The christening of the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) for U.S. state maritime academies has taken place, representing another step in the federal initiative to improve maritime training and increase the number of licensed merchant mariners.
The TS Lone Star State, constructed by Hanwha Philly Shipyard as part of the U.S. Maritime Administration's NSMV program, was officially named in Philadelphia and is set to be delivered to Texas A&M University’s Maritime Academy in Galveston later this year. This ship will be the first custom-built training vessel for the academy in over 20 years.
At the event, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised the project, stating, “This is a remarkable project with Hanwha and TOTE. The timely and budget-friendly delivery of these ships is a significant achievement.”
Rachel Campos-Duffy, the transportation secretary's wife, was named the vessel's sponsor and carried out the traditional christening by breaking a champagne bottle on its bow.
Stretching 524 feet, the NSMV will offer hands-on training for hundreds of cadets annually while also being available for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions. The ships include two full-sized training bridges, dual engine rooms, modern teaching spaces, a hospital, a helicopter landing area, and can accommodate up to 600 cadets or 1,000 emergency responders during crises.
Officials from Texas A&M noted that the arrival of this vessel concludes a 21-year effort to provide the academy with a dedicated large training ship.
“We have dreamed of this day for 21 years,” remarked Col. Michael Fossum, superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. “If you build these ships, we will crew them.” He added that the anticipation surrounding the vessel has already led to increased enrollment, as cadets look forward to training on a modern ship rather than outdated ones.
The NSMV program aims to address the shortage of licensed U.S. merchant mariners while also providing vessels for emergency response needs. According to the academy, state maritime schools are responsible for producing up to 90% of new licensed officers entering the U.S. commercial maritime workforce.
These vessels are being built by Hanwha Philly Shipyard with TOTE Services managing the construction process. This commercial approach has helped lower costs and keep the ships on schedule while allowing the shipyard to increase capacity for future work.
During the christening ceremony, it was also announced that the Trump administration is making a $2 billion investment to build two new Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIVs) at Hanwha Philly Shipyard for the Missile Defense Agency. These vessels, which will replace outdated tracking ships, will also be managed by TOTE Services using the same construction model as the NSMV program.
The Lone Star State is the fourth of five NSMVs ordered by MARAD, with the final vessel, Golden State, expected to be delivered to California State University Maritime Academy in 2027.