Although it’s been in the public consciousness for well over a decade, virtual reality (VR) has only recently gained a foothold in maritime simulation. VR both complements existing simulators while also expanding the training environment, offering the potential to immerse trainees to more scenarios than traditional full mission bridge simulators. The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) just completed construction of eight VR bridges,…

The tugboat Cingluku and its barge Jungjuk sailed toward Shakmanof Cove on Alaska’s Kodiak Island at about 10 knots on a clear spring morning. Without warning, the barge grounded on a rocky shoal a foot or two below the surface. The articulated tug-barge (ATB) unit remained stuck against the rock some 400 yards from shore for four hours, until the…

It’s not hard for Rear Admiral John Okon, the new president of the State University of New York Maritime College, to pitch prospective students on the benefits of a maritime education and career. He just tells his own story, which began in upstate New York and later took him into the upper echelon of the U.S. Navy, where he served…

As the maritime transportation field continues to evolve, “the industry faces ongoing challenges, including rehabilitating an aging infrastructure, keeping pace with technology, adapting to broad organizational changes, and meeting the growing demands of a global economy amid enhanced national security threats,” according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. Earlier this year, current administrator of the agency and retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral,…

According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, marine engineers “supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.” The government agency estimates that in 2022 there were more than 8,600 individuals so employed in the U.S. with a mean annual wage of just over $100,000.…

While it’s still possible to get a good-paying job in the maritime industry with only a high school education, long-term career prospects are much better with some secondary education. That was a takeaway from the most recent maritime workforce analysis commissioned by the state of Louisiana, which serves as home to more than 20 percent of the nation’s maritime workforce…