Anyone know much about maritime colleges?

[bcla]

Just kind of curious. We go to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California often, including the last two weeks. However, our kid noticed the sign for California State University Maritime Academy, and I promised we would have some sort of look on the way home. I guess their nickname is "The Keelhaulers" which represented a form of punishment where someone is dragged along the underside of the boat - possibly hitting the keel. Something tells me that nobody is punished this way any more.

I'd heard of the place before but never really saw what it was. Mostly I'd heard of the nickname. I'd heard of the big maritime college - the US Merchant Marine Academy, which I understand is free but requires some sort of post-graduation service, although it could be on a private merchant vessel.

Anyone know someone who went through one of these schools? It just seemed kind of interesting. I hear this is the only one on the west coast.

 

[Skippy918]

My friend’s brother went to SUNY Maritime. All I know is he got to travel to really cool places over the summer on a big ship.

 

[barkley]

yes.

i had a friend (now passed) who was the athletic director for years. i knew a couple of people who graduated back in the 80's. i haven't been on the campus in decades and there was so much acquisition of land and building of condos even back in the 90's when i lived adjacent it's likely nothing like what i knew (huge, stunning campus with rolling lawns on prime waterfront property).

 

[bcla]

yes.

i had a friend (now passed) who was the athletic director for years. i knew a couple of people who graduated back in the 80's. i haven't been on the campus in decades and there was so much acquisition of land and building of condos even back in the 90's when i lived adjacent it's likely nothing like what i knew (huge, stunning campus with rolling lawns on prime waterfront property).

We couldn't see anything other than maybe the aquatics center and the CSU Police station. We saw a portable electronic sign saying that the campus wasn't open to the public, but that could just be for the time being. We did end up going through the neighborhood next door looking for a way out.

Also - I've never got off on Mare Island before. I've only driven by on CA-37.

 

[barkley]

We couldn't see anything other than maybe the aquatics center and the CSU Police station. We saw a portable electronic sign saying that the campus wasn't open to the public, but that could just be for the time being. We did end up going through the neighborhood next door looking for a way out.

Also - I've never got off on Mare Island before. I've only driven by on CA-37.

the maritime academy is nowhere near the old mare island property or highway 37. it's located adjacent to the carquinez bridge on maritime drive. i know vallejo has changed allot since we moved out of state in '07 but the mare island exit off of '80 was some distance from the campus back then.

 

[bcla]

the maritime academy is nowhere near the old mare island property or highway 37. it's located adjacent to the carquinez bridge on maritime drive. i know vallejo has changed allot since we moved out of state in '07 but the mare island exit off of '80 was some distance from the campus back then.

I know it's right next to the freeway. I'm just saying I haven't really explored Vallejo much and barely knew that CSU Maritime was there. I thought that Mare Island would be on the other side of Napa River where one could see the campus. Ever since we started going to the Six Flags park we've visited different parts of Vallejo, but never even looked there. Mostly just stores/restaurants near the freeway and Sonoma Blvd.

 

[tex1989]

Keelhauling was a brutal process and in many instances a death sentence. It involved tying a long rope to your bound hands, and your bound feet. The ropes essentially went around the underside of the ship. You would then be tossed overboard and dragged under the ship. This occurred when ships were wooden sailing vessels so the ship was usually encrusted with barnacles and the process would flay you skin off. That and the fact that you had to hold your breath when under water. Most died in the process.

The Maritime Academy, I think in the Northeast is actually considered on some level like West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy and the Coast Guard Academy in that once accepted it is all paid for and you graduate with a rank or rating and are committed to so many years of service. I have know several folks who are Pilots (barge and ship, not airplanes) who graduated from a school in Arkansas on the White River. Can't remember the name but they all drive barges on the Intra Coastal Canal. One who lives close to me actually goes out and meets ships off Galveston at the Bolivar Roads and pilot's them up the Houston Ship Channel. He is the best paid of the lot by far.

