MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY TO HONOR OSG AMERICA AT DEDICATION OF NEW SIMULATOR

CASTINE, Maine -- Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) President Leonard Tyler has announced that the college will honor OSG America at an upcoming campus ceremony dedicating the college’s latest training simulator. The college’s new ocean-going petroleum tank-barge simulator will be named for OSG America in appreciation of the company’s lead contributions to the project. The dedication will take place on Friday, September 28, at 3:30 p.m., in the lower level of Dismukes Hall on the college campus. Senior executives from OSG America will join Maine Maritime Academy students, faculty, and staff to conduct a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. Students and staff will present a brief demonstration of the unit’s operational capabilities. The demonstration will be followed by a reception hosted by a group of upper class students to welcome Morten Arntzen, President & CEO of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.; Jonathan Whitworth, Senior Vice President and Head of OSG America; Norm Gauslow, Vice President, Marine Labor Relations, OSG America; and Elizabeth Stockman, Recruiting & Retention Specialist. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and reception, the first event of the college’s annual Homecoming festivities scheduled for the weekend. According to Capt. Ralph Pundt, chair of the college’s William F. Thompson School of Marine Transportation, the tank-barge simulator will provide state-of-the art operational training in the movement of liquid cargos, vessel stability control, and team management and communication skills development. The tank-barge will also provide loading and discharge simulation experience necessary to acquire bunker transfer and person-in-charge licensure endorsements. The modern trainer provides operational experience aboard a small-scale Integrated Tug Barge (ITB). The tank-barge floats in a small water-filled pool and utilizes multi-colored water to simulate the loading and discharge of 3 different grades of petroleum products. Designed to provide a realistic training platform, the unit offers a segregated ballast system in which ballast is independent of the cargo system. A key contributor to MMA’s new tank-barge simulator, OSG America employs many Maine Maritime Academy graduates as licensed shipboard officers and in shoreside management. OSG America is the U.S. Flag division of the international firm, Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG). OSG provides global energy transportation services and owns and operates an International Flag and U.S. Flag fleet of 144 vessels that transport crude oil, petroleum products, and dry bulk commodities throughout the world. OSG America is one of the largest commercial owners and operators of Jones Act vessels in the United States. The company's owned, operated, and newbuild~U.S. Flag fleet of more than 35~vessels is predominantly made up of Handysize Product Carriers and Articulated Tug Barges. The combined fleet provides lightering operations and serves long-haul and short-haul U.S. coast routes throughout the United States. OSG America is currently engaged in a significant U.S. Flag tanker and articulated tug barge newbuild and rebuild program at 3 U.S. shipyards.