U.S. maritime academies graduate nearly 1,200

Upwards of 1,200 graduates of the nation’s federal and state merchant marine academies are now taking their place in the U.S.-flag maritime industry or military branches, according to the American Maritime Partnership.    Upwards of 1,200 graduates of the nation’s federal and state merchant marine academies are now taking their place in the U.S.-flag maritime industry or military branches, according to the American Maritime Partnership.
   These graduates come from the seven U.S. maritime academies: the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y.; State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College of Fort Schuyler, N.Y.; California Maritime Academy at Vallejo, Calif.; Great Lakes Maritime Academy of Traverse City, Mich.; Maine Maritime Academy of Castine, Maine; Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Buzzards Bay, Mass.; and Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston, Texas.
   “We congratulate the American maritime academy graduates for passing the comprehensive U.S. Coast Guard exam and welcome our new shipmates who will put their knowledge to work, transporting the cargo that delivers vital necessities for our nation’s economy and security,” said Thomas A. Allegretti, chairman of the American Maritime Partnership.
   “The nation relies on our maritime academies to train the next generation of licensed mariners to operate and command America’s commercial and military sealift ships,” added Joel Szabat, executive director of the U.S. Maritime Administration.
   However, not all the graduates will enter the commercial maritime industry. A number will become members of the U.S. military, including the Navy and Coast Guard.
   The partnership estimates that there are more the 500,000 American jobs related to the domestic maritime industry.