An agreement to be signed this afternoon at Maine Maritime Academy will greatly expand international employment opportunities for MMA’s students and help meet an international shortage of trained mariners.
The agreement between the U.S. Maritime Administration and Overseas Shipholding Group Inc., based in New York, will open up employment opportunities for more than 300 American cadets at the U.S Merchant Marine Academy and six state maritime academies, including MMA, on ships owned by OSG that do not fly the U.S. flag, according to Susan Clark, a spokeswoman for the Maritime Administration.
Clark told Mainebiz this morning there is an international shortage of trained mariners and this agreement will make it easier for cadets to gain the experience they need to get their license.
