(VALLEJO, CA – June 26, 2013) – The cadets from the California Maritime Academy are sailing the Training Ship Golden Bear into Seattle, arriving at Pier 66 on July 2 at 8:00 a.m. The Golden Bear is the 500-foot training vessel of The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime). Onboard will be 320 cadets and 55 faculty and staff.

Washington sends more students to Cal Maritime each year than any other state except for California. On the date of commencement, Cal Maritime students already boast a placement rate of around 94 percent, and graduates have excellent career opportunities on land, in ports, and at sea. The unique Cal Maritime program combines classroom learning with applied technology, leadership development and global awareness, preparing students for careers in engineering, transportation, international relations, business, and global logistics.

Cal Maritime participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). The WUE program permits students from participating states, including Washington, to attend Cal Maritime at reduced tuition rates if they meet certain qualifications.

A Captain’s Reception will be held on board the ship at 5:00 p.m. Alumni from Cal Maritime and nine other campuses of the California State University will be in attendance, along with members of the maritime industries.

The ship’s two-month international training voyage left Cal Maritime’s Vallejo, California campus on May 12. Stops have included Honolulu, Lahaina, and Cabo. The ship will continue on to Portland after Seattle before returning to campus on July 12. The Training Ship Golden Bear's annual training voyage is part of the specialized curriculum offered at Cal Maritime. For the duration of each summer training cruise, Cal Maritime cadets are responsible for running the ship, including navigating and driving, repairing and overseeing the engines, and maintaining the vessel. All training cruises are supervised by Cal Maritime faculty, the ship’s captain and chief engineer, and a team of experienced mariners.

During the cruise, cadets continue to attend classes, and intellectual learning, applied technology, and leadership development blend daily as cadets apply what they have learned in the classroom, in the lab, in the Corps, and on the waterfront.

The ship and crew will return to Cal Maritime's Vallejo campus on July 12. To follow along on the Training Ship Golden Bear's two-month journey, visit the "Follow the Voyage" blog at www.cma-virtualftv.org.

Contact

publicaffairs@csum.edu