The following is text of a news release from Maine Maritime Academy (MMA):
(CASTINE, Maine) — William J. Brennan, president of Maine Maritime Academy, has announced that a purchase and sale agreement has been signed with American Iron and Metal (AIM), owners of the former Verso paper mill in Bucksport, to acquire a six-acre parcel of land to locate the college’s new Center for Professional Mariner Development (CPMD). The agreement is expected to be finalized following a 60-day due-diligence period, after which a closing date will be determined.
The CPMD will provide state-of-the-art training for undergraduate students, professional mariners, and workforce development. For professional mariners, the CPMD will meet the demand for highly specialized courses that enable mariners to receive certification and credentialing to meet maritime regulatory and industry-sector demands.
The center will be a public-private venture. “Maine Maritime Academy’s new Center for Professional Mariner Development will be an auxiliary enterprise, the revenue from which will support the college’s mission and programs,” said Brennan. “A phased approach will ensure that we can steward the finite resources MMA has to devote to the enterprise while simultaneously cultivating private funding.”
