Research vessel arrives at Seattle Central’s Maritime Academy
Students training to become the next generation of Northwest mariners received a big boost to their education with the arrival of the OSV BOLD, the newest and most impressive addition to the Seattle Maritime Academy’s (SMA) fleet of training vessels. Equipped to conduct sophisticated oceanographic research, the former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ship will serve as a state-of-the-art training platform for the academy’s students.
After a month-long journey encompassing 4,200 miles – from the Florida Keys, through the Panama Canal, and up the western coast of Central and North America – the BOLD arrived in Seattle last week. To officially welcome the vessel, the academy, a division of Seattle Central Community College, will host a ceremony and tour for elected officials, community leaders, maritime industry representatives and college staff at the Northwest Dock of Fishermen’s Terminal on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
“We’re thrilled that the BOLD is part of Seattle Central and the Maritime Academy,” said Paul T. Killpatrick, Ph.D., president of Seattle Central. “We look to the future in partnering with federal and state agencies, and colleges and universities, to use this vessel to advance maritime and oceanographic education.”
Seattle Central and SMA successfully competed with other entities around the country for the opportunity to bring the vessel to Washington state. Integral to this effort was Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and other members of the state’s congressional delegation.
“This is a great win for SMA and will make an already excellent program, which is a leader in maritime education, even better,” said McDermott. “Seattle is very fortunate to have such a world-class training program. Our students and our city will see the benefits of this vessel now and in years to come.”
The BOLD will provide a world-class learning environment for SMA students, teaching skills like operating a diesel electric propulsion system and a sophisticated marine navigation system. Additionally, students will be able to complete intensive internships when governmental agencies and other organizations charter the vessel for research missions.
“Having this impressive vessel as part of the academy will give our students the very best facilities in which to learn the maritime trade so they will be able to work in just about any environment,” said Carl O. Ellis, Ed.D., assistant dean and director of SMA. “It will help us produce the best-trained maritime graduates in the entire country.”
The Ocean Survey Vessel (OSV) BOLD, built by Tacoma Boat Building Company in Tacoma, was originally commissioned for the United States Navy in 1989 as an ocean surveillance ship, collecting underwater acoustical data for anti-submarine warfare. After its decommission in 2004, the EPA acquired the vessel to conduct water quality research in coastal regions. It measures 224 feet long by 43 feet wide, with a maximum sustained speed of 11 knots, and can accommodate up to 19 crew members and 20 scientists and support staff. Its onboard equipment includes: wet and microbiology laboratories; side scan sonar; underwater video; and water and sediment sampling devices. For more information about the BOLD, visit http://seattlecentral.edu/maritime/osv-bold.php.
For over 40 years, the Seattle Maritime Academy, part of Seattle Central Community College, has conducted United States Coast Guard-certified merchant marine training at its site in Ballard, along Lake Union. One of only two maritime academies on the west coast, SMA offers one-year programs in Marine Engineering Technology and Marine Deck Technology. Graduates typically land well-paying jobs with starting salaries that average over $60,000 per year, with a near 100 percent placement rate. In addition to its formal programs, the academy provides community education and training in a variety of marine subjects and topics to private companies, government agencies, military units and unions. The BOLD is now one of three training vessels in the academy’s fleet.