The training ship Empire State VII, owned by SUNY Maritime College, is expected to return to its Fort Schuyler campus in New York by mid-November. This return follows the federal government's sudden change in plans regarding a multi-month mission to support the United States Navy.
Mission Program Changes
This program change occurred just a few weeks after the ship departed New York on September 30 for Norfolk, Virginia. The ship was supposed to undergo repairs and flight deck certification in Norfolk to prepare for a classified national security mission. Following this change, Admiral John A. O'Koon, President of SUNY Maritime College, announced the ship's return to campus in a message to the college community on October 21, stating: "The federal activation plan has changed, and the ship is now expected to return to Fort Schuyler for educational uses and vessel work."
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Implications of This Change
This announcement clearly indicates a major shift from the initial plans proposed by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) in August. According to a decision memo dated August 28, the ship had been activated to meet an urgent need from the active military Navy, and no other vessels were available at the required time. Steven Carmell, the maritime director, had described this activation as a "compelling strategic necessity."
The Empire State VII, delivered in 2023, is the first of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) developed by MARAD. These ships are primarily designed for training future maritime officers and also provide additional capabilities to meet emergency needs and transport military cargo.
However, the early return of Empire State VII is good news for SUNY Maritime. The absence of this ship posed a threat to educational programs, maritime training, and the sea time required for obtaining U.S. Coast Guard licenses. Admiral O'Koon had previously warned that losing the ship for a significant portion of the academic year would create substantial challenges and had requested MARAD to return the ship to the college by February to ensure the timely conduct of the summer 2027 session.
The new return date for the ship will be nearly three months earlier than requested. While no further details are available regarding the reason for the program change, this raises questions about the initial military necessity and subsequent decisions regarding the release of this vessel.
Admiral O'Koon also stated: "We will continue to work with MARAD to confirm the exact details of the ship's return and ensure we are ready to resume normal operations."
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