The ship must return by Feb 12 to prepare for the Summer Sea Term, but the 1 month transit from Norfolk to Diego Garcia would leave the vessel on station for only 6 weeks. Consequently, New York Maritime cadets may have to sail with Maine or Texas Maritime for the summer of 2027. The Navy has not defined a specific mission, though potential roles include shuttling personnel between Singapore and Diego Garcia or providing berthing for repair crews.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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US Navy Activates Empire State VII Training Ship for Indian Ocean Mission
Geopolitics26 days ago
SUNY Maritime College will send its primary training vessel to Norfolk on Sept 30 or Oct 1 to obtain flight deck certification from the Naval Air Systems Command. The Maritime Administration activated the Training Ship Empire State VII for a U.S. Navy mission in the Indian Ocean, where the vessel will likely operate out of the base at Diego Garcia.
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