Department of Marine Transportation

The department administers the marine transportation program for midshipmen. It is also responsible for major portions of the Maritime Operations and Technology and the Logistics and Intermodal Transportation curricula and for the nautical science and business components of the Dual License curriculum. The department offers courses in three disciplines: Nautical Science, Maritime Business, and Logistics and Intermodal Transportation.

Courses are given in the core curriculum to provide midshipmen with nautical science and management skills, as well as a knowledge of the transportation process necessary for successful careers in the maritime industry. The core includes courses in management, law, economics, transportation, logistics, intermodal and port operations, navigation, seamanship, marine safety and meteorology.

In addition, the department offers advanced elective courses in relevant areas. These courses can be grouped to give midshipmen a more in-depth exposure to a particular subject area. Students interested in concentrating their electives are advised to contact faculty advisors for specific information and advice.

The department's administrative and faculty offices, classrooms and most of its laboratories are located in Bowditch Hall. These include navigation and electronics laboratories, a tanker loading simulator, and a computer work area. A new radar simulator laboratory is currently the only interactive "12 Own Ship" radar simulator in the world. It simulates numerous ship models and has navigation aid capabilities with plotters and printers attached. Students interact with up to 50 contacts and maneuver through simulated land databases utilizing radars and Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPAs). A seamanship laboratory in Samuels Hall is also maintained and operated by departmental faculty. The department provides hands-on training in ship operations utilizing the vessels and dockside facilities of the Waterfront Activities Department.

An important component of deck officer training is achieved through the use of a ship's bridge simulator, located in the Computer Aided Operations Research Facility (CAORF) in Samuels Hall. This full task bridge simulator offers midshipmen the opportunity to practice bridge team management as well as vessel maneuvering under realistic conditions.