VESSEL REVIEW | Empire State – Training ship with secondary disaster response capability

Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Brian Kushner
Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Brian Kushner
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Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania has delivered a new training vessel to the State University of New York Maritime College (SUNY Maritime College).

Empire State is owned by the US Maritime Administration and operated by SUNY Maritime College. The seventh SUNY vessel to be named Empire State is the first unit in a new class of training ships that will also be available to support US federal government efforts in response to national and international disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. In their roles as National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels, the five National Security Multimission Vessels (NSMVs) will also incorporate medical capabilities, a command and control platform, and berthing for up to 1,000 first responders and recovery workers.

<em>Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Brian Kushner</em>
Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Brian Kushner

Empire State has a length of 525.1 feet (160.05 metres), a beam of 89 feet (27 metres), a draught of 21 feet (6.5 metres), a depth of 55 feet (16.8 metres), and a deadweight of 8,487. The standard facilities for 600 cadets and 100 crewmembers consist of eight classrooms, a full training bridge, laboratories, and an auditorium that can seat 600, while a propulsion system that includes four Wabtec 16V250 US EPA Tier IV-compliant diesel engines delivers a service speed of 18 knots and a range of 11,000 nautical miles. GE provided the vessel's electric plant, which will enable cadets to learn about and work with modern shipboard electric systems in a safe seagoing environment.

For the disaster relief role, the NSMV relies on a side Ro-Ro ramp, space for containers, a cargo crane, and a helicopter pad.

Empire State was built to a design developed jointly by Alameda, California-based Herbert Engineering Corporation and South Korean shipbuilder DSEC. Four other NSMVs will be built and delivered to various maritime colleges in Massachusetts, Maine, Texas, and California by 2026.

<em>Photo: Philly Shipyard</em>
Photo: Philly Shipyard
Empire State
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:Training vessel/Disaster response vessel
Flag:USA
Owner:Maritime Administration, USA
Operator:State University of New York Maritime College, USA
Designers:Herbert Engineering Corporation, USA; DSEC, South Korea
Builder:Philly Shipyard, USA
Length overall:525.1 feet (160.05 metres)
Beam:89 feet (27 metres)
Draught:21 feet (6.5 metres)
Depth:55 feet (16.8 metres)
Deadweight tonnage:8,487
Main engines:4 x Wabtec 16V250
Cruising speed:18 knots
Range:11,000 nautical miles
Other equipment installed:GE electrical plant; helicopter pad
Type of fuel:Diesel
Accommodation:Classrooms; training bridge; laboratories; auditorium
Crew:100
Passengers:600

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