Empire State to Depart on September 30, 2026

Maritime College Family,

Last night MARAD issued a sailing order for the ship to depart campus on September 30 and arrive Norfolk, VA October 1. The ship will stay in Norfolk in an extended MARAD Maintenance and Repair Activation for certification of the flight deck through October 30, 2026, in preparation for follow-on operations supporting the U.S. Navy.

I know many of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader campus community have questions and concerns about the ship being away from Fort Schuyler during the academic year. Those concerns are understandable. Empire State is a vital part of the Maritime College experience and a critical component of our training environment.

The decision to deploy Empire State was made by the Maritime Administrator in support of a national mission. It was not a decision made by SUNY, the College, or the College administration.

Maritime College recognizes that Empire State is a federal vessel and understands the importance of supporting our nation’s requirements. Our institution has always answered the call when our country and our fellow citizens need us, and we are proud that Empire State is capable of supporting national missions.

At the same time, our responsibility is to our students.

Our students come to Maritime College deserving to receive an exceptional education and the professional training necessary to graduate prepared for careers at sea, in the maritime industry, and in service to our nation. Empire State is a vital part of that mission. It is one of the things that separates Maritime College from other institutions. Its absence creates challenges, and we should be honest about that.

My responsibility and commitment are to ensure those challenges do not compromise our students’ education, required training, or their ability to graduate on time.

The College continues to actively work through the implications of this deployment and the time Empire State will be away from campus. We are coordinating across our academic, training, waterfront, and student-support operations to ensure that our students continue to receive the instruction, experiences, and opportunities they need.

I have been very clear with MARAD, and remain on record, that Empire State needs to return to campus on or about February 12, 2027, to keep SST 2027 on schedule.

There will be challenges. We will address them directly, communicate what we know, and continue advocating for the needs of our students and our institution.

Two things can be true at the same time: we can be proud that Empire State is capable of answering a national call, and we can recognize that its absence creates real challenges for our students.

Our commitment remains unchanged:

Students First. Maritime Always.

We will continue to support the mission while doing everything within our ability to ensure the continuity of our students’ education, training, and path to graduation.

Thank you for your patience, your professionalism, and your continued commitment to THE Maritime College.

WR,
John