Design for the Purpose-Built, National Security Multi-Mission Vessel at Maine Maritime Academy

The US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) provides training ships to each of the six state maritime academies in the United States. The passing of the National Defense Authorization Act in 2017 authorized MARAD to replace the training ship at five of the academies with new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built vessels. The new National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) will be part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet and serve as state-of-the-art academic training platforms for the academies and provide the US with ships to support disaster response, such as after hurricanes, and other critical national needs. Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) in Castine, Maine, is slated to receive the third NSMV in 2025, which will be the academy’s 15th training vessel since 1941. Preparations for MMA to receive the NSMV required new mooring and berthing structures. Challenges with the design and siting of the new structures were influenced by the constrained site; the tidal range and sea level rise projections; and mooring parameters for the NSMV.