State of Michigan departs for training cruise

 TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Fifty-one cadets from Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy plus a culinary intern from the Great Lakes Culinary Institute will depart aboard the T/S State of Michigan on the first of two training cruises this Saturday, May 17. The ship is expected to depart the Great Lakes campus harbor at 8 a.m.

 The training ship will be at sea through Aug. 15, providing an opportunity for about 90 cadets to earn required sea time. Cadets must earn 360 days of sea time during their four-year program. GLMA and GLCI have also collaborated for several years to offer internships to NMC culinary students during the sailing season. GLCI students who have completed an underway internship are in high demand by the shipping industry. A Culinary Maritime certificate that expanded opportunities for students in this specialty area began in Fall 2023.

 As one of only six state maritime academies, Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy educates and trains deck and engineering officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine. Graduates earn a bachelor’s degree, and an unlimited tonnage/horsepower merchant marine license. Read more about the Academy and see the cruise itinerary at nmc.edu/maritime.

 Northwestern Michigan College

Sail-fitted saltie Vectis Progress now in the Seaway

The saltwater vessel Vectis Progress, with her groundbreaking new sail system, is on her way up the Seaway, destination Oshawa, ON.

She’s sailed the Seaway many times before, but not looking like this.

UK’s GT Wings has installed its first AirWing wind propulsion system onboard a general cargo vessel owned by Carisbrooke Shipping, reaching “a major milestone in sustainable shipping.”

The vessel is marking the beginning of a transatlantic journey to Canada to showcase the real-world impact of wind-assisted propulsion, GT Wings said.

As disclosed, the company’s founder and CEO George Thompson will be onboard Vectis Progress all the way across the Atlantic to Canada, monitoring AirWing’s performance in real-world conditions. He will share insights, data, and firsthand experiences throughout the voyage.
Courtesy of GT Wings

“Every tonne of thrust generated by the wind means less reliance on the engine and fewer emissions in the air,” said George Thompson. “Wind propulsion isn’t just an environmental decision—it’s an economic one. The cost of non-compliance is rising, and integrating wind assistance is a no-brainer for forward-thinking shipowners.”

According to GT Wings, the Air Wing wind propulsion technology is designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions for commercial shipping, offering a practical and cost-effective solution to compliance with tightening regulations and decarbonization objectives.

The technology, backed by £3.7 million in funding through the UK government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), aims to reduce emissions in the maritime sector by up to 30%.

“This journey represents a significant step forward in proving the viability of wind propulsion at scale. The maritime industry faces mounting pressure to reduce emissions, and AirWing provides a scalable, retrofit-friendly solution that can be installed on a wide range of vessels,” the company stated.

Ship Junkies – Lakes, Locks & Rivers (LL&R) and GT Wings

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Modernize Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Credentialing System

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Mike Ezell (R-MS-4) have introduced the Mariner Exam Modernization Act, legislation aimed at overhauling the Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Credentialing exam system.

The current licensing process has faced criticism for being outdated and burdensome, requiring candidates to demonstrate competencies multiple times through both hands-on assessments and a seven-part written exam. This redundancy has been identified as a barrier to entry for new mariners and takes time away from more contemporary training needs, such as cybersecurity.

The proposed legislation directs the Coast Guard to develop and implement a modernization plan within 270 days of receiving recommendations from a dedicated working group.

“The maritime industry continues to evolve and change, but the Coast Guard’s licensing exam hasn’t,” stated Brian Schoeneman, Chairman of USA Maritime, who highlighted that the act will help align testing with the realities of serving in the 21st century merchant marine.

The initiative has gained support from key maritime organizations, including the Transportation Institute and the Navy League of the United States. The Consortium of State Maritime Academies has specifically highlighted how the legislation will reduce redundancy between The STCW Code and the National Exam, while eliminating outdated subject requirements.

The bill comes at a critical time when the maritime industry faces a workforce shortage, with the current exam system including obsolete content and lacking a modern review system.

gCaptain