William J. Brennan, President of Maine Maritime Academy, said a purchase and sale agreement has been signed with American Iron and Metal, owners of the former Verso paper mill in Bucksport, to acquire a six-acre parcel of land to locate the college’s new Center for Professional Mariner Development. The agreement is expected to be finalized following a 60-day due-diligence period, after which a closing date will be determined.

The CPMD will provide training for undergraduate students, professional mariners, and workforce development. For professional mariners the CPMD will meet the demand for specialized courses that enable mariners to receive certification and credentialing to meet maritime regulatory and industry-sector demands.

The new Center for Professional Mariner Development will include classroom space, technology and equipment required for shipboard and land-based firefighting instruction. A state-of-the-art firefighting training facility for MMA undergraduate students is expected to be built and operational by next autumn.

MMA will extend this training to professional mariners with re-certification courses required by the U.S. Coast Guard, and, ultimately, to municipal fire departments.

Additional course offerings through the CPMD will include (partial list): Basic Safety Training, Advanced Firefighting, Lifeboatman, Fast Rescue Boat, Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS), RADAR, High Voltage, Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET), Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties VPDSD, Vessel Security Officer (VSO), Inert Gas System/Crude Oil Wash (IGS/COW), Qualified Assessor, Crowd Control, Crisis Management, Chief Mate/Master Upgrades, and Designated Person Ashore (DPA).

The Center will be a public-private venture.

“Maine Maritime Academy’s new Center for Professional Mariner Development will be an auxiliary enterprise, the revenue from which will support the college’s mission and programs,” said President Brennan, in a news release. “A phased approach will ensure that we can steward the finite resources MMA has to devote to the enterprise while simultaneously cultivating private funding.”

About Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering programs of study in engineering, management, science, and transportation. The college serves approximately 950 undergraduate and graduate students in career-oriented degree programs. The job placement rate for MMA graduates exceeds 90 percent within 90 days of graduation. The college is consistently recognized for providing a high-value education by organizations such as the Brookings Institution, Washington Monthly, and U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.