Giving first form to a programme of considerable significance for the US maritime industries as a whole, the cadet training ship Empire State recently made her debut in New York. The $315m newbuild from Philly Shipyard marks a step change not only in design capability and engineering technology but also in the structure used for government shipbuilding contracts.

Allocated to the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College in the Bronx, the diesel-electric Empire State has superseded her steam turbine-powered predecessor of the same name, the oldest in the Maritime Administration (MARAD)-owned fleet of six training vessels assigned to academies throughout the USA.

Her September arrival in New York signalled the start of deliveries of the five-ship series implemented under the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) programme, destined to transform at-sea training of US seafarers while also providing logistic support and humanitarian aid platforms in the event of major emergency situations.