(PHILADELPHIA) — Philly Shipyard on Thursday delivered Patriot State, the second of five new purpose-built training vessels for America’s state maritime academies.
The new national security multi-mission vessels (NSMVs) were designed to provide world-class training for America’s future mariners and to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in times of need. Patriot State will serve Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
“We stand tall and proud as we wave goodbye to the Patriot State.” said Steinar Nerbovik, president and CEO of Philly Shipyard. “It is the second NSMV to be delivered in the program, and the journey to Massachusetts brings well-deserved recognition and excitement for the future of the vessel, the entire NSMV program, and our shipyard. Our workforce has dedicated much time and skill to ensuring a safe at-sea experience for the cadets and crew and a dependable learning environment for all future mariners.”
Philly Shipyard was awarded the contract to build the NSMVs by TOTE Services, a U.S.-based company hired by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) as the vessel construction manager (VCM) for the program. The NSMV program is the first government-sponsored shipbuilding program to utilize the VCM model. This model places the responsibility for the selection and oversight of the shipyard on a government contractor that utilizes commercial best practices to manage the project.
NSMV I, Empire State, was delivered in September 2023 to serve SUNY Maritime College. NSMV III (Maine Maritime Academy) and NSMV IV (Texas A&M Maritime Academy) are both under construction in Philly Shipyard’s outfitting and building docks, respectively. NSMV III is scheduled for delivery in 2025. The steel cutting for NSMV V (California Maritime Academy) was completed earlier this year, placing all remaining vessels in various stages of production at Philly Shipyard.
“The Patriot State is the second of five NSMVs that TOTE Services is managing in partnership with Philly Shipyard,” said Jeff Dixon, president of TOTE Services. “These vessels are a vital investment in the future of maritime in the U.S. and showcase the potential that arises when we utilize the right expertise and resources for the benefit of our country and future generations. TOTE Services’ role as the vessel construction manager for these ships highlights its 49-year legacy as a leader in American maritime,”
The NSMV program is an important investment in America’s shipbuilding industry, which supports nearly 400,000 U.S. jobs. Each NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces, a full training bridge, and accommodations for up to 600 cadets to train in a first-rate maritime academic environment at sea.
State maritime academies graduate more than half of all new officers each year – the merchant mariners who help keep cargoes and the U.S. economy moving. Many also support U.S. national security by crewing military sealift vessels.
Vessel specifications
• Length: 524.4 feet
• Breadth: 88.5 feet
• Draft, scantling: 24.6 feet
• Total berthing: 760 people
• Speed: 18 knots
• Deadweight: 8,487 MT
– Philly Shipyard
