The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) is considering changes to how its national security multimission vessels (NSMVs) are kept available for federal service.
The move follows the activation of the NSMV Empire State VII, which disrupted coursework at SUNY Maritime College.
Maritime Administrator Captain Stephen Carmel said that the options include placing one vessel at a time on "hot standby" and increasing oversight of the state maritime academies' capacity to provide instruction ashore. His team is working with the academy presidents on the policy arrangements.
Carmel said the activation exposed a conflict between federal availability and year-round academy use. He said the five NSMVs, owned by the government, were designed to be available for government missions when not conducting training cruises.
He said that the NSMVs, “are not intended to be a substitute for shoreside infrastructure.”
Carmel issued the activation decision memorandum on August 28. It provided for approximately 170 days of temporary federal service beginning around September 1.
Empire State VII departed New York for Norfolk, Virginia, on September 30 for maintenance that included flight deck certification. MARAD subsequently cancelled the activation.
Carmel said the vessel performed well during its brief period under US Navy control. MARAD-funded repairs and upgrades will see it return to Fort Schuyler in better condition.
SUNY Maritime President Rear Admiral John Okon said watches would resume no later than mid-November.
The college uses Empire State VII in seven courses during the fall semester. Of its 1,685 students enrolled for fall 2026, 1,150 are regiment members who have classes or training aboard.
The college said it supports the NSMV's two-part mission and plans to cooperate with MARAD on improving activation arrangements, while maintaining that education is the vessel's primary task.
Empire State VII was delivered by Philly Shipyard in 2023 as the first of five NSMVs. The 160.05-metre vessel can accommodate 600 cadets and 100 officers, faculty, staff and crew in training mode.
