b'MEMBER NEWSKeel Laid for new Massachusetts Maritime Academy Training VesselE arlier this month, the keel block was set intoplaceforthesecondoffivenew purpose-built,state-of-the-arttraining vessels for Americas state maritime academies. Work on this vessel, which will be named Patriot State, began in March 2021 with the first steel cut. The vessel is scheduled to be delivered to PVA member Massachusetts Maritime Acade-my in 2024. The keel laying ceremony is an event that nev-er gets old, and this one was especially meaning-ful, given the future intended use of the Patriot State, said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDon-ald, President of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The NSMVs are historic for all the state maritime academies and will offer needed training platforms for the next generation of mariners, as well as serve as essential support vessels in times of disaster or distress. We are honoredthattheMassachusettsMaritime Academy has been designated as the recipient of this vessel, and are incredibly grateful for the commitment it shows to our future mariners. thrusters, and a modern diesel power plan thatTheyllalsohavemodernmedicalfacilities, TheU.S.DepartmentofTransportationsincludes four engines segregated in two enginehelicopterlandingareas,androll-on/roll-off MaritimeAdministration(Marad)newves- rooms. The ships will be designed to meet orramps and container storage to provide aid to selprogramknownasNationalSecurityexceedthelatestenvironmentalstandards.damage ports. Multi-MissionVessels(NSMVs)beganin 2019 and was designed to provide world-class training for the U.S.s future mariners and to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in times of need. The ships are being assigned to the schools in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas, and California. The NSMV is an investment both in AmericasDIGITAL SHIPBUILDERSshipbuildingindustry,whichsupportsnearly 400,000 jobs, and the future of the merchantDESIGN. BUILD. CONSULT.marine.EachNSMVwillfeaturenumerousincatcrowther.cominstructional spaces, a full training bridge, and accommodations for up to 600 cadets. The state maritime academies graduate more than half of all new officers each year employed both in the merchant marine and supporting U.S. national PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILLY SHIPYARDsecurity by crewing military sealift vessels.The new 525 Patriot State will replace Massa-chusetts Maritime Academys existing vessel, theTSKennedy.Eachofthenewtraining vessels will have a sailing range of more than 10,000milesat18knots,bowandstern SEASTREAK COMMODORE, SEASTREAK COURAGEOUS2 x 45m Catamaran Ro-Pax Ferries35 OCTOBER 2022'