 

[bcla]

Keelhauling was a brutal process and in many instances a death sentence. It involved tying a long rope to your bound hands, and your bound feet. The ropes essentially went around the underside of the ship. You would then be tossed overboard and dragged under the ship. This occurred when ships were wooden sailing vessels so the ship was usually encrusted with barnacles and the process would flay you skin off. That and the fact that you had to hold your breath when under water. Most died in the process.

The Maritime Academy, I think in the Northeast is actually considered on some level like West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy and the Coast Guard Academy in that once accepted it is all paid for and you graduate with a rank or rating and are committed to so many years of service. I have know several folks who are Pilots (barge and ship, not airplanes) who graduated from a school in Arkansas on the White River. Can't remember the name but they all drive barges on the Intra Coastal Canal. One who lives close to me actually goes out and meets ships off Galveston at the Bolivar Roads and pilot's them up the Houston Ship Channel. He is the best paid of the lot by far.

Here's the athletic department logo:

As for the US Merchant Marine Academy, here's the postgraduation service requirements:

https://www.usmma.edu/after-graduation/obligation-compliance​

In exchange for a taxpayer-funded education at the USMMA, all midshipmen commit to fulfill a maritime service obligation that continues following graduation. This commitment that is mandated by law, restated in the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) regulations, and in the Service Obligation Contract each midshipman signs upon the completion of Indoctrination.​

 

[lil mermaid]

My husband went to a maritime academy (Maine Maritime). I am pretty sure that he was never keelhauled.

He spent several years as a deck officer on a tanker for one of the oil majors. He then "swallowed the anchor" to take a desk job with the same oil major (not completely a desk job, as he did have to go check out ships from time to time.)

Does your son want a maritime career?

 

[Moliphino]

Keelhauling was a brutal process and in many instances a death sentence. It involved tying a long rope to your bound hands, and your bound feet. The ropes essentially went around the underside of the ship. You would then be tossed overboard and dragged under the ship. This occurred when ships were wooden sailing vessels so the ship was usually encrusted with barnacles and the process would flay you skin off. That and the fact that you had to hold your breath when under water. Most died in the process.

It was shown in an episode of Black Sails. Not for the squeamish.

 

[bcla]

My husband went to a maritime academy (Maine Maritime). I am pretty sure that he was never keelhauled.

He spent several years as a deck officer on a tanker for one of the oil majors. He then "swallowed the anchor" to take a desk job with the same oil major (not completely a desk job, as he did have to go check out ships from time to time.)

Does your son want a maritime career?

Not sure my kid is interested. Wants to go to my college (and I wouldn't complain since it would cheaper overall than almost any other option save a taxpayer paid service academy). But we passed by this particular sign often, and last weekend my kid asked to have a look.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.070...4!1syv6PCuWgsHx8m30Qy3qA-g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

 

[PolyTigger]

https://www.maritime.edu/?utm_sourc...m=mass maritime academy&utm_content=Athletics

 

[lil mermaid]

Not sure my kid is interested. Wants to go to my college (and I wouldn't complain since it would cheaper overall than almost any other option save a taxpayer paid service academy). But we passed by this particular sign often, and last weekend my kid asked to have a look.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.070...4!1syv6PCuWgsHx8m30Qy3qA-g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I will say that graduates from maritime schools have some of the highest starting salaries out there.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’m local to both of the New York schools, SUNY Maritime College (Fort Schuyler) and the US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point). USMMA is much harder to get into, and like the other service academies, you need a congressional nomination. I know three young men, friends of DS, who attended SUNY Maritime. One didn’t like it and transferred out after the first year. The other two graduated a few years ago; one joined the Coast Guard and one went into the commercial maritime industry. As pp said, they enjoyed spending summers on a ship at sea, travelling the world.

I will say that graduates from maritime schools have some of the highest starting salaries out there.

I’ve heard this as well.