[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1676-E1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      75TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE TO THE CALIFORNIA MARITIME ACADEMY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2004

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite 
my colleagues to join me in honoring the California Maritime Academy as 
it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
  The California Maritime Academy was founded in 1929 under the name of 
the ``California Nautical School'' and was located in Tiburon, and is 
the third oldest active maritime

[[Page E1677]]

academy in the United States. In 1936 the U.S. Congress passed the 
Merchant Marine Act, which directed the creation and maintenance of an 
adequate merchant marine to support U.S. international and domestic 
commerce and to meet the needs for national defense. Responding to this 
mandate, the federal government and the California state legislature 
began contributing matching funds in support of the school's mission. 
In these early days, only three-year deck and engineering programs were 
offered.
  In 1939 the school changed its name to the California Maritime 
Academy. In 1940, with war looming, the academy was relocated to San 
Francisco. During World War II, the course of study was accelerated to 
17 months and many graduates served in the war. A new permanent site 
for the academy was found on a 67-acre site at Morrow Cove in Vallejo; 
in 1943 campus construction was completed, making the site the 
academy's permanent home.
  In 1973 Cal Maritime became the first maritime academy to enroll 
women in a licensed maritime program, the first of whom graduated in 
1976. In 1974 the curriculum was expanded to a four-year undergraduate 
program, laying the groundwork for accreditation by the Western 
Association of Schools and Colleges. Nautical industrial technology and 
marine engineering technology were the four-year majors offered at this 
time. In the late 1980's, two new majors in mechanical engineering and 
business administration were added, and the nautical industrial 
technology program was replaced by marine transportation. Cal Maritime 
currently offers bachelor's degrees in business administration, 
facilities engineering technology, global studies and maritime affairs, 
marine engineering technology, marine transportation, and mechanical 
engineering. A program of intellectual learning, applied technology, 
and leadership development prepares graduates for positions of 
significant responsibility in the areas of maritime, business, 
logistics, inter-modal transportation, and engineering.
  In addition to earning a bachelor's degree, students earn 
professional licensing in one of several areas: Third Mate or Third 
Assistant Engineer, U.S. Coast Guard; Certified Plant Engineer-in-
Training, Association for Facilities Engineering; or professional 
certification in transportation, management, or international business 
and logistics. The curriculum further expanded during the fall of 2003, 
when Cal Maritime introduced a major in global studies and maritime 
affairs--the first new major to be accepted after the academy's full 
transition into the CSU system. Also in the fall of 2003, Cal Maritime 
dedicated its new Technology Center.
  In 1995, Cal Maritime became a campus of The California State 
University (CSU), which opened new opportunities for educational and 
institutional enhancement. By 1996 Cal Maritime expanded beyond its 
maritime curriculum, introducing a facilities engineering technology 
major. A new science and engineering lab building was completed in 
1999. Cal Maritime is one of only seven degree-granting maritime 
academies in the United States, and the only one on the West Coast.
  For the last several years, Cal Maritime students have enjoyed a 
nearly 100% job placement rate upon graduation and starting salaries 
above the national average. In addition, Cal Maritime's completion and 
time to degree rates are some of the best of any public institution in 
the state. At Cal Maritime, students benefit from a small student-to-
teacher ratio and small class sizes--with an average of 18 students per 
class. Each student at Cal Maritime has the opportunity to participate 
in at least one 60-day international training cruise aboard the 
Training Ship Golden Bear. While at sea, students apply the skills 
learned during the school year and visit domestic and international 
ports of call.
  As Cal Maritime celebrates its 75th anniversary, the future looks 
bright with applications for enrollment at an all-time high. The 
academy's strategic plan calls for growth to 750-800 students in the 
next few years and Cal Maritime is well on its way to meeting that 
goal.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we congratulate the California 
Maritime Academy for its 75 years of contributions to the maritime 
industry of our great nation.

                          ____________________