MARAD Says No Other Suitable Ship Available for Classified Empire State VII Mission

The U.S. Maritime Administration is activating SUNY Maritime College’s Empire State VII for a classified national security mission after determining that no other suitable vessel is available to meet an urgent Military Sealift Command requirement, according to a decision memorandum seen by gCaptain.

The August 28 memorandum, signed by Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel, provides new details about the decision to pull the newly built training ship from SUNY Maritime for approximately 170 days beginning around September 1.

MARAD said the activation followed a direct operational request from the Commander of Military Sealift Command through U.S. Fleet Forces Command and described