New MMA training ship to arrive soon in Portland

‘This vessel isn’t just impressive—it’s transformative’

Cadets will be able to use the new State of Maine for their annual cruise this year. File photo.

March 10, 2026

By John Boit

Maine Maritime Academy’s new training ship is “on its way,” according to school officials.

In March, the new 525-foot State of Maine is set to arrive in Portland this month. The vessel will be the fifth training ship in MMA’s history and the first purpose‑built vessel designed specifically for its cadets’ training, according to a press release.

The vessel was built at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia under contract with TOTE Services.

The vessel will arrive in Portland “for a formal handover and celebration before it becomes homeported here at MMA,” the release said.

Cadets and faculty will then embark on their inaugural “Sea Term”—the academy’s annual training cruise–in May after it is docked in Searsport, according to the MMA website. Part of that training cruise will include a stop in New York for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration on July 4.

Academy officials say the ship sets a new standard for maritime education.

“This vessel isn’t just impressive—it’s transformative. Cadets will train on a state‑of‑the‑art platform complete with eight classrooms, a dedicated training bridge and navigation lab, two full‑sized engine rooms, laboratory and workshop space, an auditorium, and even a helipad—all while gaining hands‑on experience with the technologies shaping the future of the maritime industry,” the release said.

Able to accommodate 600 cadets, the new ship is one of several vessels of the same class designed and built to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, in addition to training the country’s newest mariners. 

Known as a “National Security Multi-Mission Vessel,” the State of Maine is one of five, identical, purpose-built training ships for state maritime academies in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and California. MMA’s vessel is the third to be built thus far.  

“We are proud to deliver another state‑of‑the‑art training ship to MARAD,” said Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services, referring to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration. “The expertise of our new construction team and the strong partnership with Hanwha Philly Shipyard demonstrate how collaboration between the private sector and government can successfully deliver complex, mission‑critical assets for our nation.”

Last fall, the ship experienced problems with its propulsion system during dockside trials that required extensive repairs and delayed delivery of the vessel to MMA by several months. 

The construction of a new pier, expected to be finished this year, continues on Castine’s waterfront in preparation for the new vessel.