31 MAY 2026 They also may have really enjoyed the Mariners Row social hour… The CMTS is helping with Mariners Row to sup- port all aspects of the MTS in our shared effort to increase recruitment and retention for a well-functioning domestic and international freight and logistics supply chain. Side note: we do need passenger vessel representatives at ASCA, so if there are any PVA members interested, please contact me to find out if there is still space available to educate the counselors on vessel and supplier employment options! Another federal initiative is Military to Mariner, or M2M. As you are probably well aware, crewing shortages have affected every sector of the maritime industry. The Inter- national Chamber of Shipping predicts a global crewing shortfall of approximately 90,000 seafarers by 2026. In the maritime industry, veterans come to the table with a wealth of experience beyond the average applicant. There are myriad reasons to hire veteran mariners, not least of which is their strong work ethic, proven leadership and leadership readiness, strong performance under pressure, adaptability, and experience working in diverse teams and organizations. They are generally self-starters, and often subject matter experts depending on their particular rat- ing, be they machinery technicians, boatswains’ mates, or yeomen. Many of these skills are transferable to the mer- chant marine and passenger vessel operations. The M2M initiative seeks to help alleviate workforce shortages by making it easier for active duty servicemem- bers and veterans to transfer their skills and experience to the maritime industry. The CMTS has worked on M2M since 2014, hosting roundtables, workshops, and webinars. In 2019 the president signed Executive Order (EO) 13860, Supporting the Transition of Active Duty Servicemembers and Military Veterans Into the Merchant Marine. This EO brought attention to the importance of the U.S. Mer- chant Marine and the need to facilitate the transition of active-duty service members more easily into the U.S. mar- itime industry. The EO specifically tasks the CMTS with “pursu[ing] innovative ways to support merchant mariner credentialing.” Since then, we have undertaken to advance the aims put forth in the EO through mariner outreach and collaboration with partner agencies and organizations, such as MARAD, the Veterans Affairs Administration, MilitarytoMaritime.org, and the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, or MITAGS. These programs differ in where and how they seek to employ mariners. The MARAD initiative is specifically geared toward building the ranks of the Merchant Marine, while other initiatives are broader in their scope and seek to bol- ster the larger maritime workforce. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard both have Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) programs. The purpose of COOL is to assist service members in obtaining cre- dentials while in the service. The programs differ slightly in their steps, but the process is largely the same. Sailors and Coasties find the credential they wish to pursue, complete the appropriate funding process, schedule and take the credentialing exam, and report their results to the appropriate authority. COOL is primarily intended for active-duty service members, but there are resources for employers seeking to hire qualified veteran mariners, including explanations of how service members obtain their ratings (career specialty), school locations, training time, qualifications, opportunities, and interests, and how the ratings are related to various civilian career areas. These resources are an invaluable tool for employers look- From 6 to 200kW Available with or without enclosures 6 to 200kW For global support, contact John McKinnon at 770-601-6880 or john.mckinnon@kohler.com Available from 20 to 175kW Available 6 to 200kW Available 6 to 200kW *Products shown are not to scale Kohler Marine is now
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