and more. One of only six state maritime academies in the United States, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy is unique in that it is the only freshwater maritime academy. In addition, it is the only maritime academy in the United States that offers graduates the opportunity to obtain licensing on both the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and the oceans along with an additional credential of First Class Great Lakes Pilot.
Location
The Academy is located in Traverse City, Michigan on Grand Traverse Bay in Lake MichiganLake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
.
History
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy was established in 1969 to provide education and training to those wanting a career in the merchant marine. The academy trains Mates (pilots), and maritime engineers. The summer of 2002 brought the arrival of the 224’ training ship, a former Navy vessel, now named the T/S State of Michigan. Exceeding the expectations of all, the Academy moved into the new facility late fall of 2003.Originally dedicated on October 23, 1972, the Academy harbor was next on the list for improvements and reconstruction began in 2004. The harbor was completely rebuilt and expanded to better accommodate the T/S State of Michigan and the Academy’s three smaller vessels. Appropriately named the “Alumni Light”, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy Alumni Association provided funding to place a large green harbor light atop the 40 feet (12.2 m) former aftermast of the T/S State of Michigan at the northwest corner of the Academy’s harbor.
The harbor was completed in 2005, and concluded the construction of the modern campus now home to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy where the T/S State of Michigan is moored only 150 feet from the buildings rear.
Academics
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy, in partnership with Ferris State UniversityFerris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
, provides cadets their needed maritime credentials and also a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. The dual-degree program is believed to enable graduates to be better prepared for management level positions aboard ship or shore side.
Individuals who are admitted to the Academy with a previously obtained Bachelor’s degree are not required to complete the four-year Business Administration degree, (but may choose to do so). Instead, they will enroll in a three-year maritime curriculum in either Deck or Engineering. This program integrates two years of maritime curriculum and three semesters at sea.
Upon completion of course work and sea projects, Deck Cadets write the U.S. Coast Guard examinations for licensing as a Third Mate Great Lakes and Oceans Unlimited Tonnage and First Class Great Lakes Pilot. Engineering cadets write the U.S. Coast Guard examination for licensing as a Third Assistant Engineer, Steam and Motor Vessels of any Horsepower. Graduates are fully compliant with STCW
STCW
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers , 1978 sets qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships. STCW was adopted in 1978 by conference at the International Maritime Organization in...
'95 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping).
The college is approved by the U.S. Maritime Administration
U.S. Maritime Administration
The United States Maritime Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies, and assists the NDRF in fulfilling its role as the nation's fourth arm of...
, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Michigan Department of Education
Michigan Department of Education
Michigan Department of Education is a state agency of Michigan, in the United States. MDE oversees public school districts in the state. The agency is headquartered at 608 West Allegan Street in Lansing. The Department of Education is overseen by the State Board of Education. The Board of...
. A new class begins each year in mid-August (fall semester).
Sea Projects
Maritime cadets participate in commercial Sea Projects (semesters at sea) while in attendance at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. These sea projects are arranged by the Academy with shipping companies on either the Great Lakes or oceans. During sea projects, assignments are regularly completed and sent back to Academy instructors by cadets.Deck cadets who wish to pursue an oceans license in addition to the Third Mate Great Lakes and First Class Great Lakes Pilot licenses will complete one of their sea projects aboard a commercial ocean vessel. It is not required for Engineering cadets to complete an ocean sea project, but they may choose to do so.
The T/S State of Michigan is used for the first sea project to educate cadets of shipboard etiquette and the lifestyle aboard ship. Time spent aboard the T/S State of Michigan does count towards the necessary sea project time required for each program. Two additional sea projects are spent aboard commercial ships to best prepare cadets for the real life occupation of a merchant mariner. The first hand experience while underway utilizes the hands-on instruction the cadets receive in classroom and lab environment at the Academy. Cadets must also complete in-port sea days with the T/S State of Michigan. Tasks for in-port sea days include necessary vessel inspection to ensure continued STCW ’95 compliance.
Training Ship
Originally launched in 1985 as the ; the T/S State of Michigan was commissioned as a Stalwart classStalwart class ocean surveillance ship
Stalwart class auxiliary general ocean surveillance ships were a class of United States Naval Ship auxiliary support Ocean Surveillance Ships commissioned between April 1984 and January 1990...
Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (TAGOS). She was built as an ocean submarine surveillance vessel to tow highly sensitive sonar arrays to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War. In the 1990s, when the Soviet threat was no longer a concern, the Navy opted to decommission the T-AGOS fleet. In 1998, the USNS Persistent and her sister ship, the were transferred to the United States Coast Guard to be used in drug regulation. Even after overhauls to the USNS Persistent, she was determined to be too slow to keep up with the drug policing and became available to other government agencies.
Ship specifications
- Length: 224 ft.
- Beam: 43 ft.
- Draft: 15 ft.
- Speed: 11 knots
- Displacement: 1,565 tons (light) and 2,535 tons (full)
- Underway fuel consumption: 100 gallons/hr.
- Power Plant: Diesel-electric; 4 Caterpillar D 398 diesel generators,
3,200 hp, 2 motors, 1,600 hp; 2 shafts; bow thruster; 550 hp
Sailing Team
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy's Sailing Team operates a fleet of Flying ScotFlying Scot (dinghy)
The Flying Scot is a day sailer dinghy used for pleasure sailing as well as racing throughout North America. The Flying Scot was designed in 1957 by Gordon K...
sailboats on West Grand Traverse Bay and participates in intercollegiate regattas across the country. Within close proximity to the Academy are a number of recreational harbors and yacht clubs that organize additional sailing events throughout the season allowing the cadets to improve their skills.